Thoughts on this RAM usage?

[Kaitlyn2004]

Just got my new MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 24GB and have been loosely playing around with things, testing memory usage and "verifying" if 24GB is good for me, or if I should upgrade to 48GB.

Attached screenshot of the memory usage from activity monitor. It seems the CPU is doing just fine, but it does seem like memory pressure is up there? I think I noticed a little blip into red, but otherwise it stayed into yellow? But also used GBs of swap over a not-too-long time?

The big thing from green to yellow memory pressure seemed to really occur - and stay there - once I got both Lightroom and Photoshop opened. Not the most common everyday usage, but there's absolutely times where I am bringing my photos into Photoshop to work on and definitely wouldn't be closing Lightroom to do so.

I think I eventually noticed the Memory Used go up into 21.xx. After closing photoshop and continuing on for a bit (Lightroom still open), mostly some web browsing and whatever, it seems to want to hover around 17GB reported / green memory pressure.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Pressure is the main thing to look at. Macs will “use” all available memory; seeing how much is “used” isn’t relevant.

If you’re seeing solid yellow like this, and 7GB swap, during NORMAL use - you don’t have enough RAM. If only during stress testing, you’re probably fine.

 

[throAU]

Just got my new MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 24GB and have been loosely playing around with things, testing memory usage and "verifying" if 24GB is good for me, or if I should upgrade to 48GB.

Attached screenshot of the memory usage from activity monitor. It seems the CPU is doing just fine, but it does seem like memory pressure is up there? I think I noticed a little blip into red, but otherwise it stayed into yellow? But also used GBs of swap over a not-too-long time?

The big thing from green to yellow memory pressure seemed to really occur - and stay there - once I got both Lightroom and Photoshop opened. Not the most common everyday usage, but there's absolutely times where I am bringing my photos into Photoshop to work on and definitely wouldn't be closing Lightroom to do so.

I think I eventually noticed the Memory Used go up into 21.xx. After closing photoshop and continuing on for a bit (Lightroom still open), mostly some web browsing and whatever, it seems to want to hover around 17GB reported / green memory pressure.

View attachment 2455193

I've run my M1 Pro like that for a couple of years (memory pressure in the orange), but yeah - you might be better off with 36 GB or more.

If you're still within the return window (and I think you should be, as apple extended it during the holiday season!) I'd consider going for 36-48 GB while you can - if this is TYPICAL usage for you and not an occasional thing. If you're already on the fence for 48, I'd suggest - DO IT. This is a brand new machine and you're already running into swap.

Additionally, I believe we are at an inflection point: Apple Intelligence / local LLMs will only increase ram consumption, depending on the size of the model I'd be aiming for a spare 8-16 GB beyond what you use now to have a machine that can COMFORTABLY run those in addition to your current workload over the next 3-5 years.

Apple didn't add a heap of RAM to every one of their products across the board for no reason. Apple Intelligence isn't even rolled out yet.

 

[wilberforce]

I was getting yellow memory pressure running LR and PS on a 16 GB M1 pro, so this time opted for a 32GB M4. I no longer get yellow memory pressure, even though I have tried to do so by editing 200 mp photos. Just a data point

 

[Ben J.]

…or if I should upgrade to 48GB.

In case you're not aware of it; all of today's M-series macs have their memory soldered to the cpu, and cannot be upgraded. You'd have to sell it and buy one with more memory.

I use Lightroom all the time. I remember the memory pressure getting into the yellows for days IIRC, when I got my current mini, but later it seemed to 'finish' whatever it was doing, and I've not seen that kind of pressure reported since. To me it looked like perhaps it was rebuilding the catalogue, creating the previews database etc.

I think LR can use lots of ram, or not. Depends. You could try to create a new smaller catalog, and see how it behaves.

 

[Kaitlyn2004]

I was getting yellow memory pressure running LR and PS on a 16 GB M1 pro, so this time opted for a 32GB M4. I no longer get yellow memory pressure, even though I have tried to do so by editing 200 mp photos. Just a data point

Definitely not apples to apples but my windows setup was 32gb+8gb gpu. So I hesitated a bit going to the 24gb shared, and ultimately I think I COULD make it work… but 48gb seems the better option for me as a photoshop+lightroom user - and maybe other draining apps in the future!

Thanks for your data point!

 

[Fishrrman]

What I see looking at the graphic in post #1 above is:
"Didn't get enough RAM to begin with"...

