M2 Mac - 8GB vs 16GB RAM - Avoid This Costly Mistake!

Are you considering a new M2 or M1 Mac with 8GB of RAM, but unsure if it's enough? You may be surprised to know that 16GB of RAM is overkill for most Mac users.
Whether you're a casual user or power user, this video aims to help you make the right decision when buying a new Mac, ultimately saving you money. In this video, we dive into swap memory usage on the new Macs and its potential impact on your Macs internal SSD.
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Timestamps ⬇
Intro - 00:00
Swap Memory Usage- 0:26
Understanding RAM - 00:42
Understanding SSD - 01:07
Understanding Swap Memory Usage - 01:41
Recommendation - 02:52
Save Your Money - 03:28
Added Perspective - 03:38
Music generated by Mubert (mubert.com/render)
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#Macbook #RAM #8GB #16GB #MacbookAir #MacbookPro #Apps #Productivity #M1 #M2

[@Christomshack]

How much RAM / SSD do you need in a Mac for your workload? Timestamps ⬇ Intro - 00:00 Swap Memory Usage- 0:26 Understanding RAM - 00:42 Understanding SSD - 01:07 Understanding Swap Memory Usage - 01:41 Recommendation - 02:52 Save Your Money - 03:28 Added Perspective - 03:38

[@ShannonTomshack-ho9oj]

The time stamps are great, thank you!

[@nicholas-s-timelines]

64GB and 2TB if possible 🥲

[@nicholas-s-timelines]

As a software engineer, 64GB of ram and 1TB of SSD is the go to configuration for a work laptop from the companies I have worked for.

[@nicholas-s-timelines]

For my own Mac Studio, I got the 32GB, 512GB option because that's what was available at the time and a good enough config.

[@javierneri81]

For my web development workflow, the only time I feel the hit of 8GB of RAM is when I need to use Docker. But as you stated in your video, starting up dev servers and having my 10 - 20 Chrome tabs open, I have no problems so far. Although, I do use Neovim as my editor, so I don't think I would use as much RAM as with VS Code, but I think it should still be fine either way.

[@haziqshah3188]

No silly benchmarks, no blabber, just a chalkboard and straight to the point explanation. Great content! ❤

[@Christomshack]

Much appreciated! Cheers

[@editorkmanikhemmusicprod]

I still don’t understand benchmarks! Would be good to do a video on that . But this video is straight to the point

[@marcoschirrmeister]

Straight to the point explanation?

[@SomeRandomCanuck]

Calling benchmarks silly is hilariously stupid.

[@sebastiangudino9377]

"No silly benchmarks" and "To the point explaination" is such a contradictory statement when talking about the literla performacne of a computer under different conditions

[@jamUSA24]

As a former software engineer and Data Architect, I’m impressed by how clearly you were able to articulate the memory management and it’s impact on the I/O write/read performance. Great explanation and use of graphics.

[@Christomshack]

Thanks, Joel! What are you doing these days?

[@jamUSA24]

@@Christomshack I’m an Enterprise Information/Data Architect at a bank. I focus in compliance and governance systems.

[@dfloper]

@TheShogunOfHarlem kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqLFo3-ffL5neck This says the opposite.

[@LoneSolo23]

@@jamUSA24 Data architect sounds like some kind of Batman villain lol.

[@jamUSA24]

@@LoneSolo23 we can be if required.

[@mkaushikk]

These types of explanations and clarifications is what most people need, and not the benchmark comparisons - in order to make their decision. Love the way you explained the concept! 👍🏻

[@blaken091]

Thank youuuu for making this understandable for the 90-95% of us that are not editing massive files! Greatly appreciate the short and to the point explanation!

[@chefTjay]

Like fr broo😂

[@TheThaiLife]

The views don't reflect the quality of this video.Please hang in, you are doing a great job and I think you will become one of the top Apple channels. Thanks for the video!

[@Christomshack]

Much appreciated! I am focusing on quality over quantity content to deliver the most value with each video, so it is great to read compliments like this. Thanks

[@waylonnicholson371]

Agreed on the sentiment of this comment! Great quality video. One thought for consideration: A lot of KZbin reviewers are quick to recommend the M1 or M2 MacBook Air models for the majority of users as they offer good value for the price (especially the M1). While I believe their intent is good, and they’re trying to save their viewers money, it’s often forgotten to mention that the vanilla M chips only support a single external monitor. I bring this up because I’ve had a number of people in my family/friend circle purchase an Air model and are disappointed when they can’t use a dual monitor setup while they WFH.

[@Christomshack]

@@waylonnicholson371 Thanks Wayne! Yes, that's one of the largest downsides to the MBA, IMO. I figured since so many other videos mention the single display compatibility that I wouldn't beat the same drum by mentioning it again. Although come to think of it, maybe it would have been a beneficial 10sec. add to the video. Thanks for the comment

[@waylonnicholson371]

@@Christomshack Yeah man, not calling you out-I just typically have KZbin streaming while I work and the majority of reviewers that I see are quick to recommend the Air models, but forget to mention the display count issue. Thought I’d put my word in while you’re still relatively small and reading comments-and before you blow up and have too many comments to read through.

