Can I upgrade my MacBook to 16GB RAM?
Fortunately, if your MacBook Pro is slowing down and showing its age, you can upgrade specific models to 16GB. MacBook Pro memory upgrades are available for MacBook Pro (2012-Late 2016) Non-Retina, 2011, and Late 2008- 2010) models.
Adding too much RAM will eventually jeopardize the computer's performance, even when you have enough of it. The additional RAM will start applying the law of diminishing returns at a certain point, meaning you won't get much value from it.
Thanks. Configurable to 16GB means you have to buy it with 16GB when you order the machine, it does not mean it can be upgraded later.
| Amount of RAM | Suitable for: |
|---|---|
| 8GB | Internet, text processing, making spreadsheets, watching movies and series, editing photos and videos as a hobby. |
| 16GB | All of the above and professional photo and video editing. |
Apple explicitly mentions that users can't upgrade the RAM and SSD after the purchase is done.
16GB of RAM is the amount of memory we recommend for intermediate users looking for extra speed and smooth functioning. This may be especially beneficial if you tend to have several programs open and running, simultaneously. This is also a good level of RAM for casual gamers and standard business professionals.
Outdated hardware is another reason that might be slowing down your Mac. One of the best ways to increase the speed of your Mac's hard disk is to add more RAM (random access memory) — its short-term memory.
The only real “disadvantage” to a 16GB upgrade versus 8GB upgrade is cost. If cost is not factor, getting as much RAM as your system can handle is always a good thing. That said, physical installing RAM is one factor in performance improvement. The other is making sure your system can really handle that RAM.
Adding memory will generally not speed up your computer however it will keep it from slowing down as more apps use memory and you get near your maximum amount of ram your computer will starting swapping memory to the hard disk. The hard disk is slower than memory so your computer slows down. Put in simple terms.
The increased capacity that 16GB of RAM provides over 8GB makes it the clear winner. 8GB of RAM may be suitable for basic functions, but it quickly seizes up when multiple programs try to operate at the same time. You might not always need 16GB of RAM but you'll be happy to have it when push comes to shove.
Is it worth upgrading from 8GB to 16GB RAM?
16GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing most games and will provide a noticeable increase in performance from 8GB. You will also be able to run applications in the background without affecting gameplay.
To be honest, there's not a lot of difference between 8GB and 16 GB of RAM. If you're doing office work and more basic games, then you really won't notice a massive difference between the two. However, if you're wanting to do video editing, play the very latest high-end games you'll definitely need more…
For most users, 8GB of RAM is more than enough, but for power users or those who work with resource-intensive tasks, 16GB of RAM may be a better choice. Additionally, 16GB of RAM will future-proof your device for the next few years.
Unless you are configuring your MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip, which starts with 32GB of memory, you likely do not need the $400 add-on. In real-world tests, the 32GB MacBook Pro is not significantly outperforming the 16GB model, even during intense workflows.
So if you use more demanding software or do photo editing, occasional video work, and other activities, then it's best to pay extra for the 16GB memory option. For everyday activities — browsing the web, managing emails, or working with an office suite — 8GB is perfectly adequate.
- Step 1: Remove the bottom case. Shut down your MacBook Pro. ...
- Step 2: Remove existing memory (if present) Push the levers on the sides of the memory module in an outwards direction to release the module from the memory card slot. ...
- Step 3: Install memory. ...
- Step 4: Replace the bottom case.
Use the tables below to confirm the memory being installed is compatible with your MacBook Pro. You can add two 4 GB memory modules for a maximum of 8 GB of memory. For best performance, fill both memory slots and install an identical memory module in each slot.
32GB unified memory (M1 Pro and M1 Max) 64GB unified memory (M1 Max)
16GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing most games and will provide a noticeable increase in performance from 8GB. You will also be able to run applications in the background without affecting gameplay.
The more data that needs to be loaded onto the SSD the slower the system becomes. With 16GB of RAM the system is still able to produce 9290 MIPS where the 8GB configuration is over 3x slower.
Will upgrading RAM make a big difference?
