Maybe I should use the 16gb ram version? What do you think? Below you can see a graph with average usage.
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Should i get the mac mini m1 16gb ram version?
- Thread starter f44f23trwes
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More memory will future proof your new Mini. While 8GB might suffice for now or even next year, how about 2 or 3 years from now? And since the memory is soldered in place, you can't add more later on.
With the OS choosing to generate nearly 10 GB of swap files, 16GB RAM would be at least somewhat beneficial.
I just returned my 8GB max mini today. Even though all my work I do (photoshop,illustrator etc) works fine now but what will it be like next year when Apple updates Mac OS and the system will get bogged down due to ram limitations. I figured it’s only $180 more so I went ahead and ordered it today. The guy at the Apple store that did my return said he has seen atleast 10 people return the 8GB Mac mini just for that same reason. If you can wait and have the funds I say go for it just for the peace of mind.
What do you use the Mini for?
I have a 8GB/256GB but will return it because of the shortage of ram and storage. It performed well but since I also use virtualization 16GB will suited better. In the meantime I ordered a 16GB/256GB that will be deliverednext week.
I love my base 8GB Mini because I don't have apps or programs that exceed my daily use.
Coming from a 16GB i7 MBP (2019 16"), that was hot, noisy fans, ran slow, had delays, and spinning beach balls - this 8GB Mini is running circles around it even with dual displays and stays ice cold - never heard the fan for a month now....
Hard to believe a $679 Mini beat out a $2500 16" MBP !
Coming from a 16GB i7 MBP (2019 16"), that was hot, noisy fans, ran slow, had delays, and spinning beach balls - this 8GB Mini is running circles around it even with dual displays and stays ice cold - never heard the fan for a month now....
Hard to believe a $679 Mini beat out a $2500 16" MBP !
Apps don't seem to be getting smaller or having a lower demand upon memory. In the late 80's and early 90's developers were forced to write software that used as little memory as possible. Unfortunately after we started going from Meg to Gig of RAM available, developers decided it was the Wild West, and they could blame their issues on the computers memory or lack thereof. I had 32 Gb on my previous Mac mini i3 Intel box, and 'upgraded' to the M1 Mac mini with 16 Gb. If for no other reason than as so many have suggested, I'd get 16 Gb so you have some elbow room. My new M1 Mac mini performs several functions much slower than my i3, which I write off to less memory and not yet optimized software. In the field of software development, 8 Gb is perceived to be the new minimum. You're pushing your available 8 Gb now at 6.54, so you don't have a lot of free RAM above that, especially if your RAM is also being used for Cache at 1.3 (my Dutch is very weak, having spent very little time in Volkel, Veghel and Einhoven).
Plus, if you go to sell your M1 Mac mini down the road 8 Gb will not be nearly as attractive as a 16 Gb variant.
Thank you all for your advice and opinions. I swap the 8gb variant for the 16gb variant. It does cost 1255 USD while the 8gb one costs 995 USD where i live.
Did the same thing myself - was working on a major customer project just before the holidays on my Intel mac Mini, and had to start closing app to get memory pressure back in green. Very easy choice to
step up to 16GB on the replacement M1 mini which is currently inbound ?.
Interesting that your location adds a $260 premium over the standard $200 from Apple.
I ordered the Mini M1 16GB/512GB 14 december, and was shipped 21 december. According UPS delivering is planned monday 28 december.
Many (most?) countries list the price including tax, unlike the US. That always jacks things up, too.
I have vacillated on these topics and decided that I am going to just go with a base mini for 2021 in anticipation of probably upgrading more frequently. I expect Apple will update the internals much more often than they had been doing when they were Intel.
RAM requirements NEVER lower over time. Even if you don't need more than 8GB today, you will some time in the next 2 years, and given the lack up upgradability on the Mac Mini M1, you'll either have to replace the machine or live without the upgrade.
Conversely, if you are planning to perhaps upgrade every year or two, especially now that we are likely on a more consistent upgrade cadence due to Apple Silicon, one may not need to pay more for extra RAM right now.
Buying high end and keeping it the longest possible is what I personally experienced to be the more economical in term of money.
Interesting - I've honestly found mostly the opposite in the last few years with Apple.
The preowned market (and certainly trade-in) really seems to undervalue very expensive upgrades done up front.
To each our own I guess. Cheers
I bought in late-2013 a macbook pro 15inch late-2013. Now more than 7 years old. Bought it 16 GB, 512 GB, i7 2.4 GHz. Still my daily driver. Use case didn‘t change since I opened the box (data science, programming...)
So in 7 years, it has paid itself multiple times. I bought a server 9 years ago. P8P67 WS, 32 GB RAM, i7 2700K, Noctua NH-D14. The platform is still running 24/7. I upgraded many times. Sound cards, storage, been running Windows at first, then Linux, them ESXI, and back on Linux. Now running with two RTX 2080 for computation. So I tend to buy once and keep it as long as I can.
So in 7 years, it has paid itself multiple times. I bought a server 9 years ago. P8P67 WS, 32 GB RAM, i7 2700K, Noctua NH-D14. The platform is still running 24/7. I upgraded many times. Sound cards, storage, been running Windows at first, then Linux, them ESXI, and back on Linux. Now running with two RTX 2080 for computation. So I tend to buy once and keep it as long as I can.