[@anmol3457]

I agree. With so many tech youtubers being excessive it's refreshing to see people who are realistic and do consider use cases and sensible spending instead of buying a 8tb/64gib M1 Max MacBook Pro in the name of some vague, poorly defined idea of 'future proofing'. Granted, the most popular creators don't explicitly recommend configs like this, but this is still what i consider an age of excess.

[@cryptoinvestclub]

Thanks man, great point about the read and write

[@owmegwoagm]

One of the best comparison videos I've ever seen. Straight to the point and simple to understand. Thank you

[@RobotBoyRobb]

My dude… I know I’m late to the party here, but I gotta say that you absolutely killed it. You explain technology in such an elegant yet straight forward way. It’s like being asked to explain the Internet to a child or someone who knows nothing about how technology works. You seem to have taken the master class here in how you explain things. Now, I know how the Internet works. And I’m a programmer, infrastructure analyst and I always keep up to date on the latest technology trends. But I gotta say it’s sooo refreshing to watch a creator so eloquently describe technology in such a simple manner that is informative, but without assuming that your viewers aren’t tech-savvy or that they are. You explain things how they are. Man, I wrote a short story here but needless to say.. the view count doesn’t reflect the quality. Keep this up man. You’re gonna do big things! Your work here is evident of that.

[@tattooedpierre]

For Apple devices in particular, the most compelling reason I have to go with more RAM is the inability to change this later. As you say; external SSD is relatively cheap and easy to come by, so you can just buy more when needed. With RAM in the MacBook you're stuck with your initial choice, so I always go with the most I can.

[@Christomshack]

Totally agree. Although, with seasonal discounts pushing the M1 MBA down to

[@TranceFan05]

@@Christomshack I saw that 800 dollar deal and saw charts comparing the performance between the m1 and m2 base configurations and am now seriously considering the purchase of the m1.

[@Christomshack]

@@TranceFan05 The M1 chips outperform the M2 in several benchmark tests too. Max Tech have several videos on benchmark testing. Not only do I recommend the M1 models over the M2, I put my wallet where my mouth is and own both a base model M1 MBA and base model M1 MBP. If you want to support the channel, I linked the best prices available for new Macs in the description of the video 🤝

[@TranceFan05]

@@Christomshack Hello chris, I know what you mean and its such a juicy deal. As a remote worker despite building my own gaming pc I find myself with a stronger desire to leave the house so i have been considering a laptop. My dad and I are the last android hold outs in the family but he is considering switching with that in mind I have been pricing a apple conversion. M1 base + 12 Mini is only like 1240 dollars from BB so its very tempting. I Think whats holding me back is the closed system apple keeps trying to expand every year xD. Like for instance the apple card or the recent ( 1 month agoish ) tech support calls I had to take with peopel whose apple tv box would only let them sign the new terms and Cs with another apple device ( now patched). They have always made me a little suspicious about switching over cause I know its a slippery slope. The environments functionality is supreme though. With that in mind im gonna hold out longer and see how I feel. I did however watch your top m2 acessories video and purchase the anker 747 with the affiliate link. Thanks for the concise and detailed videos. Comparison videos are always 100 times more useful than solo reviews. You have earned a non apple user sub :D

[@Christomshack]

@@TranceFan05 Thanks for subscribing! Happy to hear you like the content. I'm interested to hear which model Mac you end up buying, so keep me in the loop!

[@98noir94]

Wow dude.. I’ve finally grasped the idea of ram and ssd much better now. I know all the comments say the same thing but this concept can save a lot of people money and time. Thanks ! Great content and a new sub

[@rushhour6444]

dam that video just ended huh

[@mathewrajanarzary5339]

Fr😂😂

[@ShannonTomshack-ho9oj]

Okay… this was the actual greatest explanation I’ve ever experienced regarding computers. It takes me so long to understand new concepts, let alone actually grasp it after 4 minutes. The online classroom was so supportive with my learning style. Seriously - This was wildly helpful. thank you so much!!!

[@Christomshack]

Hey, fancy seeing you here

[@Christomshack]

Glad to hear though, thanks! Hahaha

[@ShannonTomshack-ho9oj]

@@Christomshack how’d I even get here, I’m lost

[@robertbaratheon305]

A content creator that wholly explains their point fast and effectively without droning over minute details to reach the 10 minute mark? Instant subscribe.

[@mikesmith4236]

8 minute mark* but good point

[@poojr1828]

Shutup

[@mikesmith4236]

@@poojr1828 it’s an important note

[@coldheartcloud]

best shortest explanation ever without stupid talk around the problem - thank you!

[@Christomshack]

Glad to hear! Thanks for taking the time to comment 🤝🏼

[@errorfive]

That is the best analogy I've ever seen for SSD wear and tear in my entire 10+ years as an IT professional. Kudos.

[@secretsocialservice]

This is great! I haven't seen a single KZbinr go over this. They all talk specs. This is much more important. I also don't typically comment anywhere, but I think this video deserves more recognition. And thank you for not making it a 20-30 Minute video and getting straight to the point.