Generally, the faster the RAM, the faster the processing speed. With faster RAM, you increase the speed at which memory transfers information to other components. Meaning, your fast processor now has an equally fast way of talking to the other components, making your computer much more efficient.
If you do a ton of memory-intensive work, upgrading the RAM may help. How you use your computer determines whether a RAM upgrade is worth it or not. If you're doing any video rendering, music production, design work, or photography editing, you might see a big improvement in speed if you upgrade the RAM.
If you notice that your Mac is slowing down even when you launch a few apps, then your system needs more free RAM to perform the tasks. Clearing inactive RAM will help to improve your Mac's speed. The easiest way to free up Mac's RAM is to restart the system.
If your Mac is still compatible with your programs and apps, a RAM update might be all you need to revitalize your device. To further improve performance, you can also consider upgrading your Mac with an SSD drive.
Generally, the more RAM your computer has, the larger the digital countertop you have to work on and the faster your programs will run. If your computer is running slowly due to a lack of RAM, you might be tempted to increase virtual memory because it is less expensive.
If all RAM space is used up when you have many programs open, the computer starts using the virtual memory on the hard drive, slowing down the computer a bit. Additional memory prevents this from happening. You will notice a better PC performance when browsing the internet after a RAM upgrade.
Install More RAM
If you're always running low on RAM or want to run more programs at once, there's really no way around it: you need to add some more RAM to your machine. While this does involve some cost, adding RAM will grant much-improved performance if your computer hasn't had much until now.
Add more RAM
If your computer is low on memory it may use the CPU to compensate for the lack of memory, adding more RAM can help lower the CPU usage. It's important to have enough RAM for the tasks you are performing to reduce CPU usage.
Apple today doubled the price for upgrading the RAM on the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, with customers in the United States now being charged $200 to move from 8GB to 16GB compared to the previous $100 upgrade price.
If your computer is running slowly due to a lack of RAM, you might be tempted to increase virtual memory because it is less expensive. However, adding RAM is a better solution because your processor can read data from RAM faster than from a hard drive.
Is 8GB RAM enough for next 5 years?
One of the most common questions we get asked is “how do I know if my computer needs more memory?” The answer is actually pretty simple. If you're using a PC that was released in the last five years or so, chances are it comes with 8GB of RAM – which is more than enough for most people.
If you're struggling with 8GB, upgrading to 16GB will boost performance. If your software places a heavy demand on 16GB RAM, an upgrade to 32GB should make your computing easy. With large amounts of RAM, you should notice improved reliability, especially if programs were freezing up when you used them.
| Latest 16 GB RAM (Jun ) Models | Price |
|---|---|
| Corsair Vengeance LPX (CMK16GX4M2B3200C16) 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 Desktop Ram | Rs. 7,046 |
| Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (1x16GB) DDR4 3200MHZ C16 Desktop Ram | Rs. 3,149 |
| G.Skill Ripjaws V (F4-3200C16S-16GVK) 16GB DDR4 Ram | Rs. 3,219 |
The cost of upgrading from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM in India can vary, but you can expect to pay anywhere from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 4,500 depending on the type of RAM you need and where you purchase it from.
In a word, 8GB RAM is fine for those who stick to basic productivity, or those who aren't playing modern games. But if you plan on running something memory intensive and doing another task at the same time, you could end up exceeding your limit.
Conclusion. Dual-channel memory is better than single-channel memory. Two 8GB RAM is better than one 16G RAM. If you can, two 16GB RAM is the best.
| Windows | |
|---|---|
| Dual Screen Hardware Requirements* | Intel Core i5 4-core 10th-generation (T), or higher desktop CPU 8GB Memory (2* 4GB) or above, dual memory channel is required *16GB Memory (2* 8GB) or above, dual memory channel is required for 4k resolution |
To go from 8 GB RAM to 16 GB. You will have to actually purchase COMPATIBLE 16 GB sticks of RAM then install them. Dell Inspiron might have more information on what kind of RAM is compatible with your PC. Getting more RAM is not a simple troubleshooting fix and if you are on a laptop, it might be impossible.
