Ram vs Unified memory - how do I know how much I will need

Question

Ram vs Unified memory - how do I know how much I will need

I currently have 128 GB 2667 MHz DDR4 memory on my iMac. Which also has 3.8 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i7 and AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT 8 GB.

With the new Unified memory, I cannot find any topic that compares the amount of unified memory that will equal 128 gb ram I currently use with Lightroom, Photoshop and Final Cut Pro.

Since we cannot upgrade the unified memory, how do I know what will do as well as the 128 gb ram in Unified Memory? Anything less than the 128 GB ram and Lightroom/photoshop/final cut pro really slow down.

Thanks for any help you can give as I research my options for a new mac mini.

Susan

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Jan 20, 2023 01:43 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Level 10

214,165 points

Jan 20, 2023 02:15 PM in response to susan_wagener

RAM and Unified memory are essentially the same thing. Unified memory is just RAM built into the CPU chip for Apple silicon Macs. Its "unified" with the CPU.

So 128GB of RAM would equate to 128GB of unified memory.

Only the Mac Studio offers 128GB configurations.

With anything else, go for the highest amount of RAM your budget permits. Apple silicon runs Lightroom and Photoshop much faster and more efficiently than Intel CPUs so performance will be as good or better even with less RAM.

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Answer 2

Jan 20, 2023 02:15 PM in response to Phil0124

Thank you, Phil0124, for your quick reply!

Susan

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Answer 3

Jan 21, 2023 05:27 AM in response to susan_wagener

If you really need that much RAM and performance, then the MacMini is not suited for your purpose and the MacStudio is the computer you need.

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Ram vs Unified memory - how do I know how much I will need

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