[@Christomshack]

It's comments like this that are the greatest day boosters. Really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment and happy to hear your thoughts!

[@secretsocialservice]

@@Christomshack Anytime! Looking forward to seeing more of your content.

[@EvansAdam100]

How refreshing that a youtube stays in the real world and makes an honest recommendation like this!

Fantastic explanation! Straight to the point with no technical lingo that usually is just regurgitated from the product’s website.

[@Strykenine]

0:01 I am not in the market for a new Mac, but I am always in the market for a good laugh.

[@adamrevello3241]

I like how you actually explain the concepts that tech reviewers throw out. Also first time I've seen the chalk board analogy to explain the potential pitfalls of swap memory on SSD. nice work

[@azndistiny]

can NOT be explained any simpler. Love this explanation and so easy to understand. Sharing this video for family and friends who are just about looking for their next apple upgrade

[@eliodecolli]

THANK YOU for this! First thing first, it’s straight to the point and concise, no bullshit hyping and stuff, and more importantly it’s pretty much the only video that actually describes the problem at hand and gives a perfectly reasonable solution that I’ve seen so far. Keep it up.

[@oakacc952]

Video ends abruptly (which is weird) but the way you've explained everything deserves a shoutout. Simple, objective and didactic! Congratulations! Apart from the end, your editing skills, lighting setup, sound quality, bgm choice (especially volume), screen composition and your thumbnails are also on point! I've seen a lot of "amateur" content on youtube (I mean no disrespect with the expression) and I'm really impressed with your video. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@montavio]

Video was perfect but no ending 😂

[@bidyo1365]

🤣🤣🤣@@montavio

[@charleskra]

He must have ran out of RAM! HA!

[@masterchief1342]

wow. its has been FOREVER since ive seen the popcorn time logo..your profile picture

[@GPDF]

​@@charleskra😂😂😂😂😂

[@Rood67]

Hands-down, one of the best videos on a computer, memory, drive storage that I have ever seen! This is useful for both Mac users and PC users. As another comment states, no benchmarks, no complex explanation, just common sense was real world examples. Perfection!

[@Christomshack]

Love to read comments like this! Thanks 🤝

[@Grzeroli1]

You forgot the 95% of the people, who have 65536 browser tabs open 😁

[@TempleMadeSimple]

I'm sorry to break it to you but that's not an accurate percentage.

[@onouphrios]

@@TempleMadeSimpleratio then 🤡

[@driftone-ti6qd]

Thanks kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHWqZZl_q7djfc0si=9F7m8ldTnlTsOm95

[@rabbithole8592]

​@@TempleMadeSimple 86% of percentages are made up on the spot

[@Carmen_Lapadat]

Me

[@ThatWhiteKnight]

fantastic. Solely picked this video becasue it was short. Very helpful information. Thank you!

[@AT_ID]

Excellent straight forward video that actually helped me make my decision. Thank you!

[@shannenmaligad4871]

Thank you for the simplified explanation for the SSD and RAM. These are the explanation that most of the tech vloggers miss since they focus more on the appearance of the macbooks.

[@Cldyefrog12]

Really great job of simplifying swap memory. Quick and to the point video. 👍

[@DABUAS69]

Very important and always overlooked! Great explanation on memory swapping and management. Thank you!

[@haris_ahmad98]

Amazing Video, No BS cut straight to the point and answered all the questions I had. 👍🏼

[@Youba05]

I think it’s absolutely criminal from Apple to charge +$200 for 8gb of extra ram when ram prices have SIGNIFICANTLY dropped down (laptop 8gb ddr4 ram go for less than $25), they used to charge that in 2019, and they’re still charging the same amount.

[@twystedhumour]

I disagee. I think it's criminal to KEEP buying overpriced products when you don't like what the company is charging. Bottom line: they're not holding a gun to your head to buy.

[@minigiant8998]

apple is a premium company. it's not the dollar store so dont expect low prices. their polishing cloth is $19 and it was backordered for weeks.

[@gamerjamessss]

@@minigiant8998you say that like it's worth the price and many of the "dollar store" options aren't better and cheaper than what apple offers

[@mrsamot4677]

Is apple silicon unified memory?? And it’s apple?? Of course it’s gonna be expensive. This isn’t DDR4 bro.

[@Youba05]

@@mrsamot4677 ah yes, like it’s made out of different components. It’s almost the same shit, and yes they should charge more for it, but they’re charging the same amount they did in 2019 even tho it’s like thrice as cheap to make? Smh.

[@stephenvalente3296]

If it wasn’t for the closed architecture preventing user upgrades in terms of both memory and storage, think a lot of people would be happier to start off with a lower spec model. However, given Apple Silicon is locked upon production, I’d still go for a 16Gb/512Gb option with any discounts when purchasing. If Apple hadn’t nobbled the 256Gb SSD, staying external for additional storage would have been easier to opt for.

[@DaveDFX]

You can solve this problem by selling the old laptop and upgrading :) I got 8Gb MacBook Air and basic photoshop hit swap already. System and graphics uses around 3 to 4Gb leaving apps with very little. Back in the days we used to swap to HDD and old school users know the impact of swap.

