Is it worth upgrading from 16GB on a 2018 Mini?

[Fozziebear40]

Hi, I have a 2018 Mac mini 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 16GB. I have dual 27" 4K monitors, scaled, 3 finger swiping desktop screens, runs very good, I don't have a problem with it. I run parallels for occasional use with Windows 7 for legacy software and Snow Leopard OSX for odd legacy software. I never see any memory pressure on iStat Menu. I always have at least a couple of Safari windows open with a lot of tabs and Microsoft Office. I have about 40,000 photos to scroll through occasionally and use Photoshop.

Would I see any difference if I upgraded the RAM to 32GB or 64GB please? I believe the graphics chip uses RAM.

 

[richmlow]

Hi, I have a 2018 Mac mini 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 16GB. I have dual 27" 4K monitors, scaled, 3 finger swiping desktop screens, runs very good, I don't have a problem with it. I run parallels for occasional use with Windows 7 for legacy software and Snow Leopard OSX for odd legacy software. I never see any memory pressure on iStat Menu. I always have at least a couple of Safari windows open with a lot of tabs and Microsoft Office. I have about 40,000 photos to scroll through occasionally and use Photoshop.

Would I see any difference if I upgraded the RAM to 32GB or 64GB please? I believe the graphics chip uses RAM.

For your current usage, it appears that 16GB RAM is plenty and you do not need to upgrade the RAM at this time. However if your usage patterns change in the future (and you begin to see memory pressure), then it is time to consider upgrading the RAM.

richmlow

 

[Propine]

That’s interesting, when I had Mac mini 2018 with 8 GB it was struggling to drive a single 4K display if I opened a little more tabs in Safari than usual. I have then upgraded to 32 GB and it went pretty well, but when opening too many apps it still was starting dropping FPS. And all of that while I had 2x scaling (looks like 1080p), which has less impact than rendering to match other resolutions. But if you don’t encounter issues or do not notice them - keep what you have. Don’t scratch if there are no itch. You can always upgrade when you actually feel it.

PS Yes, Intel chips don’t have dedicated video memory and use (I believe) up to 1 GB of RAM to render.

 

[Fozziebear40]

Yes, it's the upgraditus itch. I don't want or need a Studio and my Mini is currently nearly top of the line at the moment, still sold at £1,299, so you are both right. My scaling is looks like 2560 x 1440 so it isn't silky smooth but I prefer dual screens. I'll put some cream on the itch 😂

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I don't have a problem with it"

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Some folks have attempted RAM upgrades and have broken something inside during the process.

If it gets to the point where you DO start having problems, THEN it might be time to try the upgrade.
But now?
No.

 

[mcnallym]

If not having memory pressure you have enough memory installed.

it won’t use more and more ram for video with the iGPU Once go above 16gb.

If struggling with graphics performance then either an eGPU time or look at maybe a newer intel iMac if can stretch to one and don’t mind second hand as obviously no new ones available.

 

[Boyd01]

Seems that you already answered this - everything works fine, so no upgrade is needed.

FWIW, I also have a 2018 i7 Mini, but mine has 64gb and I regularly use over 50gb. I run Windows 10 in a 32gb Parallels VM, also a couple little 4gb MacOS Sierra and Mountain Lion VM's. So I'm glad I have 64gb.

I don't think the integrated UHD 630 graphics chip ever uses more than 1.5 gb, does it? That's all it uses on mine anyway.

BTW, I read that Parallels has dropped support for Windows 7. They said it should continue to work but will probably break in a future update since they aren't doing anything to make it compatible.

 

[TallManNY]

I upgraded from 8gb to 32gb on a 2018 mini. But I'm pretty sure 16gb would have been fine. I just figured if I'm opening up my mini and doing the process, I might as well go to 32gb since all the work and risk (screwing things up physically while Mac is open) is the same and the cost of larger RAM is largely trivial. Even at 8gb it ran okay. But now I'm running an Apple Studio display and I'm not sure the 8gb would have been enough. In my view, 16gb of RAM is the sweet spot for the vast majority of "normal" use of a Mac in 2022. I would not open a Mac mini and do the upgrade process to go from 16gb to 32gb.