You need to return it and get one with 48gb.

 

[Kaitlyn2004]

What I see looking at the graphic in post #1 above is:
"Didn't get enough RAM to begin with"...

You need to return it and get one with 48gb.

Yeah, which was my initial theory...

But at least the extended apple holiday return window makes things even easier!

 

[pig pile]

I got the base mini, just "upgraded" to the 512GB storage. But base 16GB RAM, coming from 32GB in my 2017 iMac. Heavy Lightroom user, memory pressure has been green. No slow downs noticed. Not a Photoshop user, so maybe that program is killing the RAM if you have that active in addition to Lightroom, but my use case can handle my photography just fine. From my seat I read all this " I need more RAM" talk with amusement. Just not seeing it. Maybe in a few yrs with Lightroom advancements? Unclear but having spent $699 to get this machine it will be ok if I need to upgrade in a few yrs. I'm banking on 4-5 yr upgrade cycle. We'll see.

 

[Kaitlyn2004]

I got the base mini, just "upgraded" to the 512GB storage. But base 16GB RAM, coming from 32GB in my 2017 iMac. Heavy Lightroom user, memory pressure has been green. No slow downs noticed. Not a Photoshop user, so maybe that program is killing the RAM if you have that active in addition to Lightroom, but my use case can handle my photography just fine. From my seat I read all this " I need more RAM" talk with amusement. Just not seeing it. Maybe in a few yrs with Lightroom advancements? Unclear but having spent $699 to get this machine it will be ok if I need to upgrade in a few yrs. I'm banking on 4-5 yr upgrade cycle. We'll see.

Yep that's great it's working for you... I'm slightly surprised you're fully in the green with 16GB but that is great. You're
working with all RAW files?

Keeping Lightroom open, editing it over into Photoshop and then actually doing stuff with said photo definitely bumps up the RAM usage. And that's in line with having everything else going on my computer. I came across Art is Right on youtube which does a lot of comparison within the photo/video editing space... but it's all with JUST the app open. I am absolutely never like that. And frankly I'd rather leave my other apps and browser tabs open in the background than try to manage it. Just how I've always worked on my computers... lots of random stuff at once haha

 

[Nismo73]

On my M2 Max studio w/32gb, I have multiple windows open on two monitors w/ multiple YouTube videos going, Acrobat reader is open, I can sit around 20gb of memory pressure.
Opening LrC pops it up to ~27-28gb, then open Ps and it really didn't add to the memory used but popped the memory pressure into the yellow for a bit then settled back into green.

 

[Kaitlyn2004]

On my M2 Max studio w/32gb, I have multiple windows open on two monitors w/ multiple YouTube videos going, Acrobat reader is open, I can sit around 20gb of memory pressure.
Opening LrC pops it up to ~27-28gb, then open Ps and it really didn't add to the memory used but popped the memory pressure into the yellow for a bit then settled back into green.
View attachment 2455762

Yeah I think 16GB is the bare minimum for a just lightroom workflow. 24GB pushes things a bit but you can't get too crazy... and >24GB is needed if you actually want to regularly edit and work end-to-end within Lightroom + Photoshop. And who knows how each app will continue to grow and require more for the AI tools and whatnot.

My humble opinion that I'm learning right now!

 

[pig pile]

Yep that's great it's working for you... I'm slightly surprised you're fully in the green with 16GB but that is great. You're
working with all RAW files?

Keeping Lightroom open, editing it over into Photoshop and then actually doing stuff with said photo definitely bumps up the RAM usage. And that's in line with having everything else going on my computer. I came across Art is Right on youtube which does a lot of comparison within the photo/video editing space... but it's all with JUST the app open. I am absolutely never like that. And frankly I'd rather leave my other apps and browser tabs open in the background than try to manage it. Just how I've always worked on my computers... lots of random stuff at once haha

Yes, I saw Art is Right videos. He is a must see in my opinion in terms of photography. When I am in Lightroom that is usually the only thing running other than maybe a few tabs of Safari. Most everything I shoot is RAW but family photos are not. Maybe workflow specifics more advantageous to decreased system specs. Fully recognize that others have a different way of going about things. And for the record, I am surprised it's been this way, I bought with the notion that I would likely return the machine for another with increased RAM or perhaps to move to the Pro. But I see no point to the Pro as I would rather just wait for a Studio.