Optimum RAM to run Aperture?

Question

lMy new 27" iMac computer came with 8Gb of RAM. I also use the NIK plugins ocassionally, and want to know if I would benefit from adding more RAM  --- and how much?
It is simple to install new chips, but it does cost money.

Answer 1

8 GB is plenty for running Aperture under normal circumstances. I've been using it since version 1 and never had a computer with more than 8GB ram.
The current version 3.5.1 with Mavericks 10.9.1 can suffer severe memory leaks (there are plenty of threads on here about it). But additional ram is not the solution to this as it will simply mean you get to run Aperture a little longer before restarting it to recover the used memory. The solution is for Apple to fix the issues so it work properly again. Then it will continue to work just fine with 8 GB ram.
However, more ram will usually bring some performance benefits. Firstly, for those who really push their system to the limits, so if you are importing, processing and exporting thousands of photos daily you may see some benefits of more RAM.
But, the area where RAM is most beneficial to most users is if you like to run multiple applications at once.
Each application needs working RAM to hold it's active data. So if you have Safari open with 10 tabs, Aperture and plug-ins, round-tripping images to Photoshop, while keeping an eye on mail, listening to music with iTunes and transcoding some videos with handbrake, you will obviously need more resources than just running Aperture with the occasional plug-in.
You can use Activity monitor to check how much of the various resources (mostly CPU and Memory) you are consuming. The time to upgrade RAM is when you start noticing your available RAM is under pressure from all the tasks you are trying to do simultaneously.
Memory sizes grow over time as applications start taking advantage of new technologies like 64 bit, multiple CPU cores, Retina/HiDPI displays and so forth, combined with cheaper prices for higher capacities. For most people 8GB is currently plenty. 16GB may be benefical in extreme/poweruser circumstances and 32GB is well into the highly specialised applications arena. In 18/24 months it's likely that 16GB will be the new norm and 8GB might start to be considered the minimum.
Most people would see much more noticeable day to day performance benefits by upgrading from a regualr HD to an SSD because the HD is by far the slowest component on the system (after the user!).
Andy