Is 8GB of RAM Enough for MacBook Pro?

[ric22]

If someone already has an 8 GB machine, Sequoia will surely run "ok" on it, as Apple is still stupidly selling lower-end machines with 8 GB as standard. An aspect where Apple's cheapness and in a sense meanness shows up the most clearly. Apple should have stopped selling 8 GB machines 10 years ago, maybe 20 years ago .

If someone is considering buying a new machine with 8 GB of RAM. Just NO. Do not do it, get 16 or 24 or 32 or more. Memory is still way way faster than even the latest SSD's, and you WILL notice it running a browser with a lot of tabs, or potentially some of the new machine learning/AI stuff which may wind up needing to use some of the system ram for processing.

It's anti-consumer and anti-environment, unarguably, but from a business point of view I can see that they wish to drive a wave of upgrades.

 

[Howard2k]

Wrong assumption. It’s cheapest option for many. So they buy it and deal with it. We are well past the point where it was enough. And now AI arrived, made all iPhones obsolete (except for 15pro/max) bc of RAM. Until AI arrival, 6 GB was also considered ok for most folks. See? this is how it looks like w/o any spare room.

Now they made most of their iPhone lineup obsolete in terms of AI future. Ecology 101! Indeed.

So you're saying that it is enough that it works or doesn't work? You need to make up your mind.

Obsolete. Bad Apple! Don't bring out new features!

 

[docbop]

It's just a Marketing gimmick to try and make a expensive device seem a little less expensive. As soon as you add more RAM the price starts to scary the typical computer buyer.

 

[Corefile]

Gotta say I'm a little surprised that M1 was even included.

Why? Not every M1 owner made a crazy mistake to buy an 8GB system.

 

[Chuckeee]

Gotta say I'm a little surprised that M1 was even included.

Well, if Apple is still supporting Intel machines it isn’t a surprise that the M1 was included

 

[Kal Madda]

I wonder whether 8 GB RAM will still be enough in MacOS Sequoia.

8GB is more than enough for a base spec model. Apple Intelligence supports the 8GB configurations, so I’m sure it will run fine. It will also support iPhones which can’t sustain as much prolonged load without burning through their battery runtime, so I see no reason to believe it won’t run on the 8GB M-Series Macs perfectly fine. Just another clickbait video…

 

[TigerNike23]

Reports are suggesting the precision of the models running on the new OS is low, so the RAM use initially won't be extreme, but will still effectively reduce the total RAM available by about 20-25% on 8GB. Undoubtedly it'll dramatically increase in coming years, though, unless Apple don't intend to keep up with their competitors. AI tasks, specifically LLMs, are sensationally RAM hungry.

Do we have any idea or feeling about whether 8 GB will be the base for M4 Macs?

I thought I read somewhere that some believe the M4 on the iPad is actually a 12 GB chip with 4 GB disabled.

 

[ric22]

Do we have any idea or feeling about whether 8 GB will be the base for M4 Macs?

I thought I read somewhere that some believe the M4 on the iPad is actually a 12 GB chip with 4 GB disabled.

I read that too. RAM and storage are so ridiculously cheap at the quantities Apple buy them in that it would be nothing to them to double them in every device. Sadly the Apple business model these days relies on 1,000%+ markups on such things. Thanks to AI, I do believe the base will increase to 12GB on the Mac lineup later this year, especially combined with 12GB apparently costing less to source than 8GB. That's still incredibly stingy amount for the machine prices, but it's something.

 

[phrehdd]

I read that too. RAM and storage are so ridiculously cheap at the quantities Apple buy them in that it would be nothing to them to double them in every device. Sadly the Apple business model these days relies on 1,000%+ markups on such things. Thanks to AI, I do believe the base will increase to 12GB on the Mac lineup later this year, especially combined with 12GB apparently costing less to source than 8GB. That's still incredibly stingy amount for the machine prices, but it's something.

Something else to consider - upgrades to chips cost more to do and to manufacture than the memory used. Yet, they might increase the price of a newer model with a newer chip but no where near the overpricing of RAM which again, doesn't really cost more over time but less. Apple is doing this for pure profit and no other reason.

 

[Howard2k]

Something else to consider - upgrades to chips cost more to do and to manufacture than the memory used. Yet, they might increase the price of a newer model with a newer chip but no where near the overpricing of RAM which again, doesn't really cost more over time but less. Apple is doing this for pure profit and no other reason.

It’s almost like they’re not a non-for-profit at all.

 

[Chuckeee]

Do we have any idea or feeling about whether 8 GB will be the base for M4 Macs?

I also wonder what the maximum for a basic M4 chip will be? 24GB seems to limiting as an upper bound

 

[Kal Madda]

I read that too. RAM and storage are so ridiculously cheap at the quantities Apple buy them in that it would be nothing to them to double them in every device. Sadly the Apple business model these days relies on 1,000%+ markups on such things. Thanks to AI, I do believe the base will increase to 12GB on the Mac lineup later this year, especially combined with 12GB apparently costing less to source than 8GB. That's still incredibly stingy amount for the machine prices, but it's something.

