The thing I keep seeing left out is that 8GB of RAM is also shared with the GPU, which will eat into it tremendously
this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2023
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"pro" with 8gb of unified ram and 512gb of storage at $1600 apple doing apple
Honest question: RAM is so cheap, why is Apple even doing this? Is it just so they can advertise one price but then convince people they have to level up? What's the advantage to the 8GB to them.
There's two advantages for Apple: the upgrade pricing is lucrative, and having specs that provide zero buffer for the future when apps and the web inevitably use more RAM will drive sales of new devices.
Their RAM is made by aliens so is $200 a GB hahaha
So they can bait people with a lower price and then get them to upgrade when they realize it’d be unusable.
thing is its video/graphics memory which is much more expensive but being used for ram also. actually makes the 8gb situation even worse as some is being used for the graphics. 10gb or 12gb even as an option would have been better. $100 extra for 12gb would be an easy upsell, they like to ladder the products but it might put more people off than would have otherwise bought.
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So “pro”
I remember two years ago all the tech influencers were recommending to buy the new m1 mac mini and that ram doesn't matter with an M1 chip. They told us that 8GB would be enough even for heavy work due to the swapping feature (8GB was the only option back then).
Dude has a stress test with 3x 4K videos open and pretends like that’s a standard use case
If u want 8GB, buy MacBook air cheapest model.
If u go up, then choose M pro model.
Also u get additional monitor support.
A Ford Explorer comes with a 4 cylinder engine in most trim levels. V8 or nuthin man. How do they sell these things. I guess the 4-cyl gets you to the soccer game but how are you going to pull a horse trailer?
The hell is a hobbyist?
As someone who’s still happy with my 2019 16” MBP this is music to my ears.
Between all the user backlash and the upcoming Qualcomm SoC and Windows ARM laptops this just means competition will be amazing in 2024 and the M4 refresh should be significant.
Hate how expensive memory and storage upgrades are but I’ll need to upgrade my MacBook eventually and a windows laptop might be a better option.
8gb in 2021 was not enough and Reddit needs to get on with the program.
Apple being Apple
New Mac’s make me sad. Really want one, I know it will be much more powerful than my aging Mac mini. But I refuse to pay lots for locked in memory and storage designed for us to spend more and repeatedly. Plus there is no repairing or replacing parts now
Non M owner here, isn't the RAM in these machines a faster type of RAM since it's used as both system memory and VRAM? And if it's faster then normal RAM is that why the M machines do good even at 8GB compare to 16GB of slower normal RAM?
Short answer… yes. SOC architecture allows for equivalent performance with better power efficiency, meaning better performance with equivalent power efficiency.
It is normal RAM. There's nothing special about LPDDR5X now. They do share it between CPU and GPU, that brings some advantages in that both can access the memory, but some disadvantages compared to dedicated VRAM as your GPU can now eat a chunk of that 8GB. Window Server is using 1.5GB RAM for me right now. That's essentially memory all used by the GPU to render macOS' UI.
There are 500$ laptops with i5s or R5s and 16GB ram standard. Obv not Apple build quality and slower CPU, but they cost way less and may outperform a MBP in some cases.
I think people forget that Apple don’t seem to think of the average pro user. The 8GB model in my eyes is made for the average non pro user who wants the pro experience at the lowest price. I feel Apple thinks of the pro user as the lucky few that can fully spec it and charge it to their employer, their company or a client. Similar to the Mac Pro and its terribly priced wheels. I feel Apple to a degree has lost touch with its low to mid range pros that only have their hard earned cash to spend. I suppose for the length of time they survive compared to the competition the price is worth it. It should have more ram, but I’d still pay 1600 for that model as a light user. I chose the 16” M2 Pro with 16GB
This greedy behavior was one of the reasons why I didn't buy a Macbook this year. They want 3k€ for a 16" Macbook Pro with 18GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Samsung offered a laptop pretty similar with OLED, 120HZ, touchscreen and mostly similar specs. The only downside was the worse chip and worse battery life but I don't need this power so it was fine for me. If you think about the specs, you would think that there wouldn't be a huge price difference, but I only paid 1500€ for a device, that has despite the processor/battery life no huge downgrades. It even has a touchscreen. Apple just got greedy, especially when a 8GB, 512GB 14" MB Pro costs a couple hundred € more than Samsung's 16" 360° laptop. Can't wait for Arm on Windows cause it would get Apple to finally start a normal pricing again.
If you are a power user who uses resource inventive apps like Gmail or YouTube you’re going to need to upgrade your ram.
It’s not if a basic thing as ram means for tasks its inadequate for the pro moniker. Save that 8gb nonsense for the entry level air or better yet, get with the time
In their defence, I definitely consider myself a basic Mac user, and the 8Gb MacBook Air M2 is more than adequate
The whole point is to say “ u can buy one at a good price” knowing no one will buy it.
My 2017 pro has 8gb. Still is as fast as it was when I got it. Even runs minecraft perfectly. But 16 really should be the standard for today’s needs
I have an 8gb M2Air and haven’t had any issues
How about them Apples?
A base M3 at $1600 is stupid anyway. Either get an M1 Pro at that price, buy an M2 Air and spec it with decent RAM and storage, or wait to do the same with an M3 Air.
The fact being m3 event is basically tsmc event. Why be proud of Taiwanese work ? There is nothing else but increase in transistors count. Oh and raytracing, interesting I guess
8GB! I had 8GB in the mid 2000s.
Pro
Can't complete the benchmark in Blender.
Where are all people who say that they don't notice any slowdowns due to the swap usage on 8 GB models? I think, I can see it in the video, even while using just a browser.
Everyone knows the 8GB model is pure marketing decision and not engineering.
It exists so people like this guy make videos recommending the mid macbook and so they can tell everyone that the macbook starts from x price.
I’m Tim Cook.
You can now have the M3 8 GB 512GB for $1199.
The 16GB still costs $1799.
Have a good day
Putting 8Gb of ram in any laptop computer in todays market is a fucking insult to it's users, let alone someone paying the Apple price tag.
So order 16GB. Problem solved.
who wouldve guessed
Marketing department failed Apple this time...should've been 16GB standard for a new pro. It's 2023.