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Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP?

N

Nilok64

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 6, 2013
31
0
Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP? I have ordered the 13" rMBP 2012 base model with 8GB ram, but now I think I should probably go for the base 2013. The reason why I went with the 2012 was the 4GB extra ram and it fit better in my budget, but now I think the new processor and graphics would give me better performance even with 4GB less ram. Is this correct? I will mostly be using it for web browsing with multiple tabs, watching hd movies and listening to music in iTunes.

What do you guys think?

:eek:
 
Nilok64 said:
Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP? I have ordered the 13" rMBP 2012 base model with 8GB ram, but now I think I should probably go for the base 2013. The reason why I went with the 2012 was the 4GB extra ram and it fit better in my budget, but now I think the new processor and graphics would give me better performance even with 4GB less ram. Is this correct? I will mostly be using it for web browsing with multiple tabs, watching hd movies and listening to music in iTunes.

What do you guys think?

:eek:
Click to expand...

I have a hard time recommending 16gb to the 13 inch users. I would say less than 1% of people who buy it actually need it.

However, I have an even harder time recommending the 4gb unless you are really budget constrained and going for the base model (and can't afford to spend $100 more to get the 8gb memory upgrade). It's pretty easy to go above 4gb if you are doing anything more than simple browsing and word processing.

I would suggest that you get at least 8gb of ram on which ever laptop you decide to go with.
 
Nilok64 said:
Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP? I have ordered the 13" rMBP 2012 base model with 8GB ram, but now I think I should probably go for the base 2013. The reason why I went with the 2012 was the 4GB extra ram and it fit better in my budget, but now I think the new processor and graphics would give me better performance even with 4GB less ram. Is this correct? I will mostly be using it for web browsing with multiple tabs, watching hd movies and listening to music in iTunes.

What do you guys think?

:eek:
Click to expand...

4GB is really no longer enough, i would highly recommend getting at least 8
 
No it's not enough, those engineers working at Apple are clearly reta.ds, they shouldn't have introduced the 4GB model, once you turn you precious Macbook on it will immediately shut down due to lack of RAM, omg, such a waste of money.
 
I usually keep them for at least 5 years as I buy Windows laptops and they usually don't hold their value very long, so I just end up using it until something goes wrong with it.

If I go with the 2013 with 8GB ram upgrade, it will cost me $260 extra over the base 2012 model. I can afford it, but I don't know if the performance difference is worth it (and I never spent that much on a laptop before :p).
 
NickPhamUK said:
No it's not enough, those engineers working at Apple are clearly reta.ds, they shouldn't have introduced the 4GB model, once you turn you precious Macbook on it will immediately shut down due to lack of RAM, omg, such a waste of money.
Click to expand...

My 4GB MBA is doing just fine :)
 
NickPhamUK said:
Are you able to understand people's sarcasm?

----------



So is my MBA 2011 4GB RAM. Are you able to understand people's sarcasm?
Click to expand...

Apparently not

----------
Nilok64 said:
I usually keep them for at least 5 years as I buy Windows laptops and they usually don't hold their value very long, so I just end up using it until something goes wrong with it.

If I go with the 2013 with 8GB ram upgrade, it will cost me $260 extra over the base 2012 model. I can afford it, but I don't know if the performance difference is worth it (and I never spent that much on a laptop before :p).
Click to expand...

Go base model!
 
IMO 4gb was only offered to retain Apple's profit margin when they reduced the price. 4gb is the standard RAM on the Air so I definitely don't think it is sufficient for the rMBP.
 
Nilok64 said:
Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP? I have ordered the 13" rMBP 2012 base model with 8GB ram, but now I think I should probably go for the base 2013. The reason why I went with the 2012 was the 4GB extra ram and it fit better in my budget, but now I think the new processor and graphics would give me better performance even with 4GB less ram. Is this correct? I will mostly be using it for web browsing with multiple tabs, watching hd movies and listening to music in iTunes.

What do you guys think?

:eek:
Click to expand...

An iPad has enough power for your needs. You should keep the cheaper model.
 
I have been debating between the 2012 base rMBP and 2013 base rMBP as well.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1660004/

I wound up buying the base 2013 version yesterday and am trying it out. For my use, no issues yet with the 4 GB RAM. I am "upgrading" from the base 2013 13" MBA (which has the same RAM and SSD). So far, this 2013 rMBP seems fine.
 
Unless all you do is word processing web browsing 4GB is enough. I'm a light power user and within a week needed more than 4GB of RAM when I bought my MBP. Now even 10GB is getting to a point of not being enough. Go at least 8GB and it will give you a few more years of use.
 
