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I am really torn between 8GB vs. 16GB RAM
- Thread starter Booji
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no point buying ram which not used . 128 gb is way to much for a normal user . 16gb till 24 gb is most sweetspot. 24 gb more on super high end solution which rarely needed.
This is it in a nutshell I think. For some people 24GB is "super high end", for me, 128GB is a comfortable amount for heavy work and I've chosen 16GB for my still-to-arrive M1 Air because even in portable machines, 8GB isn't enough for *my* use (not typical use by any means). I judge by my "high end", and for me, 16GB is a no-brainer.
Exactly.
32 GB is minimum viable.
64 GB is confortable.
128 GB is freaking nice.
There’s always some tricks to optimize code for using less RAM, but sometimes it’s just not possible in the timeframe you have. So you just throw everything in RAM.
and yes, people have different standards. For a normal « terminal » machine, 16 GB is usually enough, but clearly not enough for computations.
One of these days we'll see Non-ECC 64 GB DIMMs come out and 32 GB DIMMs will drop in price and eventually become the RAM sweet spot.
Firstly nobody is telling you to buy more than you need. Did you understand anything I was saying? I said if a person is torn between two Ram configurations then get the higher amount of Ram. If you don't need it then there's nothing to be stumped over. If you can't afford it then there's nothing to be stumped over. Not sure how any of what I said wasn't clear.
This question has been going on here for years which is why I mentioned it. This has nothing to do with the M1.
I would say the majority of people outside of MR land mentality have no need for 16GB of RAM.
Then what you're saying to me is useless because this thread is about being stumped between 8GB or 16GB. In fact what you just stated further extends what I was saying.
See this is the reason why I ended up getting 128GB of RAM on my iMac and all I do is 1080p video editing. I can certainly afford it, but it is NOT necessary at all. I put in the stock 8GB that came with my iMac and ran my 1080p video editing and nothing changed.
I really think people need to be more careful with these recommendations.
** those whom bought might show their memory info and tab and device
My Usage ram on m1 : 8 GB + 200 MB swap average
: PDF, Word , Browser , Phpstorm.
My Usage ram on iMac 2017 : 10 GB to 12 GB
: A lot of open browser, php storm, Xcode, tidal, QuickTime(screen recording), Microsoft office, terminal (open a few), messages
: Apache ,MySQL (Background Service)
** either using E-GPU or not mostly would be same average ram the only diff we can allocate apps to gpu ..
My Usage ram on m1 : 8 GB + 200 MB swap average
: PDF, Word , Browser , Phpstorm.
My Usage ram on iMac 2017 : 10 GB to 12 GB
: A lot of open browser, php storm, Xcode, tidal, QuickTime(screen recording), Microsoft office, terminal (open a few), messages
: Apache ,MySQL (Background Service)
** either using E-GPU or not mostly would be same average ram the only diff we can allocate apps to gpu ..
And this stupid discussion continues forever...
I dont think swap memory is that important. What are the memory pressure numbers on 8gb vs 16gb?
I have an 8gb Air and I am noticing now that Im fully working on it that it seems to avg 50% pressure - its fine, but, on some occasions with a lot of intensive web tabs open and switching between them it has started to struggle and pressure goes into 70%+. It does come back once its re-organise itself or ive closed tabs. Im thinking *for my usage* I should get 16gb. Swap memory doesn't bother me.
The web pages may have memory issues but 16gb RAM would, im sure, absorb these memory issues I think. Extra capacity is worth it imo.
I think the biggest worry people are having is the fear that constant swap usage will trash their non-removable SSD.
What they're forgetting is that 8GB Macs with SSDs have been sold for years.
Have those SSDs been destroyed from excessive swap usage? That's the question.
I bought the 2018 iMac base configuration (8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) and she uses it daily and hasn't sent me any complaints. I suppose I could upgrade it to 32 GB but she'd be without a computer for a bit while I would do it. If the SSD turns into a problem, then I would just add an external drive. That's easier on a Mini than a laptop though.
I think people need to be more careful on the choices they make based on their use rather than blaming others for recommending something to them. Imagine holding others accountable for the decisions you make. SMH.
In case of multiple IDE instances, multiple JVMs+production apps + VM's + 20-30 tabs + all the usual chats and torrents I would advice to go for 16. 8 is enough for all of that if there is no multitasking and\\or concurrently running real-time software. Throw some containers + second monitor + active switching between apps and you'll get red memory pressure and severe lag.
I would also advice to go for at least 512, 256 is not enough and 512 is faster.
Also, I would strongly advice to go for pro. Air's M1 gets up to 100º, and anything higher then 85 seem to be slowly damaging CPU structure due to non-uniform expansion-contraction processes.
As a temporary solution while waiting for 16-inch base air is enough.
I would also advice to go for at least 512, 256 is not enough and 512 is faster.
Also, I would strongly advice to go for pro. Air's M1 gets up to 100º, and anything higher then 85 seem to be slowly damaging CPU structure due to non-uniform expansion-contraction processes.
As a temporary solution while waiting for 16-inch base air is enough.
Every case is different, and people are not always honest about their needs, very few people need that much memory, as it's already been discussed the fact that it's not upgradable make the decision tougher, most people have very modest needs and 8gb will serve them well, if you are using your machine for work, and deriving an income from it, it's always better to err on the side caution and go with more memory. In your case people advising you didn't have a clear understanding of what you were actually doing, or you weren't clear about your needs, the fault lies with both parties.
I know personally I need a minimum of 32gb but 64gb works better for my work machines (CAD/Engineering).
My daughter uses hers for mostly writing, email and web browsing. I doubt hers will get to 100 degrees. The most taxing thing she's done is World of Warcraft and she says that it gets warm but not hot. She says that it's the first MacBook that she's had that doesn't get super hot.
My desktop reports 26.2 GB of RAM in use, 34 GB cached.
I rather agree with you. Reading that report, the guy takes a literal reading of an error message and doesn't know the same crash would not have occurred (with the same software combination, keystroke sequence etc) if there had been twice as much memory.