How does Logos perform on mac m1 with 8MB RAM?

Hello all,

I've been using Logos 9 on Windows for many years on a machine with 16GB Ram, but I'm considering buying a Macbook M1 Air with 8GB Ram and 512Gb SSD. Are any of you running Logos on this configuration and can you comment on how it performs with just 8MB of RAM?

I actually didn't realise Logos had updated the recommended system requirements for mac to 16GB. Does it really need 16GB?

Thanks

Neal

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David Thomas

Paste this search into a google bar and you can see what other users are finding with m1 - site:community.logos.com m1

Tony Walker

I have an iMac with 32 gb and an M1Air with 8. This isn’t scientific, but in my unscientific I don’t see much or any difference.

JT (alabama24)

I actually didn't realise Logos had updated the recommended system requirements for mac to 16GB. Does it really need 16GB?

i didn’t know that either, but it makes sense. Most Macs now aren’t upgradable for ram, and users often expect this computer to be useful for 5+ years. With that in mind, 16 would be a good choice. If I had to choose between 250/500 GB of storage or 16/8 GB ram, I’d probably choose ram over storage. Although you CAN’T [edit] install logos externally (supported), you can store other files there (picture, music, etc.) You can’t add ram.

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1160681#Comment_1160681

Although you can install logos externally (supported),

This seems to suggest that use of external storage is supported by Logos. Did you mean this?

Neal Gordon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1160679#Comment_1160679

Tony,

the next time you run Logos 9 on your 8GB Air, would you mind opening a reasonably complex Logos layout that you have or else just open some resources, and maybe open pages or Word or whatever word processor you use? Would you let me know how much memory that uses up in Activity Monitor?

I'm really curious how close it is to the 8GB, if it is something like 6 or 7GB used, that would concern me as I think as I open other programs it would start swapping the memory out to disk more.

Thanks

Neal

Gregory Lawhorn

I ran an extensive comparison between an M1 with 8GB Ram and an almost-maxed-out MacBook Pro 16" a few months ago. The video link is in the first post. Get the 16GB RAM, by all means, but I was very surprised (in a good way) at the performance of 8GB. I frequently have Logos, Word, FileMaker Pro, and Proclaim open, and often others apps too: Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.

https://community.logos.com/forums/t/196476.aspx?PageIndex=1

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1160691#Comment_1160691

Although you can install logos externally (supported),

This seems to suggest that use of external storage is supported by Logos. Did you mean this?

Sorry, no. Typo on my iPhone. [:s]

Neal Gordon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1160701#Comment_1160701

I ran an extensive comparison between an M1 with 8GB Ram and an almost-maxed-out MacBook Pro 16" a few months ago. The video link is in the first post. Get the 16GB RAM, by all means, but I was very surprised (in a good way) at the performance of 8GB. I frequently have Logos, Word, FileMaker Pro, and Proclaim open, and often others apps too: Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.

https://community.logos.com/forums/t/196476.aspx?PageIndex=1

Thanks Gregory, that video is really helpful as is the discussion in the forum. 8GB might be enough to do what I need it to, I might spend the extra money on the SSD space instead.

Thanks

Neal

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1160710#Comment_1160710

8GB might be enough to do what I need it to, I might spend the extra money on the SSD space instead.

To add to what I wrote earlier:

I bought the 500GB SSD, 8GB RAM MacBook Air (M1) and am very happy with it. Since my current job is directly tied to my computer, I anticipate buying a new machine within a few years, rather than 5-7. Also, Logos is not currently optimized for M1 architecture, but hopefully will be in the next year. That will improve performance over what we are currently seeing.

As long as you are not a long hauler with your computer, I think 8GB would be sufficient. 8 GB may not be sufficient 5 years from now.

Gregory Lawhorn

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1160710#Comment_1160710

Thanks Gregory, that video is really helpful as is the discussion in the forum. 8GB might be enough to do what I need it to, I might spend the extra money on the SSD space instead.

Thanks

Neal

My pleasure. For what it's worth, if I had to do it again I would get the 16 GB, as well as the larger SSD. I just like giving the computer every opportunity to be efficient. I went with 8 because I could get it quickly; a 16 would have taken longer to get to me.

Neal Gordon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1160817#Comment_1160817

My pleasure. For what it's worth, if I had to do it again I would get the 16 GB, as well as the larger SSD. I just like giving the computer every opportunity to be efficient. I went with 8 because I could get it quickly; a 16 would have taken longer to get to me.

So after a bit more research (and many videos on this question), it seems like Logos 9 runs well on the 8GB M1 Air, and from what I gather it doesn't seem to be maxing out the RAM (although potentially it might if you run a good number of apps). It's just a question then maybe of just future proofing for any extra few years, and better multitasking. Although I've still been back and forward a bit on this decision, there's a retailer doing a good deal on the 8GB version near me which is making it so tempting.

If any Logos 8GB M1 users are reading this, do you get any insufficient memory errors during typical use?