MacBook pro 128gb SSD with 16gb RAM or 256gb SSD with 8gb RAM

[knajjars]

Hello guys I was planning on getting the new MacBook Pro mid 2014 and i dont want to spend more than $1400. Im getting the 13' retina display model, wich comes with 128gb SSD and 8gb of RAM. I will be using the laptop for pretty much web design, microsoft office, lite photoshop, video editing and play League of Legends (thats the only game I play on computer) I was thinking I can get the 128gb SSD model with an upgraded 16gb of RAM for $1400 (thinking for the future because I can't upgrade the MacBook after the purchase) or get the 256gb SSD with 8gb of RAM for the same price. In both cases I will get an external drive tho.
What do you guys recommend me?

 

[Diversion]

Hello guys I was planning on getting the new MacBook Pro mid 2014 and i dont want to spend more than $1400. Im getting the 13' retina display model, wich comes with 128gb SSD and 8gb of RAM. I will be using the laptop for pretty much web design, microsoft office, lite photoshop, video editing and play League of Legends (thats the only game I play on computer) I was thinking I can get the 128gb SSD model with an upgraded 16gb of RAM for $1400 (thinking for the future because I can't upgrade the MacBook after the purchase) or get the 256gb SSD with 8gb of RAM for the same price. In both cases I will get an external drive tho.
What do you guys recommend me?

Honestly the base model 2014 is the sweet spot for the money now they are putting 8gb in. If you need more storage you can later pick up one of those nice flush-mounted SD cards (up to another 128gb).

 

[Cablekevin]

Get the 16GB thats not upgradable and use your SSD for the bare essentials and rely on your external hdd. If you use VM's for web development 16GB would golden in your case.

 

[2984839]

If I were you, I'd get a refurb or base 128/8. If you find out you need more storage, you can get a 500 GB external HDD for under $50. Together you'll end up with well over twice the storage space of the 256/8 and for much less.

 

[Sirmausalot]

Get this refurb for both http://store.apple.com/us/product/G...-26ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display

 

[capathy21]

Definitely go with a refurbished 2013 model. They are a much better value. You can get an 8/256 for $1189 or a 16/256 for $1439. I can't see your usage warranting 16GB of ram especially with memory compression in newer versions of OSX.

At the end it's your choice but either way I'd go refurb if I were you.

 

[Cablekevin]

Definitely go with a refurbished 2013 model. They are a much better value. You can get an 8/256 for $1189 or a 16/256 for $1439. I can't see your usage warranting 16GB of ram especially with memory compression in newer versions of OSX.

At the end it's your choice but either way I'd go refurb if I were you.

I don't really agree with you on taking 8GB for his uses, web development can take up quite some resources, especially when you are using VM's. I recently bought new rMBP with 16GB and i've would regret my choice if i took the 8GB version. My old 4GB (2010) MBP uses 98% of my memory all the time.

 

[capathy21]

I don't really agree with you on taking 8GB for his uses, web development can take up quite some resources, especially when you are using VM's. I recently bought new rMBP with 16GB and i've would regret my choice if i took the 8GB version. My old 4GB (2010) MBP uses 98% of my memory all the time.

Ultimately it's his choice and if he is more comfortable with 16GB he should go for it. But he wouldn't struggle with 8. The only thing that matters on Mavericks and Yosemite is memory pressure. The system will use available ram. Doesn't mean you are running short.

 

[Diversion]

I think 16gb is overkill too.. The CPU in the 13" Pro isn't going to fair well with heavy work anyways.. it's a ULV anyways. It's capable yes, but I would recommend 16gb on a 15" Pro over the 13".

 

[mpe]

Hello guys I was planning on getting the new MacBook Pro mid 2014 and i dont want to spend more than $1400. Im getting the 13' retina display model, wich comes with 128gb SSD and 8gb of RAM. I will be using the laptop for pretty much web design, microsoft office, lite photoshop, video editing and play League of Legends (thats the only game I play on computer) I was thinking I can get the 128gb SSD model with an upgraded 16gb of RAM for $1400 (thinking for the future because I can't upgrade the MacBook after the purchase) or get the 256gb SSD with 8gb of RAM for the same price. In both cases I will get an external drive tho.
What do you guys recommend me?

Get the bigger SSD.

 

[Meister]

Bigger ssd without a doubt. 16gb is not necessary and with all the apps you are running 128gb will be way too small.

An sd card will not suplement that, since it is very slow and being completely dependent on an external defeats the purpose of a laptop.

You mention "video editing" and thats a broad term. For intense fcp use go for the 15" rmbp!
imovie on the other hand doesnt require much.

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I don't really agree with you on taking 8GB for his uses, web development can take up quite some resources, especially when you are using VM's. I recently bought new rMBP with 16GB and i've would regret my choice if i took the 8GB version. My old 4GB (2010) MBP uses 98% of my memory all the time.

OP didn't say is going to use VM's.

 

[ixxx69]

An sd card will not suplement that, since it is very slow and being completely dependent on an external defeats the purpose of a laptop.

Glad you said something about this - I'm seeing "advice" all over this forum about using the SD card as storage in lieu of getting a larger SSD, etc. While it's a clever idea, and certainly fine in a pinch, it's not even remotely comparable to an SSD, and typically slower than even a hard drive. Also, SD cards aren't designed for the repeated writes of normal computer usage.