RAM Choice for MacBook Pro M5

For what it is worth, I have a M4 Mini. I mostly use a browser but that can have many tabs open (15 currently). I also have a few other applications open that are not memory intensive (e.g., TextEdit). It isn't unusual for a menu bar tool I use to say I am using 66% of my 24GB. I am not using AI, and I am still using Sequoia OS. If this was a 16GB RAM computer I would already be using 100% of my RAM mostly just for the OS, a browser, and a few small apps! I would definitely consider getting at least 24GB for any degree of future-proofing. Of course you're paying Apple's prices…

The other thing is, how do you use a computer? Should I need to, I could close a couple of stagnant apps or not really necessary browser tabs. If I had something memory-greedy I could just close the browser and go wash dishes or something if I had some memory intensive task to run.

+1 on asking your professors what they would recommend since they will be assigning the tasks.

On thing about RAM these days is having too little is perhaps not the same as having too little 10+ years ago. If a computer runs low on RAM it starts using the drive for storage. In the "old days" this meant a spinner drive which was slow, slow. Now it means a SSD which is pretty fast. I would still try to avoid that situation though.

An MBPro M5 with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD is a base model. Keep that in mind. Over time, macOS and most apps tend to require increasing amounts of system resources.

You asked if exchanging it for a upgraded model would be "economically and computationally worth it." While I can't answer the computational aspect of your decision, ask yourself how much you would like having to buy another MacBook Pro in 2 or 3 years because the base model you have now is maxed out and no longer performs satisfactorily.

As others have already hinted or advised, for performance & long term use, 24GB + 1TB SSD for your intended (and future) uses is a much better choice.

16 GB is fine. Just keep an eye on your storage. Your "small datasets" and 48k tables one day turn into "let's try docker" and then your 16 GB of RAM is larger than your amount of free storage.

nervoustechie wrote:

MacBook Pro M5 RAM Choice.

Today I bought a MacBook Pro M5 16+512GB. I am a Data Science Student who does not usually have heavy workloads, yet most things involving complex models (just a few ones so far) are done in Cloud platforms like DataBricks or Google Colab.

The most complex tasks are running some local models for small datasets, cleaning data which is not very big, for instance the biggest dataset I have ever cleaned locally is 48000 rows, and making plots and analyses, as well as reports.

However, I am afraid 16 Gb will not be enough in the future. Therefore, I was thinking about, after having bought it, maybe the first 14 days if it is right, change it for a 24GB model. But I do not know if the upgrade is worth it, both economically and computationally.

Thanks for your advice.

I would get more RAM and more SSD.

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What do the instructors at your university recommend?

FWIW, If I were purchasing a new computer I would get as much RAM as I could afford. The minimum RAM I would get if I were buying a computer today that I planned to use for the next 4 or 5 years would be 32GB. But depending on your computing requirements for your course of study, you need as much RAM as recommended by your professors.

"RAM Choice for MacBook Pro M5: [...]However, I am afraid 16 Gb will not be enough in the future. Therefore, I was thinking about, after having bought it, maybe the first 14 days if it is right, change it for a 24GB model. But I do not know if the upgrade is worth it, both economically and computationally.[...]"

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How Much RAM you Need:

I agree that consulting your professors is ultimate here. But a few notes on RAM...

RAM is all about multitasking. So, if you have multiple applications open at one, the more RAM the better. Let's say you get an eMail attachment, and your browser or the Mail app is open along with other apps. Well, with 8GB, I would expect it to stall. Moreover, be certain you are meeting the minimum system requirements for the apps. MS Office, for example, requires at least 8GB of RAM --and that is a common software for those in college. So, if they are not all that tech savvy, then I'd say 32GB would be just fine. I run Virtual Machines on my 2023 MBP, and have TV and music open I the background.