Is Memory or Storage More Important for Your Computer

Think of your computer as a library, where memory is like the bookshelves and storage is like the book collection. Memory, or RAM, is where your computer temporarily holds data it's actively using.

Having enough memory is crucial for smooth performance, as we learned from the article section "How Much RAM Do You Really Need". For example, running multiple applications at once can quickly consume available memory, leading to slowdowns and crashes.

On the other hand, storage is where your computer permanently holds its data, like documents, pictures, and programs. As we discussed in "What's the Difference Between Hard Drive and Solid State Drive", storage speed can significantly impact how quickly your computer loads and saves files.

In general, having a good balance between memory and storage is key to a smooth computing experience.

Here's an interesting read: Is Memory Integrity Important

Memory and storage are two different types of data storage devices on a Mac.

Memory, also called RAM, is a hardware device used for temporary data storage, consisting of memory chips in the form of modules placed on the motherboard. If the memory is loose or damaged, your MacBook may continue beeping 3 times.

Storage, on the other hand, is your hard drive where data such as videos and images is permanently stored for future access. Usually, storage on a Mac is divided into main storage and secondary storage, with the default storage of at least 256GB in 2021 being good enough for regular use.

The capacity of memory matters, meaning that the larger the Macintosh memory, the faster you can access data on your Mac and the more tasks your Mac can handle simultaneously. The maximum memory varies in different models and their released years, with the newest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13" and Mac mini in 2021 having a maximum memory of 16GB.

Memory on a Mac is typically referred to as RAM, which is a hardware device used for temporary data storage.

RAM has two types: volatile RAM and non-volatile ROM, but when people talk about Mac memory, they usually mean RAM.

The capacity of memory matters, and the larger the Macintosh memory, the faster you can access data on your Mac.

The max memory varies in different models and their released years, with the newest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13", and Mac mini in 2021 having a maximum memory of 16GB.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro can go up to 64GB, which is a significant difference from the 16GB or larger RAM recommended for memory-intensive tasks.

The default 8GB RAM is good enough for tasks like web browsing and watching movies, but for tasks like video and photo editing, you'll want 16GB or larger RAM.

You can check if your Mac can be upgraded by clicking on the Apple logo > About this Mac (make sure Overview is selected) to see if your model is eligible for memory upgrades.

Some MacBooks enable memory upgrades, but unfortunately, the article doesn't specify which models.

Mac memory and storage are two different types of data storage devices on a Mac.

Storage needs an interface, like the commonly used SATA, to communicate with the CPU, whereas memory interacts with the CPU directly.

Memory is volatile, where data disappears after the computer is off, while storage is non-volatile, where data stays.

The capacity of memory matters, and the larger the Macintosh memory, the faster you can access data on your Mac and the more tasks your Mac can handle simultaneously.

The default 8GB RAM is good enough for someone who uses a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for tasks such as web browsing, and watching movies.

If you need your MacBook for memory-intensive tasks, such as video and photo editing, audio production, and 3D rendering, it's better to get 16GB or larger RAM.

The maximum memory varies in different models and their released years, with the newest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13" and Mac mini in 2021, having a maximum memory of 16GB, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro is up to 64GB.

You can check your storage by choosing Apple Menu > About This Mac, then clicking Storage to find the information.

MacBooks that enable memory upgrades include the MacBook Pro non-Retina up to late 2016, and you can check if your old Mac can be upgraded by clicking on the Apple logo > About this Mac.

Memory interacts with the CPU directly, making it faster than storage and more expensive, with a much smaller capacity than storage.

Storage needs an interface, like SATA, to communicate with the CPU, which can make it slower than memory.

Memory is volatile, where data disappears after the computer is off, while storage is non-volatile, where data stays.

A 256GB SSD can store 107,500 photos of the size 2MB, which is good enough for regular use.

The maximum capacity of SSD storage on a Mac is 2TB, which is ideal for saving a significant number of photos, videos, or audio.

MacBooks that enable storage upgrades include the MacBook Pro non-Retina up to late 2016.

You can configure your MacBook with at least 512GB of storage if you need to save a lot of files.

Your MacBook comes with default storage of at least 256GB in 2021, which is a good starting point for most users.

The future of memory and storage is rapidly evolving, with technologies like phase-change memory (PCM) promising to combine the speed of RAM with the ability of flash to be non-volatile memory. This blurring of lines between active memory and storage is a game-changer for data-intensive applications.

Intel's 3D XPoint technology, based on PCM, has already shown impressive results, with second-generation SSDs sustaining an average read I/O latency of about 10 microseconds up to a load of at least 800,000 IOPS. This is a significant improvement over traditional NAND flash.

As we move forward, it's clear that the distinction between memory and storage will continue to fade. With technologies like 3D XPoint and Micron's 3D XPoint SSDs offering speeds and latencies that are significantly better than NAND flash, the future of data storage looks bright.

Here are some key stats on the performance of 3D XPoint and Micron's 3D XPoint SSDs:

Understanding the difference between storage and memory is crucial for accurate device descriptions.

The distinction is important because it affects how we describe and compare devices.

For instance, the iPhone 8 has 64GB or 256GB of storage, not memory.

This distinction matters when comparing devices, as it provides a more accurate picture of their capabilities.

The iPhone 8 also has 3GB of RAM, which is often confused with storage.

It's essential to characterize devices accurately to avoid confusion and make informed decisions.

The future of memory and storage is rapidly evolving, and manufacturers are working on technologies that promise to combine the speed of RAM with the ability of flash to be non-volatile memory.

Ferroelectric RAM and magnetoresistive RAM are among the technologies being developed, but phase-change memory (PCM) is one of the closest to achieving this goal. Intel and Micron Technology Inc. developed 3D XPoint technology, which is based on PCM and has a transistor-less, cross-point architecture.

Additional reading: Why Is Technology Important

Intel's 3D XPoint-based SSDs, memory, and dual in-line memory module cards are already on the market under its Optane brand. The upcoming second-generation SSDs from Intel are expected to sustain an average read I/O latency of about 10 microseconds up to a load of at least 800,000 IOPS.

Micron rolled out its first 3D XPoint SSD in 2019, which it claimed is three times faster than NAND with 11 times lower latency and supports up to 2.5 million IOPS and 9 GBps read/write bandwidth.

Here are some key stats on 3D XPoint technology: