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Is 4GB enough for 64-bit Lion? For which workload it isnt?

T

tinkori

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 8, 2011
48
0
I have been on the fence with respect to buying a MBA due to its fixed 4GB RAM option. With a 64 bit OS, there is a higher memory requirement for each app etc. Hence wondering for what workloads will 4GB not be enough?

Running VMs ... for sure

Video editing .... maybe

Batch photo editing ... maybe if they are RAW pics

SW dev ... ?
 
tinkori said:
I have been on the fence with respect to buying a MBA due to its fixed 4GB RAM option. With a 64 bit OS, there is a higher memory requirement for each app etc. Hence wondering for what workloads will 4GB not be enough?

Running VMs ... for sure

Video editing .... maybe

Batch photo editing ... maybe if they are RAW pics

SW dev ... ?
Click to expand...

I don't think you will run into any problems with 4GB on a MBA.
 
I've just recently upgraded to 8GB Ram... and I love it! Things are just that more snappier!

My Macbook Pro came with stock 4GB, but crucial are doing a great deal on an 8GB Kit! :)

If you've got the spare cash... Go for it!
 
CoolMe said:
I've just recently upgraded to 8GB Ram... and I love it! Things are just that more snappier!

My Macbook Pro came with stock 4GB, but crucial are doing a great deal on an 8GB Kit! :)

If you've got the spare cash... Go for it!
Click to expand...

The OP wants to buy an MBA so they can't upgrade to 8GB RAM.

It depends what you want to do OP, but it will be enough for most needs.
 
I have a 2010 11'" MBA with 4GB RAM

I use ArcGIS and SimCity 4 through vmWare and it works fine
 
tinkori said:
I have been on the fence with respect to buying a MBA due to its fixed 4GB RAM option. With a 64 bit OS, there is a higher memory requirement for each app etc. Hence wondering for what workloads will 4GB not be enough?

Running VMs ... for sure

Video editing .... maybe

Batch photo editing ... maybe if they are RAW pics

SW dev ... ?
Click to expand...

If you're asking this about software dev, I assume you're a new developer with small or web based projects, which take little to no RAM to compile

I used to compile Linux kernels on an Atom netbook with 2GB RAM and it wasn't slow because of the RAM.
 
brand said:
Where did you come up with that?
Click to expand...

it's true but negligible, If I run my app that moves two integers into memory to prepare to do 2 + 3, in 32bit mode, these integers are 4 bytes each, in 64bit mode these integers are 8 bytes each.

The benefit of being able to address 64-bit addressable space outweighs doubling the size of integers, pointers, and other datatypes
 
Nuckinfuts said:
it's true but negligible, If I run my app that moves two integers into memory to prepare to do 2 + 3, in 32bit mode, these integers are 4 bytes each, in 64bit mode these integers are 8 bytes each.

The benefit of being able to address 64-bit addressable space outweighs doubling the size of integers, pointers, and other datatypes
Click to expand...

I guess I should have worded that differently. The point I was trying to make was that the additional RAM needed was not enough to be noticeable.
 
brand said:
I guess I should have worded that differently. The point I was trying to make was that the additional RAM needed was not enough to be noticeable.
Click to expand...

I think there is some bloat for sure due to bigger ints and pointers. Didnt know how to quantify the bloat.

Was trying to choose between a 13" MBP vs MBA and I just ordered a MBP due to a 8GB + SSD self upgrade .... hence I am thinking if I should go ahead with the MBP or just return it without opening (or refusing delivery) and go for the MBA.

Will be running a linux vm (or maybe 2), some dev tools like xcode/eclipse, browser tabs and maybe some apps like acroread .... Thats it!

Thanks for all the replies
 
tinkori said:
I think there is some bloat for sure due to bigger ints and pointers. Didnt know how to quantify the bloat.

Was trying to choose between a 13" MBP vs MBA and I just ordered a MBP due to a 8GB + SSD self upgrade .... hence I am thinking if I should go ahead with the MBP or just return it without opening (or refusing delivery) and go for the MBA.

Will be running a linux vm (or maybe 2), some dev tools like xcode/eclipse, browser tabs and maybe some apps like acroread .... Thats it!

Thanks for all the replies
Click to expand...

Stick with the MBP for VM's, I love mine
 
tinkori said:
Hence wondering for what workloads will 4GB not be enough?

Running VMs ... for sure

Video editing .... maybe

Batch photo editing ... maybe if they are RAW pics

SW dev ... ?
Click to expand...

4GB will be enough for all of these. I've got a 2.5 year old MacBook with 4GB and I do all of the above, even doing video capture of CAD software running in a Windows 7 VM. iMovie, Aperture, Photoshop CS5, all work for at least my files.

However if you want to follow the new Lion paradigm of letting the system close your apps, you may want more. On my 8GB iMac I often find a dozen apps running and 5GB of RAM in use.

As usual YMMV. At least the upgrade is pretty cheap these days.
 
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