SSD vs 16gb ram upgrade (Late 2012 i5, 8gb, SSHD)

[Boyd01]

Yes, it only has TB1, but USB3 is pretty much fast enough that an external SSD with USB 3 might -- might -- be only a 10% decrease in throughput compared to an internal SATA SSD

I setup a 16gb base 2012 mini to boot into Sierra from a 500gb USB3 Samsung T3 and a 16gb 2.6ghz quad mini with a 1TB Samsung T3. Performance is basically the same on both disks - 393write/433read on the 1tb T3. My 2012 quad has the original Apple 256gb internal SSD and gets 450write/517read. That's significant, but still feels very fast and beats having to open it up and risk breaking something.

 

[MarkJames68]

and beats having to open it up and risk breaking something.

You’re missing all the fun...

 

[ActionableMango]

It only cost about $65 from Best Buy and it took less than 5 minutes. Why not do that first since it's cheap and easy

That's absurdly cheap, especially for Best Buy. That's so cheap it's "price mistake" territory.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, but I can't find anything approaching $65, unless you meant per stick.

 

[Dominat0r]

Yea, I would pay that in a heart beat, even if I didnt need it haha. Just sit till i get a new Laptop or something.

 

[MarkJames68]

That's absurdly cheap, especially for Best Buy. That's so cheap it's "price mistake" territory.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, but I can't find anything approaching $65, unless you meant per stick.

Even per stick is low for BB. But sometimes it happens when they are clearing out old stock.

 

[Boyd01]

That's absurdly cheap, especially for Best Buy. That's so cheap it's "price mistake" territory.

Sorry, my recollection was faulty, it was actually $75 for 16gb, not $65. But obviously memory prices have gone way up in the past year, I made this purchase on 9/13/2016. The same item costs twice as much today:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pny-2-...ptop-memory-kit-green/4830503.p?skuId=4830503

Don't think it was "absurdly cheap" at the time as I recall checking several online sources and they were about the same price so I opted to get the instant gratification of picking it up locally.

 

[ActionableMango]

Sorry, my recollection was faulty, it was actually $75 for 16gb, not $65. But obviously memory prices have gone way up in the past year, I made this purchase on 9/13/2016. The same item costs twice as much today:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pny-2-...ptop-memory-kit-green/4830503.p?skuId=4830503

Don't think it was "absurdly cheap" at the time as I recall checking several online sources and they were about the same price so I opted to get the instant gratification of picking it up locally.

View attachment 734172

Here I am saying you paid an absurdly low price but looking at my email receipt I see this ($55):

So you're right, memory prices have doubled! What the heck happened?

 

[twalk]

So you're right, memory prices have doubled! What the heck happened?

The iPhone "supercycle" shifted memory and flash production towards cell phones. This started moving that direction about Sept last year. Last year, I bought 16G of ram one time for $42... Now the same costs at least $110...

 

[MarkJames68]

The iPhone "supercycle" shifted memory and flash production towards cell phones. This started moving that direction about Sept last year. Last year, I bought 16G of ram one time for $42... Now the same costs at least $110...

Always the case. I remember when DDR2 got cheap, then expensive when production shifted to DDR3. Now everyone is buying DDR4.

16GB of name brand for those prices was an awesome find. But then I just got 64GB of nMP memory for $240 on fleabay so I don’t feel too bad.

 

[DonCarlos]

Install both an SSD and max RAM . You will not regret it

 

[makinao]

In my 2012 MBP 15" I upgraded RAM from 8gb to 16gb first. Booting and loading apps did not get faster, but I never noticed my memory ever getting filled. I then went from an HD to an SSHD and things got a little bit faster. But when I put in an SSD, BOOM! Booting, loading apps and files, everything zoomed by. And it was "just" a Crucial MX300 which is not exactly a speedy SSD.

If I had to do it again, I'd start with the SSD, then upgrade RAM if I had project or app that needed it.

 

[Dominat0r]

Well, the mini got an upgrade. 256GB MX100 Crucial SSD. I may man up and do the extra drive in it.

How is a fusion drive in High Sierra?

Side note, I am now upgrading to High Sierra from using Sierra for a while. I am hoping my experience is better now with an SSD.

Will let you all know the results.

 

[Dominat0r]

So far its been much better experience with High Sierra in APFS. Noticeable differences in every aspect. SSD is certainly a great upgrade. Next will be 16GB of ram.

 

[archer75]

The VAST majority of people do not need 16gb of ram. They likely don't need 8gb for what most people use a computer for.