8GB RAM enough for 2015 MacBook Pro?

[BobC]

I currently have a mid-2009 MacBook Pro (2.53GHz, macOS 10.11). I've upgraded its RAM from 4GB to 8GB and replaced its stock HDD with an SSD, both of which made it a lot more usable. I'm considering upgrading to a 2015 MBP while they're still available as refurbs, to be a little more future-proof (and avoid the new un-improved keyboard).

I've seen them occasionally pop up in the refurb store with either 8 or 16 GB of RAM. I also know a couple of people who might be willing to sell me a well-maintained one used. Since the RAM isn't upgradable, I'd like to get some advice on whether 8GB would be enough for my fairly undemanding use.

My main uses of my current MBP are:
- email
- web browsing
- Tweetbot
- MS Office
- home photo editing (mostly scans, crops, cataloging with GraphicConverter)
- home video editing (mostly simple trimming)
- MoneyDance
- TeamViewer connections for family tech support

I often have 2 or 3 applications open at a time, but not usually under heavy combined loads. I'd probably migrate my 10.11 system to the new Mac, and eventually upgrade the OS.

Any advice on whether 8GB is enough for this kind of use? Whether you're someone who has 8GB and regrets it, or loves it, I'd be grateful to hear your experience. Thanks.

[Robert M]

Bob,

I was in a similar situation and opted for a 2015 MBPr 13" but went with the core i7, 16 gigs of RAM and a 512GB SSD. The machine is dandy! Definitely no regrets at all. Just wish a higher capacity SSD was availabe at the time. Still, I don't think I'll need another machine for a very long time. All things considered relatively equal, go for the extra RAM. If nothing else, it'll help futureproof the machine, especially if you're going to keep it for the long term.

Robert

[RAMd®d]

I'd go for 16G and I'll not own another computer that can't or doesn't have at least 16G.

I have a lot of tabs open as I surf and the browser (Safari) eventually eats up a lot of memory, and I've usually got a few other programs open.

And if I've got a video going, the slowdown is worse.

The conventional wisdom is 8 is enough with an SSD. I'm not happy with that. Closing up the programs I'm not immediately using, and some web pages speeds things up and reduces beachballs, not that I get a LOT of them. Maybe it's just me, but that's my take, and I don't want to live like an animal.

So it's 16Gs minimum for me.

[cbelt3]

You can never have enough RAM.

[NewtonMP2100]

.....so you are asking if......'Eight is Enough'.......???

[freeradical]

I bought a 13" 2.9 GHz i5 2015 MBP with 16 GB of RAM in Feb 2017.

I agree that 8 GB is not enough, especially if like me you're running a virtual machine (Win 10) with it.

However, for light use, 8 is probably enough.

[Lew Zealand]

For the uses you describe, 8GB will be enough but when you find how fantastic your new machine is, you may find yourself using it for more things. Additionally, future bloatware Apps and OSes may make 16GB a higher priority long term.

That said, I bought an 8GB MacBook for my mom about 8 months ago and used it for 2 mo. before I could set it up for her (in a different city) and never once found the 8GB to be limiting, doing most of the same things you list.

[Acer]

8 GB here on a 2013 MBPr and frankly, I've never noticed a problem. Photo editing is the most intensive thing I do.

[Sarcany]

8GB is tight these days. The OS hits the drive so hard that adding the overhead of virtual memory page-outs is definitely gonna be detectable.

The SSD makes up for a lot, but APFS kills a bit of the speed advantage, especially when FileVault is enabled. And you're going to have to upgrade to High Sierra (or its successor) some day. Should be ready for it...

Still, if the user isn't running all of those apps at the same time or doesn't have a lot of tabs open in Chrome/Firefox all at once and reboots every few days, it's not gonna be that big a performance hit.

'Thing is, if you're the kind of person who can get along on 8GB RAM in your workflow, maybe you don't need to shell out for a MacBook Pro. Maybe an Air is all that you need.

"Pro" users hit their Macs hard. That's why they get "pro" Macs.

[testcase]

16GB RAM