Another 1GB RAM really helped PB

[Heb1228]

I had 1GB RAM installed on my PB for the 2 years I've owned it and always wondered how much difference it would make to max out the memory up to 2GB.

It's made a huge difference! Before, I would frequently have >100 MB of memory free with 5 or 6 applications open and got spinning beachballs all the time. But now, I barely ever get them. Changing tabs on Safari is almost instantaneous, even when 3 or 4 other pages are loading at the same time in different tabs.

Just thought if anyone was wondering the same thing I'd let you know, it does make a huge difference!

[dmw007]

I had 1GB RAM installed on my PB for the 2 years I've owned it and always wondered how much difference it would make to max out the memory up to 2GB.

It's made a huge difference! Before, I would frequently have >100 MB of memory free with 5 or 6 applications open and got spinning beachballs all the time. But now, I barely ever get them. Changing tabs on Safari is almost instantaneous, even when 3 or 4 other pages are loading at the same time in different tabs.

Just thought if anyone was wondering the same thing I'd let you know, it does make a huge difference!

Good post- proves you can't go wrong with some more RAM! :D

Hoping to install another 2GB of RAM into my Power Mac G5 (for a total of 3GB) soon.

[Heb1228]

Yeah, from this experience, I bet another 2GB in your Powermac will bring a lot of new life to it.

I'm sure there's a point of diminishing returns when adding memory, but I sure didn't hit that point going from 1GB to 2.

[dmw007]

Yeah, from this experience, I bet another 2GB in your Powermac will bring a lot of new life to it.


Guess that I will have to head to crucial.com soon. :)

Actually, I am debating about whether I should add more RAM (2GB) or upgrade to a better video card ( ATI Radeon 9800 SE or nVVIDA 6800 Ultra or ATI Radeon X800 XT). Eventually, I want to do both- but one thing at a time. :)

[Cooknn]

Just plugged another GB (Crucial) in my Power Mac to bring it up to 2GB. Seems pretty snappy so far. My X800 XT should be here tomorrow :D

[Heb1228]

Guess that I will have to head to crucial.com soon. :)

Actually, I am debating about whether I should add more RAM (2GB) or upgrade to a better video card ( ATI Radeon 9800 SE or nVVIDA 6800 Ultra or ATI Radeon X800 XT). Eventually, I want to do both- but one thing at a time. :)
RAM will probably help video performance out some, plus speed everything else up. I think I'd do that first and wait for the video cards to come down in price some. Unless you play games, then I think its a toss up. :D

[dmw007]

Just plugged another GB (Crucial) in my Power Mac to bring it up to 2GB. Seems pretty snappy so far. My X800 XT should be here tomorrow :D

ooh, trying not to be jealous.... :D ;)

If you don't like your X800 XT i'll take it
off your hands- heck i'll pay the S&H. ;)

Seriously, let me know how your upgrade works out (ie- do you notice any difference).

[dmw007]

RAM will probably help video performance out some, plus speed everything else up. I think I'd do that first and wait for the video cards to come down in price some. Unless you play games, then I think its a toss up. :D

Well, I do play games. But now that college has started up again (sophomore year) I tend not to have a lot of time for that. So perhaps I will upgrade my RAM first.

I would really like to buy one of the ATI Radeon X850 XT's when they are available via third party vendors (ie- newegg.com, owc.com, etc...). But in the mean time, I guess i'll up my RAM first.

[ajampam]

great to hear this...I am just waiting for my paycheck to go through....and then HULLOOO to crucial....will add 1GB more....max out my lil 12er... :cool: :D

[Heb1228]

Wish me luck, I'm about to break open this PB for the first time to install this new hard drive (the one in my sig). HOPEFULLY, I'll see you guys again in an hour or so...

[Heb1228]

Wish me luck, I'm about to break open this PB for the first time to install this new hard drive (the one in my sig). HOPEFULLY, I'll see you guys again in an hour or so...
Thank you, thank you folks! The new HD is installed and working wonderfully!

I am proud of myself for my first PB upgrade, it seems to have gone successfully! My PB booted in about half the time it normally takes.

I took the 80GB drive that came in it and replaced it with a 120GB 5400 RPM Seagate drive. Initially it seems to have given about a 10-15% speed boost on launching apps and stuff. Its a little but louder than the Hitachi drive that came in it (as in I can barely hear this one, couldn't hear the other one at all) and I pretty much expected it to be a little louder than the stock HD. But I'm happy with it so far. (Almost) like having a new PB :)

[Lacero]

I think Tiger has a sweet spot of 1.5GB of RAM.