Ok, so ultimately for my needs (browsing with multiple tabs, hd movies and itunes for music), is the base 2012 with 8GB ram or the base 2013 with 4GB ram faster?
 
Nilok64 said:
Ok, so ultimately for my needs (browsing with multiple tabs, hd movies and itunes for music), is the base 2012 with 8GB ram or the base 2013 with 4GB ram faster?
Click to expand...

The 2013 has a much better GPU and a far faster flash storage device, so the 2013 will be faster in normal usage. Given the price drop of the 2013 model, that to me is the clear choice.
 
Nilok64 said:
Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP? I have ordered the 13" rMBP 2012 base model with 8GB ram, but now I think I should probably go for the base 2013. The reason why I went with the 2012 was the 4GB extra ram and it fit better in my budget, but now I think the new processor and graphics would give me better performance even with 4GB less ram. Is this correct? I will mostly be using it for web browsing with multiple tabs, watching hd movies and listening to music in iTunes.

What do you guys think?

:eek:
Click to expand...

Running 10.9 on my 4GB 2011 MBA works fine, only when running a lot of tabs in Firefox and having a 1.5GB Win7 VM open does the memory get maxed out - and even then it responds better than 10.7 did.

So if you're not doing movie editting or using virtual machines, then I would say 4GB is enough.
 
Nilok64 said:
Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP? I have ordered the 13" rMBP 2012 base model with 8GB ram, but now I think I should probably go for the base 2013. The reason why I went with the 2012 was the 4GB extra ram and it fit better in my budget, but now I think the new processor and graphics would give me better performance even with 4GB less ram. Is this correct? I will mostly be using it for web browsing with multiple tabs, watching hd movies and listening to music in iTunes.

What do you guys think?

:eek:
Click to expand...

The question is: Y r u not just getting an iPad??
4gigs of ram for what u do is bizarre overkill.
with modern ssds 4gigs is sufficient for 99% of all users.
8gb is more for pros and to satisfy a well established urge from the hdd times, where low ram meant ur machine was swapping to a turning disc that made loud noises, was blinking and looks on the inside like a record player with a thick steel record spinning.:p
 
4GB might be OK in OSX, but it is bare minimum in Windows. I get low memory errors a lot just with web browsing and an open film with 4GB (albeit with a lot of tabs open).

Considering phones are starting to come with 3GB now, 4GB is looking pretty paltry.
 
and
T-Bob said:
4GB might be OK in OSX, but it is bare minimum in Windows. I get low memory errors a lot just with web browsing and an open film with 4GB (albeit with a lot of tabs open).

Considering phones are starting to come with 3GB now, 4GB is looking pretty paltry.
Click to expand...

Yes! If u like windows u need more ram!
If u only use OSX u r more than fine.
ipad mini and ipad2 run on 512mb ram.
i don't know y but apple always seems to be ok with much less ram.
and again: what r u doing with all that ram?
the psychological exercise of "future proofing" ?
 
Nilok64 said:
Is 4GB ram enough for the new 13" rMBP? I have ordered the 13" rMBP 2012 base model with 8GB ram, but now I think I should probably go for the base 2013. The reason why I went with the 2012 was the 4GB extra ram and it fit better in my budget, but now I think the new processor and graphics would give me better performance even with 4GB less ram. Is this correct? I will mostly be using it for web browsing with multiple tabs, watching hd movies and listening to music in iTunes.

What do you guys think?

:eek:
Click to expand...

For your tasks, 4GB is more than enough.
Your machine has Physical memory and Virtual memory.
Your pm is about 20x as fast as your vm, your vm is your SSD which in the latest Haswell is about 40% faster with sustained writing/reading BUT with random access (vm) <10% faster. When you run out of pm, OSX uses vm.
https://developer.apple.com/library...tual/managingmemory/articles/aboutmemory.html

The new proc makes no difference.

So for your usage scenario you'll notice very little difference between the 2 configs.

I'd go Haswell though... faster graphics + faster SSD.
 
T-Bob said:
4GB might be OK in OSX, but it is bare minimum in Windows. I get low memory errors a lot just with web browsing and an open film with 4GB (albeit with a lot of tabs open).

Considering phones are starting to come with 3GB now, 4GB is looking pretty paltry.
Click to expand...

What complete and utter rubbish.

I've got 19 tabs open if Chrome, WMP 11, uTorrent, PaintShopPro, IE10 4 tabs, and notepad++ with 6 docs open, couple other apps... on Windows 7 x64 and it's using 1.3GB. Both Windows 8 and 7 x64 use ~700MB, may MBP is still "processing" so I can't compare usage, but I remember 10.8.4 needing more than Windows 7/8.

Image1.jpg


This should give you an idea...
03-under-pressure-100065915-large.png
 
Last edited:
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