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Why does 16GB Ram not come standard in 13” MBP? Help me choose.

T

Terminator123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 21, 2019
3
0
I need to get a computer for my new job where I will be running multiple web application including Slack, salesforce, Google Products, PDF, Dropbox etc....

Since I am starting next week I pretty much need the laptop ASAP.

Unfortunately Apple only offers the MacBook Air and the 2.4GHZ MBP 13” available for pickup in store today.

I would prefer to get 16GB Ram and save some Money getting the 1.4GHZ MBP. Unfortunately that’s a special order and wont arrive until August 1st which is not acceptable in my situation.

Do you think the 8GB Ram with the 2.4ghz MBP is enough for my use case? What about the Air with 16GB 512 GB SSD as an alternative?

This laptop needs to last 3 years at which point I can get a replacement through my company.

Thanks for the help!
 
They do sell 1 stock configuration in stores in the 13 inch size with 16gb of ram. It's the i7 2.8 / 16gb / 1TB of storage model. $2699.

Edit: There is also a MacBook Air with 16gb or ram: 16/512. In 15 inch, they stock (in addition to the 2 base models) 2.4/32/1TB/560x and 2.4/32/1TB/V20
 
pshifrin said:
They do sell 1 stock configuration in stores in the 13 inch size with 16gb of ram. It's the i7 2.8 / 16gb / 1TB of storage model. $2699.

Edit: There is also a MacBook Air with 16gb or ram: 16/512. In 15 inch, they stock (in addition to the 2 base models) 2.4/32/1TB/560x and 2.4/32/1TB/V20
Click to expand...

Unfortunately $2699 is out of my budget, also don‘t need the 1TB storage. 512GB is enough.

I am considering the MacBook Air with 16/512 configuration. But I am worried about the CPU performance.

As of now it‘s between these two:
MBP 2.4GHZ/8GB Ram/512GB
MBA 1.6GHZ/16GB Ram/512GB

I guess it comes down to faster CPU vs more Ram.

Not sure though which is better in my use case.
 
I have a 6-core desktop i7 and 64GB of ram.

I still get the “close this tab to improve performance” warning on slack. They’re just incapable of writing a chat app that isn’t ****, apparently. It’s actually kind of astounding how bad it is given how many times chat clients have been reinvented over the last 25 years or so.

I would definitely prioritise memory over cpu.
 
Stephen.R said:
I have a 6-core desktop i7 and 64GB of ram.

I still get the “close this tab to improve performance” warning on slack. They’re just incapable of writing a chat app that isn’t ****, apparently. It’s actually kind of astounding how bad it is given how many times chat clients have been reinvented over the last 25 years or so.

I would definitely prioritise memory over cpu.
Click to expand...


So MBA with 16gb over mbp with 8gb
 
Browsers are memory hungry, but based on what you described, you really don't NEED 16GB of RAM.

Please. Please. Don't upgrade the 2TB3 model to the 1.7GHz i7. There is no point. And at that, don't go to the 4TB3 model for the higher CPU clock. Look up videos comparing the two. Look up benchmarks. The CPUs have a variable clock speed, and the cooling on the 2TB3 model is sufficient enough to sustain a much higher clock than 1.4GHz. In most cases, the difference between the 1.4GHz i5 on the 2TB3 model and the 2.4GHz i5 on the 4TB3 model are in the neighborhood of 5%. Not just in synthetics, but in real workloads like video export as well. They are both Intel U series CPUs, and the lower TDP of the 2TB3 model is artificial and is in no way a hard limit in performance.

There are advantages to the 4TB3 model, but CPU performance being a touch higher is more of an "added benefit" of buying the model with better WLAN, faster SSD, and more throughput potential (the 4TB3 model) than it is a reason to upgrade.
 
I left my 15 inch MacBook Pros at home and unexpectedly went into the office today so I'm using my work-issued 2015 13 inch MacBook Pro and it's maxed out except for the SSD. It runs just fine for work but 16 GB is definitely to be preferred. I'm only running Firefox but memory used is 6.5 GB. Sure, it can page and swap but it would be better if it didn't have to.

You could look at local shops for older models with 16 GB. That may save you some money and still give you enough RAM and performance.
 
I have 8GB on my 2016 13" and run several applications and 1-2 browsers all the time. I never have memory issues, even if a webpage gets a warning that it's using a lot of memory. If I check in the Activity Monitor, the memory pressure is always just fine, even if most of the 8GB are being used. I'm confident that 8GB will be just fine for your use.
 
for what you described I wouldn't use an Air, I think the 2019 2.4 MacBook Air with 500 wold be perfect 8gb, I use mine for work no issues whatsoever ever! and its on sale at Best Buy 200 off!!
 
Browsers are memory hogs so if web apps are your thing I would get a minimum of 16GB. On an i7 Mac Mini 8GB is certainly not enough for me so I've put in 32GB but you can't upgrade a MBP.

I returned a 13 inch MBP with 16GB because I really didn't like the keyboard but it was fine in all other respects.
 
If u have enough money upfront order one with 16. Until it shows up u can get a 8GB in store and give it back 14days later
 
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