Yes. I went with 8 GB on my new 13" Air because I want to be able to use it for at least the next five years, and I figure that the OS and software will get more RAM-hungry over time.
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MBA 13" : Is is worth topping up the ram to 8GB?
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This is good to know for those who are unaware of this, though I think it's 384mb on 4GB.
On the new MBA will there be a difference in performance when gaming, say Startcraft 2, if you upgrade to 8 gb? Or is the difference only noticeable if you are running a bunch of different apps simultaneously.
It's never "worth" it but if you need it you get it and that's it. I ended up going with 4gb. I don't buy all these future proof arguments. An extra 4gb is not going to future proof my core i5 128gb ssd non-retina display MBA.
Video RAM
That is THE most important advantage of having 8 GB of RAM. The more RAM for video you have means that the systems feels snappier. People always says that "If you don't run many applications simultaneously, you don't need extra RAM, save you many, bla bla bla" but that's not the entire truth, with more RAM you gain better graphical performance as well!
8GB of RAM - 512 Mb of video RAM
4GB of RAM - 384 Mb of video RAM
confirmed on ours MacBooks
Obviously get more RAM and that anything you feel like you need to have.
That is THE most important advantage of having 8 GB of RAM. The more RAM for video you have means that the systems feels snappier. People always says that "If you don't run many applications simultaneously, you don't need extra RAM, save you many, bla bla bla" but that's not the entire truth, with more RAM you gain better graphical performance as well!
8GB of RAM - 512 Mb of video RAM
4GB of RAM - 384 Mb of video RAM
confirmed on ours MacBooks
Obviously get more RAM and that anything you feel like you need to have.
I'm on a 2011 Air with the maximum 4GB of RAM. Here is what my computer looks like after about 5 hours of work today editing some photos, using email, iTunes, Safari, and a few other apps.
The crazy high page outs would probably be a lot more noticeable if the Air didn't have a SSD.
My next Air will have whatever the max is. You can never have to much RAM.
The crazy high page outs would probably be a lot more noticeable if the Air didn't have a SSD.
My next Air will have whatever the max is. You can never have to much RAM.
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Do you feel the computer slow down at all?
I ordered a 13" 128GB HD with 8GB of RAM. However, consider my needs are the same as OP, basic use it hocked to a 24" monitor most the time and use around the house when needed. I'm thinking getting a basic 11" with 64GB HD and 4GB of RAM tomorrow at the Apple store.
I will not be keeping this laptop long, most likely less then a year and as a 2nd computer, I don't see any need to pay for exta RAM and HD.
4 GB is fine for light-medium general use. Any more than that then go for 8 GB.
Standard 4 GB models are often a lot cheaper at 3rd party resellers. I got mine (from JBHiFi in Australia) for nearly $300 less than the otherwise identical 8 GB BTO version from Apple.
An extra 4 GB does get you some future proofing, but not $300 worth, IMHO.
Standard 4 GB models are often a lot cheaper at 3rd party resellers. I got mine (from JBHiFi in Australia) for nearly $300 less than the otherwise identical 8 GB BTO version from Apple.
An extra 4 GB does get you some future proofing, but not $300 worth, IMHO.
Depending on what I'm doing it can get a little sluggish, but it's not bad. The SSD helps a lot.
For usage like that, definitely not. I doubt the video memory increase will make a much of a difference considering that its just an Intel HD4000 inside.
If you do intense work or don't really restart your computer much then I guess 8GB would be somewhat worth it (still really doubt it considering the price tag). Its not an issue for me as I restart every 3-5 days with usage similar to yours.
If you do intense work or don't really restart your computer much then I guess 8GB would be somewhat worth it (still really doubt it considering the price tag). Its not an issue for me as I restart every 3-5 days with usage similar to yours.
In regards to gaming, has there been any testing that shows that the 8 gb MBA is a better performer than the 4 gb mode? I understand that the video memory is increased but theory and real life performance is often to different things.