[@Mrs.Fineapple]

It’s so refreshing to come across a video that gets right to the point. Thank you!

[@gwgrote5]

Awesome video. Thank you so much. I just bought the M2 MBP and was worrying if I got enough storage. You explained it brilliantly.

[@sixxnote]

This is a refreshingly pragmatic approach to giving this type of information. Many YT reviewers fall over themselves on the numbers but it's good to hear clear advice from someone with real software experience. Subscribed!

[@Beetlejoocex3]

I’m trying to learn more about “under the hood” parts when it comes to mobile devices, computers, laptops, etc and make a career change. And I have to say this is the best video I’ve come across in easily explaining things to me. Thank you so much! I’m definitely subscribing and will be watching and learning more!

[@kerrydaniels8460]

If you have the budget I recommend building your own PC. That and/or use a PC builder simulator. You can learn this stuff in a week or two. The harder stuff is on the software/logical end. Knowing the physical does help though.

[@ailurophilely]

Thank you!! This exact spec was my pick too, but now I am more confident about it!

[@davidisraelii2694]

this was actually SO helpful. thank you for this. i now have much more confidence in my understanding of the mechanics. this makes me feel empowered. really grateful.

[@fabian98f]

Your are the first KZbinr I saw who recommend the base model for those people who just need a Macbook for basic tasks and don't want spend much money. Thanks for a clear and objective review and opinion! Great Video. New Subscriber! 😁

[@Christomshack]

Much appreciated! Glad to hear you liked the video - Thanks for the comment

[@skjoldgames]

Agreed, you can always find storage work arounds, like network storage or external drives, but you can't upgrade your RAM, and when you need it, you're really gonna need it.

[@Christomshack]

Totally agree!

[@_NIck_B_]

Great way of explaining!! I am looking into getting the new iMac and the whole ram thing been so frustrating to decide.. thank you a lot for helping!!

[@wifeunderthesea]

i just found your channel because i am in the process of trying to figure out what to replace my mid-2015 MBP. i've watched a ton of mac reviews the last few days and this video is far and away the best video i have come across. you would be a great teacher.

[@nikknence]

Finally, a straightforward review without unnecessary fluff-straight to the point!

[@robcor80]

Recently upgraded my 2011 iMac to a M2 mac mini, ended up going with the 16gb ram. Though I’m not a super heavy user or a content creator I do like editing photos, have a bunch of apps open, and occasionally do a little video editing, also been thinking about teaching myself how to code, so I feel like 16 was good fit for me. Nice job Chris explains ram 👍🏽

[@Christomshack]

Glad to hear you liked the explanation! How are you liking the new M2 mini?

[@robcor80]

@@Christomshack enjoying it man, it's been super fast so far. Though I'm used to the iMac already having a camera, using my iPhone as a camera been pretty good so far.

[@Christomshack]

@@robcor80 no webcam must be weird to get used to! Are you using one of the monitor mounts for the iPhone? I sent one to a friend and they love it

[@robcor80]

@@Christomshack you know what I totally forgot about those mounts, I've just been using my tablet/phone stand, it gets the job done and I don't mind the camera off to the side a little.

[@Burps___]

Hi Robert, I was in your same shoes but, despite already owning M1 Macbook Pro (16 GB RAM), I bought my M2 Mac Mini with 8 GB and gulped big hoping it’d be fine since, when I use my Macbook Pro my system often uses 12+ GB of RAM…I’m a 3-browser, 40 tabs each plus apps running guy. Lo and behold, the 8 GB Mac Mini works without a hitch! Can’t tell any difference at all…no lag, no beach balls. This supports Chris’s suggestion in the video. I sort of laugh when every other KZbinr says “you’ll want 16 GB to future-proof your machine”…they don’t seem to get that the $200 RAM upgrade is 40% the cost of a brand new Mac Mini…in the “future” I’ll just buy a new Mac Mini with the money I saved in RAM 😂

[@patrickduchene3181]

This was a great video! Nice visual aid. That is really helpful to understand how the swap works. Thanks a lot. You’re a great teacher.

[@chenulgomes8234]

What a video. Answered all my questions. TYSM!

[@chrispoor2017]

I have been in IT management for almost 30 years, and this is the best explanation for the difference between RAM and storage memory I have ever heard. Great job!

[@JM_2019]

Now finally even IT management can understand it. :)

[@derektorres6260]

This video is a great quick look at this conundrum. I work at Costco and do my fair share of Apple product sales. I do tend to recommend upgrading the SSD over more ram. But I am also quick to point out that we have external SSDs for 1tb/$80, and when they’re on sale 2tb/$130 (normally $190).

[@loganmedia1142]

Are those external SSDs the same speed as the internal one?

[@el7654]

Thank you for explaining it with such clarity

[@GaFeww]

Instant subscribe! I mean this is one of the best yet shortest explanations I’ve come across in videos of this kind. Hope your channel grows fast.