The base spec models with base RAM are a great value! Nothing stingy about offering great quality computers with plenty of RAM and storage for the efficient M-series chips. 👍🏻

 

[Populus]

I disagree. I think at this point the base M4 SoC should come with a minimum 12GB of RAM, regardless of the device it’s put into. And now with this whole AI thing, that’s obviously requiring a part of such memory, it’s obvious that Apple should have moved to that minimum amount of RAM. At least.

If it’s true that Apple is using 12GB of RAM on the M4 iPad Pro and limiting it to 8GB, it will be very, very ugly move,

 

[Howard2k]

I'd like to see them move to 12GB as a base. I mean, if they kept the price the same, I'd like to see a zillion GB, but realistically I think it's time. Or hey, 16GB. But I don't want to see an increase in the base model prices. If AI is going to materially impact RAM consumption, then it makes sense to see a modest increase. Obviously if Apple Intelligence cannot run effectively on 8GB we will see a change in base model, as it's a key selling point right now.

 

[Chuckeee]

If it’s true that Apple is using 12GB of RAM on the M4 iPad Pro and limiting it to 8GB, it will be very, very ugly move,

I could see the 12GB<-8GB being implemented as a paid post-purchase soft upgrade. It is an even uglier move but somehow seems to be a very Apple thing to do.

 

[Chuckeee]

An interesting sort of relevant observation:

Memory usage on Sequoia vs Sonoma

Hi, MacBook Pro 16 m1 16gb user here. I was living past year with a system monitor opened all the time (I just like to know) And must say that Sequoia seems much better ram optimized. I've installed 90% of my apps from Sonoma and while using my Mac at same intensity first of all, it is really...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Howard2k]

An interesting sort of relevant observation:

Memory usage on Sequoia vs Sonoma

Hi, MacBook Pro 16 m1 16gb user here. I was living past year with a system monitor opened all the time (I just like to know) And must say that Sequoia seems much better ram optimized. I've installed 90% of my apps from Sonoma and while using my Mac at same intensity first of all, it is really...

forums.macrumors.com

How much of the Apple Intelligence is in the beta? I thought I read not much.

 

[ctjack]

I disagree. I think at this point the base M4 SoC should come with a minimum 12GB of RAM, regardless of the device it’s put into. And now with this whole AI thing, that’s obviously requiring a part of such memory, it’s obvious that Apple should have moved to that minimum amount of RAM. At least.

If it’s true that Apple is using 12GB of RAM on the M4 iPad Pro and limiting it to 8GB, it will be very, very ugly move,

Panasonic did it back in the day. There was rp hje 125 for 8 bucks and rp hje 270 for 30 bucks.

People who opened them found out exactly the same drivers but the sound quality if a higher end model was much better. Then they found a drilled hole on a lower end model - suffices to say i bought the cheaper one and plugged the hole to get no difference at all.

So it was cheaper for manufacturer to stuff quality material but drill a hole than invent lower quality speakers. I would not be surprised if they deactivated 4gb of ram, to maybe include in the next m4 macs.

 

[thebart]

People should get 16gb if for no other reason than resale value. I bought an m1 16/512 used last March on eBay for 640$. Just checked. Still above 600$ now refurbished. Cheapest is 500$ from a seller with zero rating.

Market is flooded with base model

 

[phrehdd]

It’s almost like they’re not a non-for-profit at all.

It is almost as if someone thought I was stating more than simply the motive of Apple is profit. Wow. Imagine that.

 

[MilaM]

The case of the M4 iPad and 12 GB RAM is really curious. Maybe they decided to streamline production and will use the same board in future MacBook Airs, which will then come with the additional RAM unlocked?

If that indeed is the case, it would show how cheap RAM actually is for Apple.

 

[Atog]

So you're saying that it is enough that it works or doesn't work? You need to make up your mind.

Obsolete. Bad Apple! Don't bring out new features!

Barely running car still runs but is that optimal? Nope. Now if that was some old scrap then ok but a fresh new right from a factory? Did you see how pissed was “Mother nature” in that last video clip? 😃
I hope Tim Apple has some good excuse ready when she asks about this RAM thing 😁

 

[Howard2k]

Barely running car still runs but is that optimal? Nope. Now if that was some old scrap then ok but a fresh new right from a factory? Did you see how pissed was “Mother nature” in that last video clip? 😃
I hope Tim Apple has some good excuse ready when she asks about this RAM thing 😁

But that’s obviously not the case. The majority of Mac users are not complaining about poor performance.

“Barely running”

L.
O.
L.


“Optimal” obviously varies by use care. Some do need more than 8GB. Apple allows them to buy that. Make informed purchasing decisions.

 

[ric22]

But that’s obviously not the case. The majority of Mac users are not complaining about poor performance.

“Barely running”

L.
O.
L.

I suspect he's talking about performance once all the AI toys are up and running, rather than now.

 

[Chuckeee]

The case of the M4 iPad and 12 GB RAM is really curious. Maybe they decided to streamline production and will use the same board in future MacBook Airs, which will then come with the additional RAM unlocked?

The MacBook Airs use a “computer on stick” logic board (similar but not identical to the approach used in the current iMac). Is that the board approach used in the M4 iPad Pro?