This will be a long post, and I apologise if it baffles or frustrates.
I am considering the same question here as the title. Is 16 GB enough or should I spend USD 600 extra for 32 GB?
USES: Part I
If I am writing content:
1. These things are always open:
- several (10-20 average) tabs of research in Safari
- text editor (any + Word)
- Bear Notes
2. These things are frequently open along with the above:
- couple more Word documents
- Torrent client (connected external disk for downloads)
3. These things are occasionally open along with all the above:
- VMware Fusion with Windows for using some software in that OS and take screenshots of it for my write-ups.
- VM is configured (in my MBA 2017) to use 1 core and 4 GB memory. I cannot spare more to it, obviously. On my 2011, I used to give it 4 cores and 8 GB RAM since I had upgraded that MBP to 16 GB.
- This VM will be used in as lightweight way as possible for my screenshots, but then, there is one more thing I would use the VM for (to follow).
3. On MBP 2016, I also had Music open in the background due to its excellent speakers. Don't do that on the MBA 2017, but intend to do that on MBP 16" 2021.
USES: Part II
When I am working on graphics:
1. These things are always open:
- Affinity Publisher with any number (1 minimum, 5 was the max I can think of) of moderately-sized files open (5-20 MB average)
- Safari with 10-20 average number of tabs
- Bear Notes
2. These things are frequently open along with the above:
- Torrent client (connected external disk for downloads)
3. Again, I would like to open Music again in the background on the new computer due to a nice speaker set.
USES: Part III
When I am playing games:
1. I did play Deus Ex: Human Revolution on my MBA 2017.
2. I plan on playing GTA IV and V, Far Cry series (left it at 2) etc. using aforementioned VM.
- At this point, I think that giving the VM 12 GB and keeping 4 GB for system is the only way to make sure that I can play those games reasonably (do not care for ultra graphics, I can be happy with medium level just to enjoy the games without having to invest in a dedicated Windows rig for gaming).
This will also be the least use, but considering the speed of the new laptop, and the screen, I know I will do things on it (such as gaming using a VM) that I did not do on this MacBook Air 2017. This is the only thing I can think of where 32 GB might be better (and justified, even). But, I am, obviously, looking for community inputs.
- -
With all of the above, I have made do and continue to make do with 8 GB on my MacBook Air 2017, and I have occasionally seen swap usage of couple hundred MB. I may have also seen swap usage larger than this, but I do not think I have seen it on Big Sur/ Monterey. Maybe on Mojave and macOS Catalina.
Cost of this 16" is obscene in my country, about USD 3250 for M1 Pro 10-core, 16-core GPU, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB disk. I am okay with storage space and processor. Thinking solely about RAM.
Outgoing MBA has 1526 MB dedicated memory for graphics. The new computer will have 16 GB unified. Let's say I have 8 GB + 1.5 GB, 9.5 GB today. The new computer will be 6.5 GB more.
I do not push these devices to the limits, unless I start gaming on them, but I am working under an assumption that 16 GB should be enough for Far Cry and GTA V style games at the moment but considering they will be run in a VM, the effective RAM gets reduced to 12 GB and then we are also sharing the same 12+4 with GPU.
Cost of RAM upgrade to 32 GB is nearly USD 600. This is going to be my only computer for 5 years. I say 5 years because I do not get a lot of resale value here for Macs, and secondly, entry cost is insane, so I try and spread it out a bit, just for mental value proposition.
I might/ may add a larger screen at some time in the next 2 years for HDR content consumption on a large screen.
What are your thoughts for this kind of use? 16 GB or 32 GB?