[@bricegiraud2001]

Chris, I’m new to the channel : just wanted to tell you that you have a very original an unique way of teaching / speaking about a thematic.and transmitting your thoughts. Never give up what you’re doing, no doubt, you’ll become a BEAST. Keep going man, never let the nesayer push you down. To the way of reaching out 500K (yes five hundred) subscribers. Good skill !

[@Christomshack]

The best comment I've read in a long time. Cheers!

[@chriscasillas]

THANK YOU. I've had the base model M2 Air since launch almost a year ago. That thing is lightning quick, even with 8GB of RAM. I typically have 5-6 apps open at a time. Including apps like Photoshop and audio editing software. The Air breezes through all of it. I've always said that the base model has plenty of horsepower for 90-95% of users out there as well. Your take on this topic is spot on.

[@rafin8458]

What about storage tho?

[@chriscasillas]

@@rafin8458 I’ve got 10+ years of documents and graphics from our church on it and it’s a little over half full. 256GB of storage is totally fine for the average user.

[@priyankmehra532]

How's your experience been? Is it good enough? Especially for video editing, does slower SSD impact performance in comparison to M1 Air ? Planning to buy a Macbook Air very soon. Need a Lil guidance

[@priyankmehra532]

How's your experience been? Is it good enough? Especially for video editing, does slower SSD impact performance in comparison to M1 Air ? Planning to buy a Macbook Air very soon. Need a Lil guidance

[@fatedcircle90210]

This is the video I've been looking for. Thank you 🙏

[@twosailz]

Thank you very much for an excellent presentation. I am looking at going to MAC from Windows and have been totally confused by the RAM requirements. I look forward to viewing many more of your presentations.

[@peacewalker991]

Honestly this was such a fantastic breakdown with no nonsense and simple explanations. Great work

[@ronb7105]

Amazing video, quick and without the fluff, really enjoyed the chalkboard analogy. Subbed and going to check out more of your channel. This is my first Mac and as tempting as it was to upgrade, I went the base M2 Air model. I am pleasantly surprised with the performance and the lack of constant updates. I can see this machine lasting me a few more years than my previous laptops, wish this video was up a few months ago when I was researching, it would've made the decision easier :)

[@Christomshack]

Much appreciated, Ron. I do my best to keep the videos as short as possible while still delivering the most value I can, so I appreciate your comment. Congrats on the new M2 MBA! How is it handling your workload so far?

[@ronb7105]

@@Christomshack I’m finding the ecosystem rather interesting, it’s fitting my needs and to date hasn’t let me down. Basic small business and accounting with a side of daily browsing streams etc, definitely happy with the performance.

[@deniko17]

thank you! great content. all my questions answered

[@cossackspear]

this video made the details that moste ignore so simple to understand, and it helpt a lot with my decision. great video thx a lot

[@praveenstomp2471]

I feel higher RAM config is must needed (for Professional & Smalll Business Users) as we deal with Multiple active web tabs along with other resource hungry apps like (Whatsapp, MS Office Suite, Mailbox, Notes / Drafts, Reminders, Zoom / Teams). So 16gb is really needed even if ur not an editor, but a professional who uses multiple software suites to monitor ur business activity.

[@Goneoffpath]

Well said man. I totally agree with this. My full time profession is as a media manager for various companies. I need exactly what you mentioned to operate on a daily basis successfully.

[@kutasimusic]

I never thought Ryan Gosling has a YT channel about Macbooks... WOW 🤩

[@simonberwick6191]

Thank you so much for creating and posting 🙏 Your explanation and examples is one of the best I’ve watched 🙌

[@baekimin21]

Excellent explanation. I really need concise and straight to the point videos like this. Thank you so much

[@lafemmedevastation]

The biggest problem with folks who're going the route of saving money on the storage is the way that Apple has baked-in the SSD bottleneck with lower NAND configurations, and graduates the performance based upon how many chips you config in your order. Apple knows _precisely_ how to structure the rollout of a product (down to the very SoC) to assure the most money possible comes from folks who're wanting to future-proof, and the unassuming *crucial* info that they know tech-heads will be looking for is what makes our wallets hurt the most.😿

[@paulmeyer1001]

Yeah I'm surprised he didn't mention the gimped SSD speeds on the base model.

[@krane15]

Absolutely. Its a science with they and nobody does it better. That's why they're a trillion dollar company. Just not by me.

[@whyzee007]

I don’t think the SSD speed’s actually matter for day to day tasks.

[@Ben21756]

@@whyzee007 It actually does matter. Faster SSD speeds equal less time required for a machine to do a certain task, which makes for a more responsive and faster overall user experience. The base model M1 is actually faster than the base model M2 by 75% in certain cases due to the superior NAND speed.

[@egbront1506]

​@@Ben21756For basic websurfing and office use, even the gimped M2 256GB config is plenty fast enough. Those who have higher performance demands are more likely to purchase better specified notebooks anyway

[@miketech1024]

As a senior-level systems engineer, I’d like to give my ringing endorsement of this information’s technical soundness. Fantastic video all around! Definitely earned my subscription. This channel is going places…

[@Christomshack]

Thanks for the support and comment, Mike! 🤝

[@3_pancakes767]

Maybe youtube is missing some super entry level videos that dumb down what computer components do instead of just assuming everyone knows how they work.

