System requirements for Logic Pro X

Hi

According to this there are no user-upgradable RAM slots in a current 21" iMac

iMac: Memory specifications and upgrades - Apple Support

One solution would be to return it and re-order with 16GB

The amount of RAM needed does depend on your usage: lots of virtual instruments etc can/will eat up RAM.

If audio recording is predominantly what you want to do, you *may* be OK.

CCT

Hi

mikefrombrantford wrote:

Requires 64 bit Audio Units plug ins. I'm unclear as to what this is, whether I have it, and if not, how to get it.

Any 3rd party FX or Instrument plugins that you want to use within LPX must be 64bit Audio Unit versions. Most (not all) 3rd party plugins are available in that format.

mikefrombrantford wrote:

The question is simple. Does the following Apple iMac meet the system requirements for Logic Pro X?

Apple iMac MK442LL/A 21.5 inch desk top, Intel i5 dual core 2.8 ghz, 8 gb ram, 1 TB HDD, Thunderbolt (latest version).

Yes, but you might want to get more RAM, depending on your intended use.

CCT

Mike hi

Some Macs can't have RAM added, but don't worry, 8gb RAM is fine! Logic only needs 4gb RAM.

I have 2 computers, the main one has 16gb RAM, and the other one is 8gb RAM, both run Logic Pro X fine.

I believe that model iMac is the late 2015 iMac which means you cannot add any more RAM. It will also probably come running 10.12.x too and in my opinion 8 gig of ram is not enough to run the OS and any decent Logic project without running into difficulties.

I hate it that Apple have made the 21.5 inch iMacs non-upgradable for ram. 8gig, these days, is not much ram at all.

No, kerochan, it completely depends on what you're doing with Logic. Apple spec quite a few computers that WILL run Sierra, 10.12.x, but you get it on some of those older machines and it runs terribly. Almost unusably so.

4gig is misleading. It is the amount of ram needed for Logic to run. In use, it will use more. The OS itself takes a fair whack. I have 24gig in my old Mac Pro and it rescued it, use wise, from going 12 to 24gig.

So, 8gig is not fine at all (caveat: what you're doing or want to do).

For years I have messaged Apple to put Minimum Spec and then Real World Working specs because the 2 things are totally different. But they are never going to do that because they want you to constantly upgrade the hardware. That's why they made the software so cheap or free.

I appreciate where Octopi and CCTM are coming from, though I have projects with many virtual instruments /plug ins and over 40 tracks, no problems whatsoever on an 8gb RAM Macbook Air, though it is an i7, so a bigger processor.

But I am sure you will be fine.

Hi Octupi

My main computer is a MacbookBook Pro Retina, 2.8 i7 quad core, 16gb RAM, El Capitan, I have no problems at all, I did once try one project which has 50 tracks, on my smaller 8gb RAM, dual core i7 Macbook Air, and there was also no problems!

Of course you are correct saying it depends on what you are doing with Logic!

Mike did say he is not using virtual instruments, so I would imagine no problems either.

Hi Mike,

Your iMac should be fine for Apple Logic Pro.

Don't worry about the Plug ins, Apple Logic comes with 64bit plug ins, ( Fx, Eqs, reverbs etc)

Enjoy!