Should I return my M3 MBP with 48GB to get 64GB ram?

[Apple_Robert]

Windows laptops are still being sold, new machines, with 4GB of memory. For the intended purpose they work fine. Until about a year ago I was running Lightroom and Photoshop, at the same time, on a machine with only 8GB. Seemed to run just fine, for my needs.

I fully expect my M2 Air to still be performing nicely 10 years from with 16GB of memory. I will not notice any performance difference in 2033 compared to 2023 when I purchased the machine. The battery is an entirely different concern.

Those that need lots of memory know who they are and should not be here begging for advice.

I think most of the advice posts on here happen because members and onlookers get caught up in product release hype and start reading all the posts. And as usually the case, the vocal minority on here who are always bemoaning anything but max RAM purchase are the ones other forum members and onlookers allow themselves to be influenced. Too many people on here end up believing the myths of future proofing and one size fits all RAM usage. Lots of bad advice is offered up at release time and shortly thereafter.

 

[Mega ST]

Apple could make the customer life much easier by offering step by step RAM upgrade options or even after market upgrades instead of only limited choices bolted on to certain chip variants.

 

[ascender]

I think most of the advice posts on here happen because members and onlookers get caught up in product release hype and start reading all the posts. And as usually the case, the vocal minority on here who are always bemoaning anything but max RAM purchase are the ones other forum members and onlookers allow themselves to be influenced. Too many people on here end up believing the myths of future proofing and one size fits all RAM usage. Lots of bad advice is offered up at release time and shortly thereafter.

It does seem to get worse with every new release though and I think there's a few things at play. One is a lack of understanding about how RAM works and how to interpret the figures in Activity Monitor. The constant YouTube videos with clickbait titles and benchmarks have also helped set a narrative where suddenly everyone needs an M3 Max with 128GB RAM to cope with a light workload.

 

[Mega ST]

On the other hand Apple is shy on factory installing enough RAM beyond minimum requirements. People try to plan ahead which is not made easier by the fact that RAM and VRAM use are combined now and usage and requirements are not transparent to the average Joe (like me). This way even a costly new machine can end up with bottleneck RAM and not be good enough for the hoped for service life.

 

[zach-coleman]

After revisiting this thread I think there is little chance OP needs more than 32, and it’s ambiguous as to if they even need more than 16. (And that’s future proofed for several years.) It’s a moot point at this point but for whatever reason it’s still being discussed so…

 

[watchmainspring]

After revisiting this thread I think there is little change OP needs more than 32, and it’s ambiguous as to if they even need more than 16. (And that’s future proofed for several years.) It’s a moot point at this point but for whatever reason it’s still being discussed so…

Thanks I'm still rocking the 48gb. It's more than enough.

 

[richard371]

Thanks I'm still rocking the 48gb. It's more than enough.

Same. Im too lazy to exchange it and reinstall everything even if it were free.

 

[Matck06]

Thanks I'm still rocking the 48gb. It's more than enough.

Same. Im too lazy to exchange it and reinstall everything even if it were free.

Same here with an Mbp 16 M3 max 16/40 48gb 1tb super satisfied with a heavy use LR+Ps no worries about ram except lightroom that I am sometimes forced to restart because it eats more than 40gb of ram, after 1 or 2 times restarted it does not exceed 25gb but this is more a problem of software optimization is not RAM.

 

[watchmainspring]

Same here with an Mbp 16 M3 max 16/40 48gb 1tb super satisfied with a heavy use LR+Ps no worries about ram except lightroom that I am sometimes forced to restart because it eats more than 40gb of ram, after 1 or 2 times restarted it does not exceed 25gb but this is more a problem of software optimization is not RAM.

The chrome of media?

 

[M3Stang]

Watch the App Memory sub-section. That's how much you are really using for work etc.

Keep in mind you don't read memory usage in these systems like x86 systems. RAM is used differently with UMA. Data is being shifted around and purged differently from x86.

If you start to see actual performance drop then it means you need an upgrade.

Cries in just bought a $2500 base 16" and already have red memory pressure day one lol. Can't afford to spend anymore so I guess ill have to deal with it the next couple years.

 

[Matck06]

The chrome of media?

no it's lightroom , I mainly use safari and sometimes chrome if I need to but no worries , example yesterday after 2 h of photo editon no ram worries with lightroom after restarting it 1 time .

 

[watchmainspring]

Cries in just bought a $2500 base 16" and already have red memory pressure day one lol. Can't afford to spend anymore so I guess ill have to deal with it the next couple years.

Return it. Then wait to buy a used one or get an m2 with more memory. I sold my m1 pro because the memory pressure issue was making the system super slow. It was dog slow and that's not worth $2500.

 

[M3Stang]

Return it. Then wait to buy a used one or get an m2 with more memory. I sold my m1 pro because the memory pressure issue was making the system super slow. It was dog slow and that's not worth $2500.

I thought about it. I got it from Best Buy and have the plus membership with the 45 day return but I traded in my M1 13” so need something. Don’t want to deal with getting a Best Buy gift card for the $640 I got for it. Then I have to wait for the M3 max sale. I am not a business, this is just my personal laptop, or else I’d be able to expense it and would be way more inclined to drop cheap old used car money on a laptop lol. It’s leaps and bounds ahead of my 13” it replaced. After the sale that it was on ($250 off) and trade in, after tax I spent $1750 or so. So not terrible.

 

[nateo200]

“You could probably benefit from more though. But 64 to 128? Not even sure you would be able to tell”.

Today. But let’s say it’s a 7 year investment. What’s the odds 64 GB will be sufficient in 3, say 5 years time?

I actually can't imagine hitting even 96GB's on a laptop within the next 5 years and seriously thinking "I need more" unless that laptop is a complete desktop replacement.