[@user-kr3le5ix2x]

truly excellent if only more youtubers was as direct yet simple as you!!! thank you

[@peggy_web]

Thanks so much for this great vid. Really helpful and insightful 😊

[@cakekomo]

I think you did a great job explaining what swap is and what it can be used for, but you definitely understated the potentially severe performance impact swap memory can have. Sure it’s not as bad as the HDD days, but you are still talking 100-200us compared to 50-150ns. Pretty big difference and definitely noticeable depending on what you are doing.

[@elderguimaraes3333]

Really the best video I’ve seen on the subject! Congratulations!!! Keep it up!!! 💪🏾

[@dragogx9677]

Thanks Ryan Gosling your awesome. always humble!

[@conorcurley6798]

While I agree getting more RAM is a good idea to reduce swapping, which can, in theory, cause damage to the SSD, I think there's a couple of practical things to consider first. Before assuming the SSD is damaged due to read/write, I'd wipe the system and reinstall MacOS. Don't restore a Time Machine backup, clone your system onto an external drive and start from scratch. With your data being consistently written around RAM swaps, fragmentation comes into play too, especially if your SSD gets full. SSD failure due to NAND failure is quite rare, some SSDs with SLC NAND (1 bit per cell) can withstand up to 10,000 write cycles before failure. Apple uses TLC NAND (3 bits per cell) as far as I'm aware, which is a bit lower at around 3000 write cycles. Think about how often you write enough data to fill your SSD, then remove all of it and start again. You'd have to do that 3000 times to see damage. This equates to a total write over the lifetime of your Mac of 3 petabytes. Or it equates to rendering 1TB of video every day for 3000 days (which is still 10 years...). Great video though, haven't heard of SSD write damage being described like that before, it's a great analogy.

[@yourmomsboyfriend3337]

Yeah, as a CS graduate this was the first time I’d ever heard of damaging your SSD as a consequence of swap memory. Usually, I’d just say you want to avoid using swap memory because is ungodly slow. Never really imagined damaging the SSD was an issue

[@AngryMicrowavee]

Appreciate this, short and informative as ffff thank you brother

[@bikerinside_tech]

Great video editing, explanation, voice and words usage. Subscribed!

[@user-ul1ku1ds9d]

8 was good enough for me. Nothing but smiles using it.

[@thekittyspy]

Interesting video and great explanation but I think a good suggestion for the future in terms of RAM amount that you need is really to mention how many tabs you run on average either in Safari or other browser. If you run 30+ tabs in Safari on 8GB of ram you tend to start hitting swap pretty heavily, especially if you have 2-3 KZbin tabs open at the same time too.

[@len5499]

When I hear about someone with 30+ tabs open, it makes me think there’s a mismatch between their habits and their expectations. At work, I use 3 monitors but keep my applications to a minimum. If someone chooses to have a lot of tabs open, especially with videos, they should anticipate that it’ll demand a lot of resources. It’s not just about needing more RAM. It’s about understanding how our choices impact our tech’s performance. While everyone works differently, being mindful of how our habits affect what we expect from our devices can save us a lot of frustration.

[@GamingPIPI]

same, especially if you use chrome the RAM will get crazy lmao. And I use soooo many tabs when writing a thesis

[@user-ci3dm2jf1y]

I have 5 tabs open, and it's struggling to even write this comment (15" base model m2). It actually takes about 8 second for my text to display. Crazy.

[@GamingPIPI]

@@user-ci3dm2jf1y that’s really weird. Is something wrong maybe? I have never heard people reporting those issues. I chose for 16gb ☺️

[@GamingPIPI]

@@user-ci3dm2jf1y my ram is always at a minimum of 8-9gb in use but that’s because it uses more if the capacity is there 😅. Yours should optimise itself for 8gb setup

[@ninobach7456]

The last bit was soooo helpful thanks brother

[@Blair_chronicles]

This! This is the best explanation I’ve heard. As a person who has basic knowledge ONLY of computers and literally having no idea what these were you explained it very well for someone like me. Thank you! Definitely deserved getting a subscription!

[@alexandredanelon]

I have a MacBook Air M1 base model with 8GB of ram and 256 of SSD. Actually I’m using it to development with heavy tools like Rider IDE and Docker desktop. With this softwares running and some safari tabs the memory pressure keeps on 60%. Really the MacOS memory management is great. I guess is best to me upgrade the SSD to 512 in next Mac.

[@jutjub22]

I have the same setup Rider and Docker, Chrome and few other apps - strangly seems fine, even with two user accounts. I had 16GB model also, and so far I do not notice difference.

[@jpadicecoffee9812]

Good job Chris in the memory and white board analogy. For myself, having 16GB RAM now is the most important component to prolong a laptop's life since everything else on a MAC\PC can't be upgraded later and is essential if you're doing the fun stuff like video edits, Adobe apps, and running IDEs. I keep my daily laptop for at least 4 years+.

[@jesselam5867]

Yeah was gonna say, his points are true if you are happy to use it for a few years, but even if you look at his workflow for the 16GB model it looks as if he is hitting 80% memory pressure. Give it a few years and he will definitely have to upgrade even though the rest of the computer perfectly works. Even for the average user, in theory you can save money by upgrading the ram to 16GB so you can hold it in for longer as typically the ram is the first thing to get outdated.

[@kerrydaniels8460]

​@jesselam5867 You're right on the money. I got the 16GB/512GB and saved $400 dollars by letting someone else pay for the upgrade. I went refurbed and it was a brand new laptop really in mint condition. I wasn't gonna pay the insane markups, but also wasn't gonna buy without 16GB of RAM, because I knkw better. Additionally, technically the bigger SSD's will overwhelmingly tend to last longer to if bigger (which is why Apple should allow you to upgrade your own instead of beings dicks tbh...). TBW way higher. I plan on keeping mime 5+ years. I run VM's on it so I'm not messing sound with only 8GB.

[@madyaalyah_]

This video is amazing. As someone looking into learning more, this helped so so much. Thank you!

[@nitrogen057]

So far - best video and overall explanation I’ve ever seen on such topic. Very very well done ! 😊

[@edcipriani8873]

Even though I gave up on Mac after a decade and went back to Windows, still glad to see there are at least some reviewers who don't recommend going overboard and over the top with spending the extra money. Buy what you need and what will easily work for you. Unfortunately too many reviews and opinions try to get people to spend more money by upgrading specs and features, throwing away money on computers, phones and other devices.

[@mohammedfaizan3013]

Why did you move back to Windows?

[@edcipriani8873]

​@@mohammedfaizan3013 - I purchased a windows laptop in Nov 2020. Since about 2015, Apple has released Macbooks that have had more than their share of issues, including the butterfly keyboard conundrum. If you pay a premium amount of money for a laptop, you should have much better reliability. I felt that Apple was not delivering a better product for the premium price during those years. I will admit, that all changed, when Apple released the MacBooks with the M1 chips back in Nov 2020, the same month I bought the windows laptop. Since then it seems the reliability of the MacBook Air/Pro have really improved with the M-series chips. I had already made the decision to transition back to Windows, and I just didn't feel like waiting around for Apple to get their act together anymore. I went with an upscale 15.5" Asus Zenbook laptop, no regrets, no issues for the past 3 years. If I would have purchased an equivalent Macbook with the same size screen and specs, it would have been over 2K. Since then, Apple has released a 15" MacBook Air, for a much more reasonable price, Apple had to do this to make a much more reasonably priced laptop. I just don't feel the need to move back to a Macbook anymore. I admit I still use an iPad, and iPhone, but the combo of devices works for me.

[@HenriqueAraujoCunha]

I recently upgraded my MBP 13” Core i7+16Gb over to a MBP 14” M2 Pro+32Gb. My normal usage is not heavy, but considering long term usability+speed I believe that more RAM is the best upgrade possible.

[@Christomshack]

Totally agree!

[@stove.d]

I doubt you would notice a difference between the M2 with 16GB vs 32GB. The upgrade from i7 to M2 is massive and, as explained in the video, has benefits beyond those two upgrades "on paper". Though if you don't plan on upgrading again in 5 years or so you won't regret the extra ram

[@HenriqueAraujoCunha]

@@stove.d I choose to upgrade and have more RAM (32Gb), as I usually keep my MacBook during around 5 years. So this helps keeping him performing very fast. Plus when a resell it, this will be a differentiator.

[@chrismellon127]

Perfect timing for me to find your channel!! Looking at a Mac mini and have been deciding on wht to get

[@matthewwilliams7011]

Amazing explanation, I never knew about this despite watching so so many videos. No funny nonesense here when you said you were going to share something new and value add. Good job man!

[@stevens6654]

Nicely stated...but there's also the unsaid issue of future-proofing a computer. Getting a unit with a somewhat larger capacity is frequently a good idea, because disk space gets filled pretty quickly in the best of conditions. Increasing the RAM, too, allows you to address the ever-increasing load on your computer. It's like a kind of insurance.

[@familymovie5799]

only that with all the past mac laptop issues weve seen, you cant even be sure that it will survive and so upgrading and future proofing means little if the machine is dead on arrival so to speak. In my case, my mbp 15 inch 16gigs 250ssd didnt last more than a year before it starte breaking down and become totally unusable, now it finally died and I need a new one, dont think ill fix it even if it may just be the battery and a fix for 200 dollars (cost me 2,5k). But that def left a deep traumatic experience and now i think going for the cheapest / best ratio money can get might be better than trying to think it will last 3-5 or more years. Even this guy here making the vid seemed to have changed his out 1,5 later because the ssd slowed down or died due to the swap memory which you have really no control over. In the past, you would have just swapped the ssd disk yourself, but apple made sure no one can do this alone. Cooperate greed like with all their latest machines, damn shame, they used to be a fine company or at least so it seemed!

[@peterw9006]

@familymovie5799 he swapped bc his demands increased, not bc the performance decreased

[@kingsleygyekye8906]

My experience with the base M2 Air wasn't as pleasant though. It couldn't handle my full-stack development needs as well as I wanted. It would heat up so often causing it to lag. Sometimes when I had to present something I've worked on during a Google Meet call my laptop would be really slow and keep freezing. I eventually had no choice but to upgrade to the 14 inch M1 pro.

[@LIRichard-cv6hs]

what's full steck develop

[@MBmysterio]

Did you find that the 14-inch M1 pro is comfortable to use? I heard several people complaining about (1)how much their wrists hurt after using it and (2) how sharp the edges felt.

[@kingsleygyekye8906]

@@MBmysterio I personally haven't any such issue. It feels comfortable to use for me

[@iliannhy]

Incredible useful information. Thanks!

[@heyjules5606]

Hey Chris. Appreciate this video. You helped me a lot which pro to buy.

[@CaseyFleetMedia]

Awesome video man! I currently have a 14 inch MacBook Pro 16 GB of RAM and one terabyte of storage… I’m returning it to upgrade my storage to 2 TB… Although I agree with the expensive upgrade… Apple does have the educational program where it’s a lot less expensive. I do not like having to carry around external hard drives. I would rather just do time machine back up to back up everything on my machine.

[@Christomshack]

To each their own - If your budget allows for it, then ball out and get that 2TB SSD 😎 Mind me asking what you use your MBP for?

[@CaseyFleetMedia]

@@Christomshack I use it for many thing… Documents, Games, Video Production, Music producing, MainStage, DAW recording, pro presenter, etc

[@wilsonlamlyt7138]

@@Christomshack I think as a student myself, I would be totally fine with the 8gb ram for just possible mild editing and general note taking uses, but I’m thinking should I get the 512gb ssd as some said it affects the speed on general usage, like the speed of downloading and reading files. May I ask is it such a huge difference in speed, and is 256 enough for general apps?

[@Christomshack]

@@wilsonlamlyt7138 I honestly recommend going with the base model M1 MBA over the base model M2. If you’re set on going with the M2, 256gb SSD will be enough for that workload. Although I highly recommend upgrading to 512gb SSD on the M2 MBA.

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

Great video, it’s a bit crazy to think hard drive speeds have gotten so fast that they are no longer a huge bottleneck to system speed. Ssd technology has really been a huge game changer.

[@Christomshack]

Couldn't agree more 🤝

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

Hard drives and solid state drives are two completely different things.

[@minigiant8998]

@@PSYCHOV3N0M ty captain obvious.

[@kerrydaniels8460]

They are still waaaaaay slower than RAM and shouldn't be seen as a decent alternative to RAM really. If you're using a lot of swap it is definitely detrimental to your overall system and especially on macs where once the internal SSD goes you're screwed. The majority of the system runs on RAM. If you were to run it on the SSD purely then it would not have the same performance. So essentially, no SSD have not caught up to RAM nor do modern SSD's prevent any issues in performance if you're using too much RAM. You still will take a performance hit or even crash. You may not mean it, but I want to make it clear that storage is no replacement for RAM. It's a last resort.

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

@@kerrydaniels8460 I definitely did not mean that, correct. I was just making a general remark about the shift from mechanical drives to ssd’s.

[@Quinoabrah]

One of the best videos on tech period - that I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks!

[@abdulrahman-pd7hw]

wow such a straight and well explained review. super. good luck for your future.

[@jameswangjen3386]

I gotta say Chris, this was such an informational and creative videos I've ever seen in this niche. It's really well done to the point that even people with very less tech knowledge can understand it. You're doing man and I would love to see more of your videos. 👍

[@TheCaike08]

Great video, thanks for making it simple enough to understand :) I'm a web developer, and I'd say I'm on the fence between the refurbished 14 M1 Pro vs the 14 M2 Pro. I know that, in practice, even the M1 air would do the job gracefully. However, now with the M1 Pro refurbished, it's hard not to see it as the best deal. I'd say that the only "missing feature" that concerns me about M1 Pro vs M2 Pro is battery life. Though it might be just a FOMO situation. Since you mentioned you ended up purchasing a 14 M1 Pro, I'd like to ask you: how's your experience with that machine? What about its battery life?

[@Christomshack]

When available through Apple, the refurbished MBP 14" is an unbeatable value right now and is the same model I purchased. Highly recommend it. It will handle web development with ease and the battery life in most Macs are more than enough IMO.

[@GamingPIPI]

Do you think there’s a downside to getting a (third party) refurbished macbook?

[@Zyngawf9]

This was such a good video. Well made, and very helpful. Thank you

[@pietrokron5879]

Thanks for this amazing explanation! great content bro

[@CinemaNinja]

The internal drive on macs are worth every penny. They are literally 23x faster then most all external sdd except for a few that don’t get immediately thermal throttled because they have a massive heat sink. Most external ssds are 300mbps even this they say they go up to 2000 or whatever. The internal max drive runs at 7500mbps

[@jpizzato]

There is absolute no explanation to why Apple still selling 8gb RAM laptos for almost 2K, other then greed, absolutely ridiculous practice.

[@Christomshack]

Couldn’t agree more