By contrast, 4GB Macs are very limited in running multiple apps at once, while 16GB machines aren’t much different from 8GB or 12GB Macs except when running professional-quality (generally video editing) apps. I personally have 8GB in my Retina MacBook Pro and 12GB in my iMac neither has obvious RAM-related issues. Several years ago, there were more 4GB Macs out there, but today, if you don’t have at least 8GB of RAM and are running OS X Yosemite, you probably would benefit from more RAM. Most current Macs ship with 4 or 8 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. More RAM lets your computer run bigger apps and more apps at the same time, reducing or eliminating the need to continuously load data from your hard disk or SSD. Without getting too technical, RAM (random access memory) typically refers to a small replaceable circuit board full of memory chips, designed to give your computer a high-speed temporary work space - the place where apps and data are stored while you’re actively using them. Below, I’ll walk you through your best options. Installing RAM generally doesn’t void your Mac’s warranty, and except for several models, the only tool you’ll need is a small screwdriver. You can expect to pay $90 or less for enough (Mac-safe) RAM to run OS X Yosemite without hiccups, or $180 for enough RAM to guarantee you won’t need more for years. But there’s another option that can speed things up with relatively little effort or expertise: upgrading your Mac’s RAM. The process is super-easy on MacBooks and Mac Pros, surprisingly manageable on iMacs, and challenging on Mac minis, yielding 3X to 5X speed boosts. As I’ve spotlighted over the past month, the best way to dramatically speed up an older Mac is to replace its old hard drive with a new solid state drive (SSD).

Upgrade ram macbook pro 2015