Wired
>
All M1 Mac models use the same M1 chip, so the upgradeable configuration is limited to SSD storage space and memory. So how big is the difference between a machine with 8GB RAM and the upgraded 16GB RAM? Max Tech shared a video showing the performance difference between the 8GB MacBook Pro and the 16GB MacBook Pro.
Max Tech conducted a series of benchmark tests, from Geekbench and Cinebench to RAW export tests. The Geekbench and Cinebench benchmarks did not show a performance difference between the 8GB and 16GB models, but other tests designed to maximize RAM usage did show some differences.
In a Max Tech Xcode benchmark test that simulates compiled code, the 16GB model scored 122 points, while the 8GB model scored 136 points. The lower the score, the better.
The biggest difference is reflected in the 8K RAW R3D to 4K export. The 8GB MacBook Pro takes 13.57 seconds to complete, while the 16GB MacBook Pro can be completed in 5.59 seconds. This time is comparable to the 2019 16-inch Core i9 MacBook Pro with 32GB of memory.
IT Home has learned that there are also small differences between the 4K export test and the Lightroom Classic RAW export test, but the results are quite close, the difference is only 17 seconds. The 16GB model even beat the $2,300 iMac.
It is worth noting that in these benchmark performance tests, Max Tech said that the new machine does not often need to start the fan to reduce the temperature.
From the test point of view, there seems to be some small performance differences in the benchmark test, especially in system-intensive tasks, but in daily use, the 8GB model is sufficient, and most people may not need to upgrade to 16GB.