8GB RAM in M3 MacBook Pro Proves the Bottleneck in Real-World Tests

[HobeSoundDarryl]

There's objective proof that 8GB is not enough in the base model- and we all know it if we are able to think as consumers (first)- but I suspect by the time this thread closes, the messenger will be killed, skewered, tarred & feathered, etc. I suspect pitchforks and torches are already in fan hands and they will soon be storming the castle.

updated for clarity (because a few defenders are twisting the intent in latter posts)

 

[MacProFCP]

As I’ve said for a while now, Apple stopped caring about making great products around 2011. Now they just care about making great profits.

I’m not saying there haven’t been some great products since 2011, just look at the 2013 MacPro (sarcasm intended), but Apple has clearly changed the order of importance.

 

[boak]

This thing with 8 GB is basically last years MacBook Pro (with TouchBar) with a big price increase but Apple makes everyone believe they actually lowered the price, just because they put it in the "new" casing

The price didn't technically actually increase, only the starting price, i.e. configuration of the base model.

This is similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max starting at 256 GB. This is done to increase the average selling price of a device.

 

[Basic75]

Nobody would complain about the 8GB base model if the RAM upgrades weren't multiple times more expensive than they should be.

 

[anakin44011]

This should be obvious. If you shoot in 8K or even know what Pro Res is, then you are an idiot for even considering 8 GB of RAM, or even 16.

And you shouldn't be complaining about the cost of RAM...your camera cost far more than the entry level "point and shoot"...does that mean the CEO of Sony, Canon, or Nikon is a money-grubbing, Tim Cook wannabe?

Notice they didn't run tests with 4K. There are plenty of professionals who shoot in 4K where the MacBook "Pro" moniker still fits and perhaps 8GB of RAM is enough for Prosumer level work (which was Pro-level work just a few years ago). As always....YMMV.

However, people paying consumer prices aren't entitled to pro features or pro performance. The fact that Apple even comes close (in most regards) is a testament to their engineering. And they SHOULD make money doing it...so they can keep doing it.

And if you want a cheaper PC because you can save a few hundred dollars...then you deserve the PC experience. Enjoy your fan noise.

Sorry...haven't yet had my morning coffee. I'll start being nicer now....

 

[Basic75]

Apple's machines cannot be upgraded at a later date because of their unified memory architecture.

No, it's not because of the unified memory architecture. That has nothing to do with the lack of DIMM (or CAMM) slots.

 

[t0rqx]

He still spoke on the behalf of a company.

It means that either Apple endorses this kind of misinformation, or somebody needs to lose their job or at least be reeducated, or at least a rectification needs to come out.

But we all know the correct answer to this dilemma.

Apple endorses everything since SJ left. If it generates revenue and profit. Marketing and Wall Street are the ones running this company. Why do you think all creative and techies who made the company great left?

 

[4nNtt]

The issue is calling it a “Pro” machine since that implies it will run software for developers and creatives. Comparing it to PCs shouldn’t be the criteria. There should at least be an asterisk that if you are a pro then the starting “pro” model stocked in stores is the “M3 Pro”.

How much could it really cost to start the MacBook Pro lineup at 16GB. One would think 16GB would be the standard base by now.

 

[boak]

Dude has no idea what's a bottleneck or limiting factor in a design space. There's only one set of configuration that has all components perfectly matched.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the existence of a bottleneck.

 

[Basic75]

As low as memory costs are now, why would Apple cheap out like this?

Because they can. Capitalism dictates that they make as much money as possible.

 

[TheEnvelopePlease]

I'm sorry, but a "Pro" laptop in 2023 has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. 8GB in the Air? Sure. In the Pro? Nope.

 

[MapleBeercules]

What they meant is that 8GB on a mac cost equal to an equivalent 16GB on a PC.

This comes down to why a SOC is better then current PC tech... So if your video card has 11GB of memory, this has to be somewhat reserved in system memory, because unless you have the best graphics cards that can talk directly to CPU, the CPU writes to memory and that is copied to the graphics card, this process does not take place in a SOC, the components can both directly talk to memory. So this is true in the technical sense that 8gb on a mac operates better then 16gb on a PC because of how it manages memory.

