MacBook Pro 13" 2018 - 8GB or 16GB?

[hsgamerpl]

Hello,

Life of my current ultrabook (Samsung 5th Series) has come to an end. My machine is i5-3117U, 4GB of RAM, SSD, integrated HD4000. After 7 years it starts to struggle even with internet browsers.

Now this is the best time to buy MacBook 13" since it introduces 8th generation 4-cores CPUs.
The question is, how much RAM should I take? I know that the RAM is soldered, but in reality, do I need 16GB? Up until now my usage was light on Samsung (browsing, old retro games, one VM at a time of really old OSes [Win95 for example]) once for half a year I've plugged the electronic drums to use with Ableton, and that was pretty much it.

On one hand I know that 4GB (8GB after Ive upgraded manually) was enough for me even now in my Samsung. But this is Windows, mayba RAM management is totally different.

I am aiming to buy next notebook for another several years (3-4-5) like the one I have now.

I am asking this question because I have the possibility to buy Macbook 13" like "right now" with 8GB of RAM with the configuration I'd like to have (i5 8th gen, 512 SSD) or wait for 16GB variant (it would take about 2 weeks).

Thanks for the replies,

 

[jaduff46]

Either would serve you well, especially with the SSD. The 16GB would be more future-proof IMHO.

 

[charlyham]

Hello,

Life of my current ultrabook (Samsung 5th Series) has come to an end. My machine is i5-3117U, 4GB of RAM, SSD, integrated HD4000. After 7 years it starts to struggle even with internet browsers.

Now this is the best time to buy MacBook 13" since it introduces 8th generation 4-cores CPUs.
The question is, how much RAM should I take? I know that the RAM is soldered, but in reality, do I need 16GB? Up until now my usage was light on Samsung (browsing, old retro games, one VM at a time of really old OSes [Win95 for example]) once for half a year I've plugged the electronic drums to use with Ableton, and that was pretty much it.

On one hand I know that 4GB (8GB after Ive upgraded manually) was enough for me even now in my Samsung. But this is Windows, mayba RAM management is totally different.

I am aiming to buy next notebook for another several years (3-4-5) like the one I have now.

I am asking this question because I have the possibility to buy Macbook 13" like "right now" with 8GB of RAM with the configuration I'd like to have (i5 8th gen, 512 SSD) or wait for 16GB variant (it would take about 2 weeks).

Thanks for the replies,

8GB should be sufficient BUT if you are used to running a VM and you think you might on the new Macbook, you should at least consider the 16gb. It would definitely make your VMs run better. I mention it because you are coming from a Windows PC and might consider running Windows in VM. I am not a member of the group that says get more ram to future proof. Get what you need at present and enjoy the new Macbook.