I’ve noticed this too.. considering bumping the RAM. Did you just order the base with more ram or step up to the 8 core GPU version?
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8GB RAM is a disappointment?
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Since 8Gb of RAM is the standard loadout, we will eventually see enough use cases where people either do or do not run into limitations. I'll be getting a 16Gb Mac Mini M1 (eventually), just because *IF* I need it, I'll have it. But I'm seeing reviews, everywhere I turn, where 8Gb M1 systems seem to perform like 8Gb is plenty enough for just about EVERYTHING! I think we're heading into a new Mac era (Macs that are Macs again (hardware AND software! Just like... well... since the 68000 up until the PowerPC G5!), not just glorified PC's running MacOS X), where what we think of UMA and 8Gb is completely different. Remember... RAM is simply the size of the "house" you live in. Where you and all the things you do in it reside. If you only ever use the bedroom and living room, the rest of the house is empty. But it's there for future expansion, as needed... ah, the days when 512K -> 1 Megabyte of RAM was plenty (Atari ST)... but those days are looooong behind us. :-D
Base with 16GB. Majority of my work is done/stored in the cloud. The extra core of GPU is not really a factor for me.
Would be curious to hear if you feel any difference in response time with the 16GB compared to the 8GB. Do you feel this lack of immediate response even when the Memory Pressure is green?
Also - is this limited to Safari? Or do you also experience it in Chrome and Firefox? (I know Firefox doesn’t have their optimized app out yet).
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For what it is worth, I ran 8 hours today connected to work through VM Ware Horizon, and Zoom Calls launched locally and Photos doing some stuff and safari and other apps and my memory pressure was flatline few small bumps here and there at 2gb. MBA 8GB base model.
My mistake, it can be 40+ in some situations.
Common malady for working professionals that are often required to solve problems, I've never met problem solvers in my field that don't have a "research" browser window with an endless number of tabs open with stuff they're trying to figure out for their work. Usually accompanied by a separate browser window with stuff they need open all the time (email, commonly reference docs, etc.)
Your sarcasm indicates you don't work in the tech field or don't have a job that requires a ton of problem solving. Maybe I'm wrong, perhaps you've mastered your profession and no longer need to engage with the internet to figure stuff out
. Nevertheless, the advent of cloud apps has meant the browser has become the primary piece of software for a great deal of people, not just problem solvers and professionals.
Personally i dont think 8GB is too little, but knowing that you cant come back one day and add more forces me to think ahead and buy a build with the biggest amount they offer. In this case 16GB. Im a bit annoyed that not all stores have 16GB models available and the ones that do are specced out to 1TB-2TB storage. Which is too much for me.
ive noticed the memory pressure has dropped considerably on my base MBA as ive left it to download photos and index, now I can have lot of safari tabs open, Spotify etc , Zwift as well as it stays happily green memory pressure wise. this is with 8gb
Unless the M1 is not dependable on RAM, I can't imagine doing very intensive graphic apps with only 8/16GB.
64GB at least for laptops and I would go 128GB or higher on desktops.
64GB at least for laptops and I would go 128GB or higher on desktops.
These base 8gb devices are amazing.
Will get a Mac Mini so that I can save money for when the new laptop designs come out. That is probably where I will max out.
The base Mac Mini is more than a steal though, as it currently delivers performance and responsiveness that is indistinguishable to an iMac Pro (not that I do intense graphic work). You have a Mac Mini that sings better than an iMac Pro for my need at 15% of the cost. It is also the same price range as a 256gb iPhone SE!
And since scaling is not an issue in driving these monitors, you can get a nice 4k monitor and have it drive your workflow for 20% of the price of a base iMac Pro.
Will get a Mac Mini so that I can save money for when the new laptop designs come out. That is probably where I will max out.
The base Mac Mini is more than a steal though, as it currently delivers performance and responsiveness that is indistinguishable to an iMac Pro (not that I do intense graphic work). You have a Mac Mini that sings better than an iMac Pro for my need at 15% of the cost. It is also the same price range as a 256gb iPhone SE!
And since scaling is not an issue in driving these monitors, you can get a nice 4k monitor and have it drive your workflow for 20% of the price of a base iMac Pro.
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The MBA and MBP they launched aren't made for very intensive uses. The high-end MBP coming out this summer (hopefully) will have M1X (?) and the ability to use more RAM (surely at least 32GB).
