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What Macbook Air shall I get?

O

onkzzz

macrumors member
Original poster
May 28, 2013
47
0
Coventry, England, UK
I only have 3 choices:

1: MBA i7, 4GB, 128GB
2: MBA i5, 8GB, 128GB
3: MBA i5, 4GB, 256GB

Which one should I get?
I need performance but I don't know if the more RAM is better over a slightly faster CPU.
I will be using a TON of software. I'm really debating about 1 and 2, forget about 3 since I don't care about storage.

Thanks
 
I have option 2 in 11" and it is great!

I first went with the 4gb of ram option and returned it after a week because i often went past the point where it started to empty file cache and started compressing ram content just while using firefox.

Not that it's a big deal, i just didn't like knowing i was using all my ram without really trying very hard.
 
onkzzz said:
I only have 3 choices:

1: MBA i7, 4GB, 128GB
2: MBA i5, 8GB, 128GB
3: MBA i5, 4GB, 256GB

Which one should I get?
I need performance but I don't know if the more RAM is better over a slightly faster CPU.
I will be using a TON of software. I'm really debating about 1 and 2, forget about 3 since I don't care about storage.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I wouldn't bother with the i5 to i7 upgrade, if you are going to be running multiple programs (depending on what they are) the money would be much better spent on a ram upgrade. That being said, the 4GB base model Air handles a lot more than many people think. If you are wanting to upgrade something, I would definitely recommend the ram.
 
option 3. I don't see the CPU boost to be that much of an upgrade for the price, and I'd take 256 gb of storage over 8 gigs of ram any day. My 2014 11' handles the 4 gigs of ram perfectly fine. I can honestly go as far as saying you don't need 8 gigs at all. Unless you use really heavy intensive programs.... which by then you shouldn't even be buying an Air. (iMovie and garageband aren't intensive for an air)
 
onkzzz said:
I only have 3 choices:

1: MBA i7, 4GB, 128GB
2: MBA i5, 8GB, 128GB
3: MBA i5, 4GB, 256GB

Which one should I get?
I need performance but I don't know if the more RAM is better over a slightly faster CPU.
I will be using a TON of software. I'm really debating about 1 and 2, forget about 3 since I don't care about storage.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Why do you have to upgrade anything? Where are you buying from that you can't buy the base model?
 
Carlos840 said:
I have option 2 in 11" and it is great!

I first went with the 4gb of ram option and returned it after a week because i often went past the point where it started to empty file cache and started compressing ram content just while using firefox.

Not that it's a big deal, i just didn't like knowing i was using all my ram without really trying very hard.
Click to expand...

yep. option 2 is the only one i can recommend. definitely go for 8 gb ram.
 
Personally, i would take maxed out MBA, but if its out of your budget, and im guessing you wont feel the difference between i5 and i7, i would go with option no.2, since you can't upgrade the memory down the road...
 
Dsching said:
What software will you use?
Click to expand...

Sony Vegas 11 on the move.
Photoshop CS5, iMovie, Eclipse (java) and some mild games.
(MW2 - IW4PLAY, Counter Strike, Payday etc....)

Meister said:
I would like to know the same thing.
Click to expand...

^^ there ya go :p

Carlos840 said:
"I have option 2"
I first went with the 4gb of ram option and returned it after a week because i went past the point where it started to empty cache and started compressing ram just while using firefox. I just didn't like knowing i was using all my ram without really trying very hard.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't want that to happen to me. I NEED the RAM. After reading this and some recent MacRumors posts, you can't upgrade the RAM and 45% of MBA owners say they needed more than what they brought....

Plus, storage is an easy £200 upgrade. CPU isn't MUCH of a difference to be fair but eh, I think RAM seems like the best option here.

Anyone think different?
(no pun intended :p )
 
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