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I am really torn between 8GB vs. 16GB RAM
- Thread starter Booji
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I have 16GB/1TB MBA and avering around 50-60% memory pressure and 6-10GB swap. It is doing fine and everything I ask for. I could close some thing to free memory, but don't want memory to decide what to do. I would have been more comfortable with 32GB and that was my intention, since my old late 2009 iMac is still very smooth with 24GB and hardly swap, just couldn't wait any longer.
So far I can use Unity + Visual Studio + 10+ Safari tabs open with no issues. Swap is high of course, but it has not slowed down. I am planning to keep this computer for at least 2 years and switch to a MBP 16 or something.
None. This is an amazing computer. It's my main work machine, lots of research, email, document work, media, the odd game, etc. - no issues at all.
I really don't find any issue with the 8GB RAM but time will tell. Nevertheless I think when the Air redesign comes I might end up getting a 16GB version just in case because I will definitely keep it for a longer period of time.
I had a 8GB M1 MBP overloaded for a 2 week test drive. I was running all of the following at the same time:
- PHPStorm
- MAMP w/2-3GB RAM server
- Parallels w/Windows ARM
- OSX Mail
- Photoshop
- Terminal
- Firefox
- Safari
- Quickbooks
- Capture One Pro
- Other random small programs
I was really really impressed that it continued to perform even with all I was throwing at it. I'm sure I could have found ways to destroy it, but under realistic scenarios, there were no significant performance hitches. The reason why I ended up returning it was because I racked up 5TB of writes in 9 days without putting in my normal long hours on it.
Even if I had ended up needing 10TB of writes a week under my normal conditions, the SSD should have been able to hold up for as long as I would have owned it, but I took it as a sign that even if an 8GB unit would work, it wouldn't be the best decision for me.
I'm pretty sure the massive writes had something to do with my Web development work. When I wasn't working, the writes were elevated, but pretty reasonable.
My test drive may not have ended up as I wanted, but if I ever had to get by on an 8GB machine, I now know I can do it pretty comfortably.
After Civilization VI has started crashing for me with 8GB RAM, I have decided 16GB is the way to go in the future.
My '16 Macbook even restarts during sleep, if Civilization is running.
My '16 Macbook even restarts during sleep, if Civilization is running.
Thanks, but you didn't mention which MacOS you're on. I was fine too before 11.4, except for kernel panics which necessitated upgrading.
Same question for you: what MacOS version are you running?
It was 11.4. I’m back on my 2018 32GB MBP now though and also on 11.4 with no insane writes happening.
That's curious, since I'm bothered by spinning beachballs rather frequently now, and it sounds like your memory footprint should be as large as mine.
I bought two M1 Air, one base for work to replace my PC, and after a day I knew I had to have one for myself to, replacing my 2017 MBP 15". The one I bought for myself is a 8/512.
My work machine runs Safari, Mail, Word, Excel, Outlook, Calendar, Teams, Onedrive, Citrix Workspace, Messages and Acrobat DC/Pro basically always and at the same time. Sometimes during a workday I'll start Apple Music, and probably some other smaller programs I can't remember right now.
Yes memory pressure is sometimes in the yellow, but I have not had any issues yet - on the contrary the experience is quite stunning. I wasn't expecting this much performance from this little "cheap" machine. Also, no more fan when clamshelled! After today when I left work and disconnected and put it into my backpack, it was barely lukewarm.
My personal Air is faring even better since I mainly use Apple programs personally. Garmin Basecamp is probably the programs that's hardest on it, but I only use it sparingly. It still runs better than on my 2017 MPB with 16 Gb ram and a discrete GPU.
So, no, no regrets so far, and to be honest I don't think I will have further down the road either. Maybe with my work machine, but I can always trade it in for a new one.
My personal machine will probably be with me for 3 - 5 years, if not more.
Garmin BaseCamp is a map viewing / GIS software package primarily intended for use with Garmin GPS navigation devices (Extract from Wikipedia page).
Yeah I looked that up. Though completely useless in describing what it is or what it does.
I have four Garmin GPS devices and have used Garmin devices since around 2008 and I've never heard of Garmin Basecamp.
I'm an Azure/Huawei Cloud Engineer, however I make a lot of scripts and spend my day on the Terminal (it's either Linux or Mac OS for me, don't want to install any 3rd party terminal)
Yeah this is exactly my case as well, I don't use a VM because we have Citrix at work but it's amazing how the M1 performs much better than my 16"... Especially when connected to external displays!!
You don't need Basecamp to use a Garmin device of course, I would assume that most users don't.
I use it to plot motorcycle trips, which for me is very different from normal routing, i.e fastest route from a to b. When I ride my bike I want small curvy roads, but no gravel roads for instance. You really can't route a 500 km daytrip on the device directly and have the precise routing that I want for a bike trip.
So that's why I use Basecamp, it's a horror show of a program, but it's what I have to work with since BMW's navi is a Garmin device with BMW logos on it.
But obviously, 16GB machines will have better resale value compared to the 8 ones. This is a full fledged computer with desktop OS, not crippled like iPadOS. So yeah, I'd push it and go with 16.
I don’t think so, I’m a runner too and used to run with a Garmin Fenix watch before I switched to an Apple Watch. Never ever did I feel any need for Basecamp.
Stay away if you don’t need to use it, it’s really that bad!