Hey all. So I am a programming student for now but I hope to graduate and then go for my bachelors in software engineering. I am very, very knowledge when it comes to computer hardware but I don't know the requirements heavy programming comes with as I haven't gotten that far. I am looking at a new MacBook Pro as a school/coding laptop and I was wondering how much ram is advised. 4GB, 8GB, 16GB? I was thinking of just getting the 4/8 (whichever comes with the model I decide on) and upgrade later if I need to.

I am looking at getting one of the quad-core i7 for the hyperthreading benefits but am stumped on RAM. I also have no idea how much RAM OSX uses as I am new to Mac.

TL;DR? How much RAM do you find being used when running, compiling, etc. coding? Java, C, C++, etc.

My macbook has 4GB (FML) and when im deving in xcode and have google chrome + a terminal open, Im usually sitting around 95-100% ram usage ._.

Ooh. I was thinking of buying a low end model, upgrading the CPU to a 4960 series, and then aftermarket RAM and SSD. I was wondering about these new PCIe SSDs they have moved it instead of the SATA III. >.<

Or if I can find a refurb with a nice i7 thrown in it.

This post was edited by NinjaSushi2 on Apr 27 2014 09:41am

1) you dont need an i7 for coding. i5 is fine
2) the code itself doesnt eat up memory, your IDE and simulators (android, ios) eat it up. i'd go with 8 GB and SSD (which i think you're doing)

I thought the hyperthreading the i7 adds would really help on heavily threaded programs. Also it's either dual core i5 or quad-core i7.

I've got 8gb and an i7 in my work laptop and it's still not enough.


Fucking visual studio.

16 GB master race

oshi. i was thinking about getting back into it, but that's a scary thought. havent used it in 4 years.

Doesn't help that our solution contains 95 projects. lol

It's a love hate relationship with Visual Studio. A lot of the memory problems with Visual Studio has to do with the debugger. But god that debugger is sexy.

to quote vegeta...the f***

since i started working after college, i moved away from the debugger and towards log files. but my projects have been a lot simpler than yours i imagine heh

This post was edited by carteblanche on Apr 27 2014 09:29pm