is it Ok for the Swap Memory in the Range of 20GB to be used on the MAC?

[marcusalwayswins]

Hi Guys,

I have a question, I have the M2 Mac Mini with 16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD which is running the latest MACOS SEQUOIA. So I had shot a video in 4K at 60FPS on my Phone and I was trying to enhance it using a Software Called VIDEO-AI from Topaz Labs.

So when I was rendering the video the Swap Memory used was going into Crazy High Limts like 20GB and sometimes even 22GB is this Ok ? I know with the way the M series Macs work they use the SWAP memory from SSD to complete the task, but I thought something in the range of 5-10GB is understandable but going into the range of 20-25GB Swap Memory?? is that Ok for the health of the Mac? If need be, should I do it again ? Can I do it again ? Keeping in Mind the MAC’S health ? Can it be anyways detrimental to the Hardware of the MAC?

 

[Bigwaff]

I know with the way the M series Macs work they use the SWAP memory from SSD to complete the task, but I thought something in the range of 5-10GB is understandable but going into the range of 20-25GB Swap Memory?? is that Ok for the health of the Mac? If need be, should I do it again ? Can I do it again ? Keeping in Mind the MAC’S health ? Can it be anyways detrimental to the Hardware of the MAC?

Won’t hurt your Mac. Quit Topaz and swap size will eventually go down. Or restart. No worries. High use of swap mean you need more real memory for the particular computing activity. macOS doing what it is supposed to be doing. People will cry “swap hurt SSD lifespan”. SSD will be fine. Well, if you are consistently using 10-20GB swap all the time, you need computer with more memory. Then swap concern for SSD lifespan. Occasional swap use, not so much.

 

[smirking]

So when I was rendering the video the Swap Memory used was going into Crazy High Limts like 20GB and sometimes even 22GB is this Ok ?

Yeah, you're absolutely fine. I managed to crank up 1TB of swap a day on an 8GB M1 laptop once. I didn't even realize it was swapping that much because it ran just fine. Not gonna lie, the massive amount of swap did worry me, but it turns out that I really didn't need to be concerned.

MR user @gilles_polysoft ran an experiment on the SSDs in 2 Silicon Mac Minis. He was about to self-upgrade their SSDs so before he did that, he decided to do what everyone fears they'll do, but nobody actually manages to do. He tried to kill the SSDs with writes.

Long story short, he couldn't within the timeframe he set. It's a good read. Here you go, skip to the 2nd part of the post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-silicon-soldered-ssd-upgrade-thread.2417822/?post=32921841#post-32921841

 

[Fishrrman]

The OP's experience is why I've been posting that even 16gb (today) is "no longer enough".

The demands of AI on computers are going to drive RAM usage up into the stratosphere. Of course, you don't have to use AI, but if you do...?

I'd consider 32gb to be "the new baseline" for those who will use AI, particularly in image/video applications.

Even for those who aren't using AI today, the "needs of the OS's" are going to keep growing by leaps and bounds. I wouldn't be surprised to see 32gb become the baseline RAM offering from Apple within the next 6 years or so. And even then it will be scraping the bottom-of-the-barrel (like it was in 2015 buying a 2014 Mini with 4gb of RAM...).

My opinion only.
Others will disagree.
Some will disagree vehemently.