I haven‘t read all the post, so I apologise if this has already been posted. But John Gruber has written a great review and one section is about the RAM usage of the M1. But also iOS and macOS do thinks differently compared to Windows and Android. The latter use garbage collection which seems to use more RAM. You might like to read it.
How is this shopping experience working right now? In my countries all shops (except supermarkets) are closed, but when they open again, can you call at Apple and ask for the specs you want? I also would like to buy it in store for various reasons...
I had not seen this write up. Many, many thanks. The author makes a lot of sense without just being a fanboy, which he is not, as I do read his blog.
John Gruber's explanation on how iOS handles ram and how he thinks the new M1 handles ram are one of the best I have found all week. It actually makes sense and if true clarifies the muddiness that we're all accustomed to dealing with when thinking about ram.
I'm guessing his computer science degree also helps him understand the underlying tech better than other reviewers who have backgrounds in completely unrelated fields.
8 GB isn't enough. 16 GB is just barely enough. My Mac Pro is using 14 GB with just Safari, Mail, and Activity Monitor open. Remember that's all shared between the CPU and GPU too on the M1 Macs. I'd want 64 GB minimum.
Just as I thought, 8 gig is more than enough for the market Apple is aiming at with the Air. I went with the base model myself, and this thing zips through everything I throw at it. This is easily my favorite Mac laptop I’ve ever owned. Normally I’m hesitant to buy gen 1 of an Apple product, and this was no different, but I took the chance because of the extended return window, but I can see now I won’t be needing it. This little Air is a marvel.
Agree！ RAM should not be the only point of the assessment on the performance. The strengthen of Apple is that they really did a great integration cross devices and hardwares thanks to the Mac OS system. Looking forward to see the feedback from real users.
This is the million dollar question, according to Gruber and David Smith reference counting in the M1 is 4.6 times faster than on intel chips. I think they mentioned 30 nanoseconds vs 6.5 nanoseconds.
If true, then question becomes, does this efficiency in ram use translate (no pun intended) into a lower requirement for ram for the typical user?
Something is wrong with your mac if 2 apps and the monitor take up 14gb of ram
This is the answer to anyone who thinks 8GB is enough to load about 8 tabs in chrome ?
I edited the original post to include this as the answer
Thats ok not to know. We all "not know" and continue to learn. Its people who insist on spreading false information and continue to argue and force their false assumptions as facts to other people who are the problem.
I don't understand why there is so much misinformation on RAM. We were taught this back in like middle school about the different parts of the computer and that RAM is that space available for apps currently working, if it gets filled the computer can do swapping of the loaded memory no problem. Its not like if it fills it will stop working.
PS3 ran on 256MB RAM lol!!
+1
Maybe he thinks that just because it’s listed in the Activity Monitor that his computer actually needs all that (just like I thought yesterday before this thread).
Posting my experiences here for anyone worried about 8GB on the base MBA.
I picked up mine yesterday, having decided to take a RAM gamble (RAMble?) and cancel the 16GB I had on order. It's the $999 model.
I'm a heavy user but not a photographer/videographer - so think multiple apps open all the time:
Side note: I unboxed this thing at lunchtime yesterday - it's now 11:35AM and I haven't charged it (I did go to sleep, obviously).
Top-line: For people with similar browser-heavy usage requirements to mine, 8GB *should* be OK. I can only assume my experience would be slightly better were I using Safari, and that it will improve once Brave gets a Universal update and Electron apps such as Slack and Superhuman are ported. I feel like the gamble (which saved me a couple hundred dollars) paid off.
HTH.
I picked up mine yesterday, having decided to take a RAM gamble (RAMble?) and cancel the 16GB I had on order. It's the $999 model.
I'm a heavy user but not a photographer/videographer - so think multiple apps open all the time:
- Brave with 10-20 tabs, ranging from work tabs such as Facebook Ads and Wordpress to, ahem, MacRumors
- Superhuman
- Slack
- Messages
- Music
- Alfred
- 1password
- Notes
- AdWords editor
- Zoom
- Github
- Terminal
- Sketch
Side note: I unboxed this thing at lunchtime yesterday - it's now 11:35AM and I haven't charged it (I did go to sleep, obviously).
Top-line: For people with similar browser-heavy usage requirements to mine, 8GB *should* be OK. I can only assume my experience would be slightly better were I using Safari, and that it will improve once Brave gets a Universal update and Electron apps such as Slack and Superhuman are ported. I feel like the gamble (which saved me a couple hundred dollars) paid off.
HTH.