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rMBP 13" - 8 or 16 GB of RAM?

rambler358 said:
I'm trying to decide if I need to spend the extra $200 for the 16gb RAM option. I'll be doing some action cam video editing in iMovie and GPS mapping using Garmin BaseCamp software, along with all the other typical PC tasks. I might also have quite a few browser tabs open at the same time. Would 16gb of RAM be beneficial to me at all, or would 8gb suffice? Being that you can't upgrade the RAM later, I just want to make sure 8gb will be suitable for my needs.
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You'll have trouble taxing 8GB with that usage. Buy the 8 and try for a week with your intended use keeping an eye on memory pressure. If you are regularly into the yellow or red, you "need" 16GB. Then you can either exchange it or not feel bad about wasting $200.
 
rambler358 said:
I'm trying to decide if I need to spend the extra $200 for the 16gb RAM option. I'll be doing some action cam video editing in iMovie and GPS mapping using Garmin BaseCamp software, along with all the other typical PC tasks. I might also have quite a few browser tabs open at the same time. Would 16gb of RAM be beneficial to me at all, or would 8gb suffice? Being that you can't upgrade the RAM later, I just want to make sure 8gb will be suitable for my needs.
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8GB will be more than enough for this use case, only get the 16Gb if you think its likely your use case will change in the next couple of years.
 
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Dark Void said:
I'm very aware of the difference. In any case, you are avoiding what I am saying entirely and continue to talk about VMs. I realized you said it was "unlikely" and yet still have the opinion that if that is what you believe to be the most likely reason, that is the largest bit of "nonsense" present here. What sort of statistic are you going by in order to state that without VMs being a part of your usage it is unlikely that you need more than 8GB RAM? Just your own experiences? If that is the case, how exactly is yours any more valid than mine?

You truly don't have to be telling me what not to confuse. Do you believe that I am having trouble monitoring my own usage and sharing examples and experiences? I'm capable of understanding necessities. You don't have to talk down to another user because you disagree with what they are posting about. I made a broad, hypothetical description of a usage pattern that represents close to what I do regularly and because "VM" isn't a part of the list, what I am saying doesn't hold any water? It's still the principle. More programs running = more RAM is necessary, given that any other internal components do not bottleneck the situation. What is the problem with this answer? I didn't include VMs in my post, and therefore you believe it is unlikely for someone with similar usage to what I described to need more than 8GB RAM?

I'm not saying you're wrong as far as needing more RAM for VMs, as I agree with you, but I must ask why you disagree with me, because frankly your reasoning just doesn't make sense. You continue to repeat things that I am already aware of.

Not entirely sure why you are policing this thread in the first place anyway, did I offend you by offering what you perceive as misinformation?
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Simonsi is correct. You have to perform some pretty far out tasks, to warrant >8gb ram without VMs.
 
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The issue of specifications depends on the user, I think. I know people who could be given a MBP with 2GB (if such a thing existed), and wouldn't notice the difference between that and a 16GB machine. Other people are more sensitive to UI performance and so on.

I ordered (it arrived today) the i7, 1TB, 16GB 13" because I'm picky about such things, but a slightly more rational person would know that it may be frivolous and choose accordingly.

I had the 2014 15" until recently, and it was a fantastic performer for office and programming duties.
 
IMO, the soldered in, non upgradeable RAM is a bit of a game changer here, or at least changes the calculus a little bit. In the past, it would be easy to recommend 8gb now, knowing you could upgrade to 16 in the future if you needed. In the past, it would be easy to recommend 8 GB now, knowing you can upgrade to 16 in the future if you needed.

So in the end, you take your chances. Maybe 8 GB is more than enough now, and maybe it still will be in three to four years. Then again, maybe not and if it isn't enough it's a problem.
 
If you can swing it, buy the 16gb RAM. If you're already going with the 512gb SSD, then by also going 16gb RAM your machine is pretty future-proof. That's a MacBook that you could keep for 5-10 years if you really wanted to.

8gb of RAM is more than enough. But if you're asking the question, then just do yourself the favor and get the upgrade.
 
Orr said:
This. The additional 8GB RAM on the 13" doesn't change the limitations resulting from dual-core processors w/ underwhelming Iris graphics.
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But it will change the thickness of the OP's wallet; it'll be about $1K thinner. ;) If he needs it, he should do it - it's a nice machine - but not everyone really needs the oomph, size/weight, or bill.
 
Is the brand important when it comes to RAM. I'm about to buy one called Global Memory, just because that is what Amazon offers me ...
 
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