[cjc343]

I upgraded my PB from 512MB to 1.25GB of RAM a few weeks ago. It really helped with the whole 'running 13 applications constantly' thing.

[joshwest]

im about to throw a gig in my imac make it 1.5 gigs ( would it be beneificial just to make it 2gbs??, cost a bit more? ).., throw a 1 gig in my ibook to make it 1.5 gig, and my powerbook is gonna..be 2gb when ordered..

[ChoMomma]

After I won my Powerbook 1.5ghz at the Apple store Tiger event, I ordered a 1gig stick from OWC. I made a huge different when trying to run the cs2 suite and the mx 2004 studio at the same time. Also helped with my 3000+ picture iPhoto library.

[G5Unit]

I upgraded from 256 to 1.25gb. Loved it. But I payed a bit much. For movie editing and gaames, am I getting maximum performence or do I need more ram?

[AJ Muni]

great to hear this...I am just waiting for my paycheck to go through....and then HULLOOO to crucial....will add 1GB more....max out my lil 12er... :cool: :D

hey ajam how much did ya pay??

[Mac_Freak]

I had 1GB RAM installed on my PB for the 2 years I've owned it and always wondered how much difference it would make to max out the memory up to 2GB.

It's made a huge difference! Before, I would frequently have >100 MB of memory free with 5 or 6 applications open and got spinning beachballs all the time. But now, I barely ever get them. Changing tabs on Safari is almost instantaneous, even when 3 or 4 other pages are loading at the same time in different tabs.

Just thought if anyone was wondering the same thing I'd let you know, it does make a huge difference!

Thanks for sharing, especially I do, considering that I have the same computer as you do (well before the RAM and HD upgrade)
Now I know that it is worth for me to upgrade my PowerBaby :)
When it comes to HD, I am gone hold of to the once with perpendicular write technology and gone get my self one of them in 160GB or 200GB capacity at 5400RPM which should much faster from my 4200RPM drive, plus they will also be denser.

Thanks again, now I know where my next paycheck goes.

I smell RAM :D

[Mac_Freak]

Have you upgraded your HD yourself or did you have someone (professional) else do it?

[mvamato]

I just bought 2 gb 1 for my powerbook and 1 for a friends. It made a huge difference. I am now running 1.5 gig of ram. It is a whole new computer. I got it from Approved Memory. They have a ebay store and a retail location. You can order from ebay or directly from them over the phone and it is usally $4-$5 cheaper. They ship fast and it was the same Samsung ram. All is well after 3 weeks.

I told the guy Dave that I would post here because they test all there ram and stand behind it. No Questions!
I delt with Dave Reed at (949) 305-6530 or email him at dreed@approvedmemory.com he took good care of me. I paid $140 for 1 gb stick of Samsung ram for my 1.5ghz powerbook

I am not assosiated with them. I just thought I would let you guys know about a good deal. It is hard to find a good deal and know your getting a good product. :)

[50thVert]

Im running 2.5GB of ram in my dual 2.5 PM. Wonderfully fast. So far this is as far as ive gotten without any lag or beachballing:

-Surfing in Safari, 3 tabs open
-Chatting on Adium
-Importing DV video into Final Cut Pro HD 4.5
-Toying with an image in Photoshop CS2
-Imaging a DVD with DVD Imager
-Ripping a DVD with MactheRipper
-Playing MP3s with iTunes

mind you everything was significantly slower than normal, but she never bogged or gave me a beachball. :)
The more RAM the better!

[Heb1228]

Have you upgraded your HD yourself or did you have someone (professional) else do it?
I did it myself with the help of an illustrated how-to guide form pbfixit.com.

I was a little nervous, having only worked on desktop PCs before I switched. I never really cared if I messed those up, parts were cheap, but luckily I never did.

But getting into the Powerbook wasn't too tough, a lot of screws. It makes you appreciate the engineering marvel this thing is. And like I said, I didn't have any issues with doing it really.

[Heb1228]

I upgraded from 256 to 1.25gb. Loved it. But I payed a bit much. For movie editing and gaames, am I getting maximum performence or do I need more ram?
I think you're doing pretty good right now, but if you see another 512 or 1GB for a good price it would help out some. I'm guessing that going much over 2GB, you see less and less performance increase.

With 2GB, I'm getting hardly any pageins/pageouts even pushing the machine a fair amount today

[Mac_Freak]

I did it myself with the help of an illustrated how-to guide form pbfixit.com.

I was a little nervous, having only worked on desktop PCs before I switched. I never really cared if I messed those up, parts were cheap, but luckily I never did.