I have 4 GB and I'm very happy with it. However, it does seem to limit the performance of VMWare Fusion, the MS Windows emulator. But of course -- running two operating systems at the same time cuts your memory in half.
The memory is soldered in place and not upgradable. If I were buying my Air today, I'd get 8 GB, to be honest. Faster CPU? No. I'd want 8/256 (memory/flash storage). Well... I'd want 8/1,000, but that's much too expensive.
If my budget made me choose between 8/128 or 4/256, without hesitation I would take 4/256. The storage is far more useful on this machine.
The memory is soldered in place and not upgradable. If I were buying my Air today, I'd get 8 GB, to be honest. Faster CPU? No. I'd want 8/256 (memory/flash storage). Well... I'd want 8/1,000, but that's much too expensive.
If my budget made me choose between 8/128 or 4/256, without hesitation I would take 4/256. The storage is far more useful on this machine.
4GB RAM will work well enough for how you are planning to use your MBA. Subjectively, I am not noticing a lot of difference doing similar kinds of tasks on a rMBP with 8GB RAM (+ faster CPU) and a 2012 MBA 11 with 4GB RAM.
If you bring resale or "future-proofing into the conversation, then you might want to upgrade, depending upon your assumptions. An alternative approach to "future-proofing" is to save the upgrade money for the next computer purchase and buy sooner than later.
Good luck with your purchase decision!
You don't need 8GB if that's all you are doing.
I've been using a 4GB MBA for a few months, always have a million tabs open while downloading torrents and playing music. Occasionally opening Word to add to a homework assignment and I don't use much over 2GB. Everything is snappy, it's instant.
I've also played COD4 and the Sims3 without any problem. Sims made me page out a little, only time that ever happened. I was prob seeding at the time too.
I've been using a 4GB MBA for a few months, always have a million tabs open while downloading torrents and playing music. Occasionally opening Word to add to a homework assignment and I don't use much over 2GB. Everything is snappy, it's instant.
I've also played COD4 and the Sims3 without any problem. Sims made me page out a little, only time that ever happened. I was prob seeding at the time too.
Get all the RAM you can.
To the OP:
I used a uMBP for a long time (in fact I still have two 17" i7s). I had 8GB RAM. Everybody said:"that's more than enough". Well I'm now using a Mac Pro (24 GB RAM) to do the same stuff I did on the uMBPs, and this is what I found out:
I have 9.95 GB of RAM active (and total 19.24 GB RAM used).
In short, I am using a good bit more than the 8 GB that was supposedly "more than enough".
I came to this forum because I needed to decided whether to go with a MBA or rMBP for purposes of delivering public presentations. All of this has helped to decide to go with the rMBP.
To the OP:
I used a uMBP for a long time (in fact I still have two 17" i7s). I had 8GB RAM. Everybody said:"that's more than enough". Well I'm now using a Mac Pro (24 GB RAM) to do the same stuff I did on the uMBPs, and this is what I found out:
I have 9.95 GB of RAM active (and total 19.24 GB RAM used).
In short, I am using a good bit more than the 8 GB that was supposedly "more than enough".
I came to this forum because I needed to decided whether to go with a MBA or rMBP for purposes of delivering public presentations. All of this has helped to decide to go with the rMBP.
Someone posted a link to a review that also included benchmarks on two 2012 MBAs where the only difference was the RAM. This was done to show the improved graphics performance with the 512MB of vRAM in the 8GB model versus 378MB of vRAM in the 4GB model. I have been looking for that link and scouring the web for that study since you posted this yesterday AM and have yet to find it!! I do remember that after seeing it I was happy I got the 8GB model for the improved graphics capability. To me it was worth the incremental $100, both due to improved graphics and for working in Aperture (really needs 6GB minimum).
I know from personal experience that the integrated graphics on my 8GB MBA are just as good if not better than the discrete graphics on my 2008 iMac (ATI 2600 card). Granted, the iMac is hardly a speed demon by today's standard, but it definitely shows you how things have improved in 4 years.