RAM is used to store information that needs to be used quickly. This means that opening many programs, running various processes or accessing multiple files simultaneously is likely to use a lot of RAM. Particularly complex programs like games or design software will require the most RAM.
Even under the extreme stress test, the 16GB utilizes swap memory to keep up with the 32GB. If you need an extremely powerful machine that will give you extra space to utilize when you need it, the 32GB model might fit your needs. The 16GB will be more than enough for most people.
Is 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD enough?
Is 8GB Ram & 512GB SSD Enough For Gaming? Yes, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD is enough for gaming. However, while many games state that they can be smoothly run with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, this is not always the case. For example GTA V will require close to 16GB RAM to optimally run at moderate settings.
The increased performance and efficiency of memory use on the M1 chips suggest that you can get away with the same amount or even less than you have now while still enjoying improved performance. We recommended 16 GB as the minimum for Intel-based Macs, but 8 GB seems to be an acceptable base level for M1-based Macs.
Default storage and RAM remain at 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM, with up to a maximum 8TB SSD as well as 32GB RAM (M2 Pro) and 96GB (M2 Max). 16GB RAM is more than enough, but those doing heavy 8K video or large audio files will want to increase it.
Actually it's because of memory bandwidth in AS based Macs such as the M1, the soldered on RAM can cache swap with the soldered on SSD at almost the same speed. So your 8GB RAM if it caches from the SSD is almost same access speed, so you can do most everything only with 8GB.
Even then, 16GB is fine for most. I do a lot of photo and video editing and I have never been unhappy with 16GB on my 16” M1 Pro. Unless you're doing 4k video or 3D modeling I think 16 is fine.
At a bare minimum, you should have 8GB of RAM, so you don't run into bottlenecks, especially because your OS and other applications that you have opened, such as your browser, don't limit your development experience. We recommend 16GB for most use cases and 32GB if you work on more complex games and apps.
16GB: Excellent for Windows and MacOS systems and also good for gaming, especially if it is fast RAM. 32GB: This is the sweet spot for professionals. Gamers can enjoy a small performance improvement in some demanding games, too. 64GB and more: For enthusiasts and purpose-built workstations only.
Use the tables below to confirm the memory being installed is compatible with your MacBook Pro. You can add two 4 GB memory modules for a maximum of 8 GB of memory. For best performance, fill both memory slots and install an identical memory module in each slot.
To learn whether you can add RAM to your Mac, press and hold the Option key, then choose Apple menu > System Information. Under Hardware on the left, click Memory. In the Memory Slots pane, go to Upgradeable Memory to find out whether you can replace or install memory.
For a DIY Mac memory upgrade, you'll only need to buy RAM modules. If your Mac is still compatible with your programs and apps, a RAM update might be all you need to revitalize your device. To further improve performance, you can also consider upgrading your Mac with an SSD drive.
What is the max RAM for MacBook Pro?
Apple's just-announced 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are now available with up to 96GB of unified memory when configured with the highest-end M2 Max chip.
Generally, the faster the RAM, the faster the processing speed. With faster RAM, you increase the speed at which memory transfers information to other components. Meaning, your fast processor now has an equally fast way of talking to the other components, making your computer much more efficient.
RAM modules come in a range of capacities, so even if you have only a few RAM slots, you can meet your motherboard's RAM maximum by purchasing higher-capacity RAM modules. For example, if your motherboard has four RAM slots and maxes out at 32 GB of RAM, you can install four 8 GB RAM modules.
The Mid 2012 MacBook Pro can support up to 16GB of RAM by using 2 8GB kits. Both the Retina and non-Retina models (mid 2012) support 16GB of RAM.
You can't after purchase. The RAM is system mounted and the only way you can get 16GB is to upgrade to that at time of purchase.
16GB or 24GB unified memory.
Considering most computers come with 4GB RAM, 16GB will give you enough memory to do multiple things at once without the computer struggling. 16GB is enough for editing 1080p projects or 4K files with minimum effects.