But getting into the Powerbook wasn't too tough, a lot of screws. It makes you appreciate the engineering marvel this thing is. And like I said, I didn't have any issues with doing it really.

Thanks, I know about pbfixit.com they have really good step-by-step instructions.
Now knowing that you have done it your self, it gives me little more confidence on dong it my self too.

Thanks.

[Earendil]

I just went from 512 to 1.25 in my Powerbook, and all I can say is "wow". I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner! huge difference, and I stand behind all the people that say that 512 isn't enough RAM any more ;)

~Earendil

[PBG4]

i just put in a 1 gig into mine, so now my powerbook is 1.5 gig..
just wondering the order i put in the slot would make any difference?
slot 0 i put the 1 gig, and slot 1 i put in the factory 512... is that good?

[surroundfan]

Is there a significant improvement going from 1GB to 1.5GB?

I have a 17" Powerbook on order and am pondering whether to add 512MB or 1GB in addition to the 512MB it ships with. My observations of my folks' iMac is that 1GB will probably be enough for what I want to do (internet, Word, instant messaging, video playback, iTunes), but if there's a compelling reason to add more, I'd be interested to know.

(Also, as an aside, is Corsair ValueRam okay in Powerbooks - I've read of Kingston RAM causing kernal panics etc.)

[Deepdale]

My observations of my folks' iMac is that 1GB will probably be enough for what I want to do ...

The three golden rules seem to be that one can never be too rich, too thin or have too much RAM, but for your usage the I GB will serve you very well.

[Vasileios]

I upgraded my powerbook ram from 512 to 1.5GB
I used a corsair 1GB stick... and the perfomance is raised sooooooo much.
With the 512Mb the powerbook seemed to stack then i opened dreamweaver, iTunes, Safari, MsN and photoshop all together... now everything is ok!!! :)

[ITASOR]

Ahhhhhhh you guys are making me want to order a 1GB stick for my iBook right now to bring it to 1.5GB. :( It's expensive though and I just bought all sorts of Apple stuff....:(:(

[Lacero]

My PowerBook has the stock 256MB RAM plus an additional 512MB RAM. Not sure if it's worth it to swap out for a 1GB RAM module since the PB is already 18 months old and the Intel Apple laptops are on the horizon, which uses new RAM types. I can only run 3-4 apps smoothly before I start getting slowdowns. I run pretty big apps like FCP and Photoshop.

I hope Apple makes 1 GB standard.


Here's to the Crazy Ones http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35452 (http://www.uriah.com/apple-qt/movies/think-different.mov)

[Will Cheyney]

My Mac shipped with 1GB of RAM, so I bought another gig separately (as the memory from Apple is way too pricey). The difference was noticeable.
Soon after I bought another 2GB - just for the hell of it. Now working with a total of 4GB RAM :D

[Clix Pix]

I'm a firm believer in having as much RAM as possible, both for the present and for the future, as software requirements tend to change as new versions come out and most generally more RAM is needed. Been through that over the years with various Windoze machines. When I bought my iMac, before I even left the store I had Apple install more RAM to max out the memory, and then when I ordered my PB BTO I again maxed out the RAM. Yes, it cost me more to have Apple do it, but in the first instance because it was my first Mac I was a bit uncertain about opening it up and monkeying with the innards, and in the second instance because this was a new revision of the PB the Apple store didn't yet have the right memory chips for it. I was ordering BTO in order to get the 7200 rpm hard drive, so had the RAM added right then and there. Probably the next time I buy a Mac I'll save myself a bit of money on the RAM and order memory chips from a source other than Apple and stick it in myself.

A friend just got a second-hand computer and when I was setting it up for her right away we realized that the amount of RAM in it -- 512 MB -- was barely adequate, especially when we installed AOL v. 9 (Ugh. Eventually the family will be going to DSL and a "real" ISP, but in the meantime.... AOL it is. Yuck! Wow, is that software a memory hog! Between XP and AOL, there's not a lot of extra RAM space). So last night I went over to Microcenter and picked up another 512 MB RAM; on Sunday will be opening up the box and sticking that in for her... and here I thought my days of tinkering with Windoze machines were over!

OTB

[MacRumorUser]

My friends have a dual 2.5 G5 but have not upgraded from the stock 512mb since they got the machine over a year ago, whereas I have just bumped my ram to 3gig (from 2.5) on a dual 1.8 G5 and yet my mate just cant seem to understand the reason my mac is generally quicker is down to memory not clock speed. It annoy's me as i'd love to swap my 1.8 for his 2.5 (as long as I kept my extra ram) :rolleyes: