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My current 2019 iMac has 8GB of RAM and is very slow. I generally just use Chrome, some YouTube, newsfeeds, Luminar, Gmail, docs.... I'm wondering if the 8GB of RAM in the new Mac Mini M2 will be faster than that of my iMac. Is it worth the exrtra $200 to upgrade to 16GB? I will definitely do that to get faster performance, but if the M2 will give me faster processing times without spending the $200 then perhaps that's the way to go.
iMac (2017 – 2020)
If your current iMac is the 2019 21.5-inch model with a mechanical hard drive, that is why it is slow. You could install all the RAM you can afford and not see a perceptible difference at the keyboard.
From 2012 though 2019, Apple used slow and down-specced laptop-class 2.5-inch hard drives as entry-level storage in 21.5-inch iMacs. That was the reason for slow. I have data showing that those drives were up to 30% SLOWER than the entry-level mech drives in 2011 iMacs. Bad.
However, the fast entry-level SSDs in m3 iMac is not going to be much good if you go for the base 256GB storage option. We are already seeing reports here from people who cannot upgrade their OS because they cannot make enough free space on a 256GB drive. Consider the 512GB option the minimum for modern macOS versions.
If your current iMac is the 2019 21.5-inch model with a mechanical hard drive, that is why it is slow. You could install all the RAM you can afford and not see a perceptible difference at the keyboard.
From 2012 though 2019, Apple used slow and down-specced laptop-class 2.5-inch hard drives as entry-level storage in 21.5-inch iMacs. That was the reason for slow. I have data showing that those drives were up to 30% SLOWER than the entry-level mech drives in 2011 iMacs. Bad.
However, the fast entry-level SSDs in m3 iMac is not going to be much good if you go for the base 256GB storage option. We are already seeing reports here from people who cannot upgrade their OS because they cannot make enough free space on a 256GB drive. Consider the 512GB option the minimum for modern macOS versions.
If you
then it would be a good idea to get 16 GB or more. You can't expand RAM on any Apple Silicon Mac after purchase.
I would guess that the sweet spot for most people is 16 GB – 32 GB of RAM. I would think that for the things which you mention, 16 GB would be fine.
NOTE: I've seen some people say that Chrome is a bit of a memory hog. Another Web browser like Safari or Firefox might be more parsimonious with RAM, if you tend to keep your browser running for a long time, or to have lots and lots of tabs and windows open.
You can add external storage. Provided that the internal drive has enough room for the things that must live on the startup volume, what to do about storage is largely a question of speed, cost, and convenience.
Some points to consider:
The 2019 Intel CPU iMac has a video card GPU with its own dedicated memory, was available in different configurations from the typical 2GB or even up to 8GB itself!
The new Macs have "unified" memory, that uses the RAM for both CPU and GPU. There is no dedicated graphics memory like the older Intel Macs had. So, maybe plan for adding a bit more of the new "unified" memory than what you have been accustomed to, to account for the portion of the unified memory that is shared for graphics.
That’s funny Keith. Beautiful Lamy deserves recognition!
Thank you all for the responses. I’ll get the 16GB RAM. Now, I suppose you’d also recommend I upgrade to the 512GB of storage? On my current iMac I’m using 90GB of the 1T.
If you are really using only 90GB, and don't foresee getting into a hobby that sucks disk space like video or photography, then the 512GB should be enough, but believe me you are the rare case of someone who can survive easily with *less* diskspace on a new computer.
Most folks get the 512GB model when they are using 750GB on their existing 1 TB, and find out too late that they made a bad mistake.
Yeah,👍 pretty much for what everyone posted here, only thing to remember is that the new Macs( Apple silicon) are built to order so that the RAM/memory is not upgradeable after you bought it… with your 2019 iMac, the RAM is upgradeable, up to 64 GB, but it’s not something the average user could do, not at all, I’d recommend letting an AASP
( apple authorized service provider) do that…
Macsales.com says that much RAM would cost you about $163 USD , roughly…
John b
That’s interesting Alan. Thank you - and thanks to the rest of you. I have decided to get the M2 Mac Mini with 16GB RAM and 512 GB of storage. While there are some reviewers that say it’s not necessary for 95% of users to go beyond the basic M2 Mini, the advice here plus in other forums/reviews suggest that the 16/512 combo is the best option if one can afford it. So what I’m planning on for the Mini plus a decent monitor (probably the Dell 2023QE) will set me back $1500 - not cheap but hopefully will meet all my needs for the foreseeable future.
IMHO you should be set for quite some time, spencerfromlamy. I don’t really like or “Dig” Dell monitors, not because they are “bad” or are of lousy/poor quality—- far from it… I don’t like them /dig them because they used to/ do have a reputation as being Mac-unfriendly, eg they don’t really play nicely/well with Macs as a general rule, however, my last Dell monitor I used was 12 years ago so things may have improved a bit since then, hopefully… as an alternative , you can get an HDMi 2.0 + HDCP 2.2 equipped “smart”tv and use that as a monitor super easily, for me it’s almost a “no-brainer” ( but not quite ) … all you’d need is an Appropriate hdmi cable ( hdmi 2.0 with HDCP
2.2 support, also called super/high speed HDMI) of whatever length you needed, plus the tv set, and your new M2 Mac Mini… and you could be rocking and rolling , ready to go , all set up, within, say, 45 minutes…
i used to have a 43” 4K LG business class commercial monitor, but sadly, i had an accident with it, got a little dumb , careless and foolish, and…D’OH !!!! … so I bought an LG 32”
4k monitor as I couldn’t afford to get the 43” LG monitor repaired and was cheaper to buy a new/refurbished/open box monitor Then to try to gee it repaired… I had a big sad on that day but it’s all long gone now, besides, who really needs 3 DisplayPort inputs on one monitor anyways ?
John B
JohnB- I’ve read that the Dell 2723QE works really well with the Mini. I am also thinking about the Samsung M80C. Samsung’s price for that model as a 27” is around $200 more than the 32” version. I think 32” for a desktop monitor will be too big, so for $500, the 27” 4K Dell or LG seem the best. The Dell U2723QE does have HDMI 2.0 + HDCP2.2, as does the LG27UL850 (which btw is around $150 less than the Dell).
Yeah, you make some excellent points, spencerfromlamy, Dell may play nicer with Macs these days… so either would be fine IMO, even “scam-sung” 🤣.. and I agree with you, 32” is just about the right size for a monitor for me… I went with LG for both my Mac monitor and living room 4K tv and haven’t regretted it one bit ever, both have been good + reliable since Day 1… both working like champions… and that was 5 years ago.. maybe u can find a good deal on an “open box” monitor or refurbished one ??? I paid $780 for the 43” LG + shipping+ taxes, and I thought at the time, it was a great deal.. can’t be buying another one of those any time soon… 💵 🤯🤣
JohnB - I’m glad that 32” works for your setup. For me, if I want to use my keyboard on my desk, I’m about 24” from the screen, and I think that 27” would be better in my case. Thanks again for your thoughtful advice!
Yes, absolutely 16 GB. f\Also get the largest SSD drive your budget can afford, at least 500 GB and preferably 1TB.
If you got the money, I would do it., the more RAM the better in my opinion
8 GB isn't really feasible on any computer nowadays. Unless, that is, all you plan on doing with it is browsing the web, reading/sending emails and messages, and playing Solitaire.
Should I get M2Mini w/ 8 or 16 GB RAM?