 

[racer1441]

These base models will never dissapear. These are the most important and revenue / profit driving models for Apple (even if they never sell). It is only a big bonus if they sell for Apple.

And they should never disappear. If you are doing lots of video rendering and photoshop stuff, yeah 16gb is an important jump. But lots of people want the screen size, or the added ports, and work in industry, business, finance, and are perfectly happy and never see the difference.

This continues to boil down to the concept of vehicles. People saying they could never live and work by owning a Prius vs a F150 so they say ban the Prius!

Now a legit complaint with Apple and all the other tech companies is the price for the memory difference. They mark them up far more than it should be, but so does Lenovo, Microsoft, Dell, etc.

 

[Biro]

Another low-quality clickbait from that channel, which doesn't know what they're talking about. Every configuration has a bottleneck.

Would you call the base M chip a bottleneck too?

Need more? Buy more. Simple as that. Not everyone needs 16 GB.

Then they can buy a MacBook Air. Stop apologizing for Apple’s cynical marketing decisions and lack of respect for its customers. A Pro should start with 16GB of RAM. And I agree with those who have already written that the ONLY response Apple will understand is poor sales of Pro’s the come with only 8GB.

 

[racer1441]

Some people need a Toyota Camry. Some need a Toyota Supra. Apple sells both, pro branding aside.

Thank you. You understand.

 

[diddl14]

It’s only an issue if you plan to do all this simultaneous ‘Pro’ stuff and decide to opt-out on ‘Pro’ memory.

 

[MapleBeercules]

What Is Binning? A Basic Definition

What is the meaning of binning? CPU, GPU and RAM binning explained.

www.tomshardware.com

educate yourself on how CPU are produced and you will understand how they are released in products. They just dont get delivered magically by some bird.

 

[boak]

The same people probably complained about having to pay for specs they don't need just to have the ProMotion screen.

Options were added. There's really nothing to complain about.

 

[Veinticinco]

Is Apple's 8GB starting configuration for a $1,599 MacBook Pro really acceptable in 2023? And has the company's memory pricing policy affected your own purchase options? Let us know in the comments.

Talk about rhetoric questions.

The death knell sounded in 2015 when Apple started soldering RAM to motherboards instead of allowing users to upgrade their laptops for relatively low cost from third parties.

Not content with charging exorbitant prices for additional RAM, with the launch of AS in 2020, they decided to keep their base models (which I assume are the biggest volume sellers) knowingly gimped. Want more, pay up front or change your laptop much more frequently.

Sadly so many consumer buyers don't know or care about specs or real world performance as they make assumptions hearing the word "Pro" (I overhear more questions about storage), and Apple Store employees are not exactly motivated to point out the flaws of these cash cows.

 

[mongobongo]

The same base RAM for 12 years??? That's insane!!!

It should be illegal and somebody should go to jail for that.

 

[boak]

Having 8 GB as an option is a good thing.

Whether you think the price is reasonable is a separate issue.

 

[TonyTech]

Another low-quality clickbait from that channel, which doesn't know what they're talking about. Every configuration has a bottleneck.

Would you call the base M chip a bottleneck too?

Need more? Buy more. Simple as that. Not everyone needs 16 GB.

Their rumor videos are clickbait and overhyped, but once they get the actual computers, they are one of the most comprehensive product testers on YouTube.

 

[Basic75]

Apple Silicon RAM is quite different, and therefore probably WAY more expensive to manufacture and supply?

Really? And what is so different about the LPDDR5 chips that Apple uses? I'm quite sure they're quite standard.

 

[gpat]

Some people need a Toyota Camry. Some need a Toyota Supra. Apple sells both, pro branding aside.

"Pro branding aside" is the big issue.
I don't see any Supras being sold with 1-litre engines.
Nobody is complaining about 8GB on the M1 Air.

 

[boak]

Their rumor videos are clickbait and overhyped, but once they get the actual computers, they are one of the most comprehensive product testers on YouTube.

Not really. This video shows exactly why.

Apple is not wrong, as the thumbnail suggests. In fact, it is good that memory is the bottleneck. Otherwise, I would be buying extra memory for no gain, e.g. the chip is the bottleneck.