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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Desktop Hardware
Should I upgrade my Mac Mini?
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<blockquote data-quote="pigoo3" data-source="post: 1525184" data-attributes="member: 56379"><p>Here's how to interpret Activity Monitor readings:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1342" target="_blank">Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory and determine how much RAM is being used</a></p><p></p><p>FYI...usually "page-outs" and "swap file" issues are greatly reduced when 8gig or more is installed. So installing 16gig may or may not be the solution.</p><p></p><p>Also...if the page-outs and swap file get large (causing a decrease in performance)...the simple answer is to reboot the computer...which "resets" everything to zero.</p><p></p><p>The experiment you want to do is:</p><p></p><p>- reboot your computer</p><p>- do what you normally do on the Mac-Mini</p><p>- all the while monitor the swap file and page outs to see how long it takes for these to get "large"</p><p></p><p>The more installed ram...the longer it will take for these file sizes to increase from zero. Like I mentioned...when you have 8gig or more ram installed...it can take quite a while (in most users situations) before these become greater than zero (I'm talking days or longer). </p><p></p><p>And even when these file sizes are greater than zero...it can take quite a while for them to get to a size that actually degrades performance. So what I'm saying is...if it takes a week or more for these file sizes to get to a level that hampers perfomance...just simply reboot the computer.</p><p></p><p>In your situation...if it does take quite a while (days or a week+) for these file sizes to get to a point of slowing down the computer...then a 16gig ram upgrade is not the solution. The solution then may be a newer faster more capable computer (if the computer seems too slow).</p><p></p><p>As a "flip-side" example. If someone only had 1-2gig of installed ram...the swap file and page out sizes can increase from zero VERY quickly...and possibily in less than a day (or a few hours)...get to a point that computer performance is effected. In this case...a 4gig ram upgrade greatly improves things...and an 8gig ram upgrade from there is even better (but not necessary for most folks at this time).</p><p></p><p>So again...do the experiment that I mentioned above...to determine how long it takes your Mac-Mini (with 8gig of ram) and with the computing activities you do...for the page outs and swap file sizes to:</p><p></p><p>1. Deviate from zero.</p><p>2. Get to a size that actually impacts computer performance.</p><p></p><p>This will give you an idea if:</p><p></p><p>- a 16gig ram upgrade is the solution</p><p>- if you simply need to reboot the computer more often</p><p>- need a newer faster computer</p><p></p><p>HTH,</p><p></p><p>- Nick</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pigoo3, post: 1525184, member: 56379"] Here's how to interpret Activity Monitor readings: [url=http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1342]Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory and determine how much RAM is being used[/url] FYI...usually "page-outs" and "swap file" issues are greatly reduced when 8gig or more is installed. So installing 16gig may or may not be the solution. Also...if the page-outs and swap file get large (causing a decrease in performance)...the simple answer is to reboot the computer...which "resets" everything to zero. The experiment you want to do is: - reboot your computer - do what you normally do on the Mac-Mini - all the while monitor the swap file and page outs to see how long it takes for these to get "large" The more installed ram...the longer it will take for these file sizes to increase from zero. Like I mentioned...when you have 8gig or more ram installed...it can take quite a while (in most users situations) before these become greater than zero (I'm talking days or longer). And even when these file sizes are greater than zero...it can take quite a while for them to get to a size that actually degrades performance. So what I'm saying is...if it takes a week or more for these file sizes to get to a level that hampers perfomance...just simply reboot the computer. In your situation...if it does take quite a while (days or a week+) for these file sizes to get to a point of slowing down the computer...then a 16gig ram upgrade is not the solution. The solution then may be a newer faster more capable computer (if the computer seems too slow). As a "flip-side" example. If someone only had 1-2gig of installed ram...the swap file and page out sizes can increase from zero VERY quickly...and possibily in less than a day (or a few hours)...get to a point that computer performance is effected. In this case...a 4gig ram upgrade greatly improves things...and an 8gig ram upgrade from there is even better (but not necessary for most folks at this time). So again...do the experiment that I mentioned above...to determine how long it takes your Mac-Mini (with 8gig of ram) and with the computing activities you do...for the page outs and swap file sizes to: 1. Deviate from zero. 2. Get to a size that actually impacts computer performance. This will give you an idea if: - a 16gig ram upgrade is the solution - if you simply need to reboot the computer more often - need a newer faster computer HTH, - Nick [/QUOTE]
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Apple Computing Products:
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Should I upgrade my Mac Mini?
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