{"id":81172,"date":"2022-03-22T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=81172"},"modified":"2022-03-15T15:04:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T20:04:01","slug":"how-much-mac-memory-do-i-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/81172-how-much-mac-memory-do-i-need\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Mac Memory do I Need?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the more commonly asked questions from people who are about to buy a new Mac is “how much memory do I need?<\/strong>“. That’s a good question since newer Macs aren’t upgradeable and not having enough memory in a new machine may cause performance issues down the road. Here are some tips to help you judge how much memory you need…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is memory?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every computer uses semiconductor-based memory to temporarily hold the input and output of processing. For example, let’s say we launch the Mac Photos app. Part of the app’s code moves from permanent storage (like a hard disk or solid-state disk) into memory. It then moves into the central and graphics processor units to display the graphic user interface and perform calculations. Other memory holds and displays image thumbnails in the library. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The app continuously watches for user interface interactions. For example, when an app determines that you have clicked a button, selected a menu item, or double-clicked an image, it goes to work to perform some task. Some code moves out of memory temporarily and other code moves in. This happens very<\/em> quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many more detailed articles on how Random Access Memory (RAM<\/strong>) works in a computer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This one from Avast Software is particularly helpful<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A long way from 128K<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"128K
The original 128K Mac<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The first Mac sold back in 1984 and came with 128KB\u2014that’s 128 kilobytes\u2014of RAM! Apps were much smaller then and came on 3.5-inch floppy discs (see the image at right). By the end of the year, a 512K Mac arrived. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re now at the point where new Macs come with a minimum of 8GB of RAM. That’s 62,500 times the amount the original Mac came with! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How much memory can a Mac have?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apple Silicon changed everything. Before Apple’s self-designed processors arrived, the processor (Intel or PowerPC prior to that), and memory were separate. Most Macs came with slots for memory upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, Macs became less and less user-upgradeable and the slots common to earlier machines disappeared. Users either had to make do with the RAM built into the machine or go through a more expensive upgrade process. Eventually, Apple soldered RAM to the Mac motherboards, making upgrades very expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"m1
Apple M1 Max system-on-chip with 64GB unified memory. (Image via Apple)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Apple Silicon builds memory into the chip along with the processor, graphics processing unit (GPU), and other previously separate components. It’s all one piece of silicon and semiconductors now, and memory upgrades are impossible. Rather than referring to RAM, Apple specifications show the amount of unified memory<\/strong> available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current Apple Silicon unified memory amounts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As of March 2022, there are four Apple Silicon chips available. Each has a specific base and upgraded amount of unified memory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n