what is 2GB capable of? shud i consider 4GB

[bluedoggiant]

what is 2GB capable of, what extras do u get with 4GB, like tell me how many mid size apps i can run at once, how many professional type apps, and what kind of load, and again, tell me what more i can get with 4GB, thanx!!!

[MK2007]

If you use Safari a lot and don't reboot your computer often, then you'll appreciate having 4 GB. Safari has memory leakage. Even if you quit the application OS X never reclaims the memory. With 2 GB and frequent browsing a shortage of memory can become a problem after a couple days. But with 3 GB or more you won't have to reboot very often due to a memory shortage.

[Sam Spade]

If you use Safari a lot and don't reboot your computer often, then you'll appreciate having 4 GB. Safari has memory leakage. Even if you quit the application OS X never reclaims the memory. With 2 GB and frequent browsing a shortage of memory can become a problem after a couple days. But with 3 GB or more you won't have to reboot very often due to a memory shortage.
This was a problem in Windows, too. I've been wondering if it was an issue with Safari. I assume Firefox in OS X has memory leakage, as well?

[idyll]

what browser should i use that does not have memory leakage? camino?

[MK2007]

This was a problem in Windows, too. I've been wondering if it was an issue with Safari. I assume Firefox in OS X has memory leakage, as well?It's a known, long running issue with Safari. I remember it from several iMacs ago when I bought the first G4 lamp style iMac. Safari had leakage then (as well as a major speed problem) and it still has memory leakage now several years later. I don't think Apple will ever get around to fixing the problem, assuming they have any idea what causes it.

I think they just assume that users reboot often enough that it isn't worth wasting Apple's development time on pursuing the matter. It is indeed a problem regardless of their priorities. Try browsing for a couple days. Then clear the cache and quit Safari. You never get back as much memory as you began with.

My usage of other browsers such as Firefox is very minimal. Maybe someone else can offer guidance with this browser and memory leakage.

I reboot about once a week. Sometimes less often, sometimes more often. Usually, by that time there is either a software update, a thunderstorm, or something else like desk cleaning to require a shutdown. I would prefer not to reboot very often, though. I can accomplish much of this objective now with 3 GB (actually two 2 GB modules) as long as there are no storms or OS updates.

My area experienced storms recently. I had to shutdown a couple times this week. After one day of uptime Application Monitor tells me that I have 1.48 GB free with the following apps open: iTunes, Safari, Firefox, MS Word, MS Entourage, MS Excel, TextEdit, Terminal, and of course Application Monitor itself. During that one day of usage I am certain that I retrieved a few hundred web pages.

[BennyK]

What is the best browser to use?

[Craiger]

What is the best browser to use?

HAHA! That question is worth like a 10 page argument thread. I think it is personal preference, but I like Firefox for all of the add-ons.

Back to somewhat of the original post. I have had Firefox open for the last 5 hours maybe with some pretty heavy browsing and it is using 319 MB... So I think all browsers have there problems over extended time....

[flopticalcube]

What is the best browser to use?

Try them all and decide for yourself. Firefox, Camino, Safari are the big three.

[mrkramer]

I'm assuming that you are talking about RAM, more will just make you computer go faster, there is not a specific number of apps.

[Vapor]

the sweet spot on ram for the imac is 3 meg. you can get a 2 meg for 119 and with your single gain 100 percent performance increase "with certain apps ie photoshop" the 4 meg only adds about 5% more. you can always get another 2 meg later if you want to go.

[HLdan]

I'm assuming that you are talking about RAM, more will just make you computer go faster, there is not a specific number of apps.

Actually it doesn't really make your computer go faster but rather more ram will prevent the slow downs when multitasking or when using ram hungry apps. :)

[GTiPhone]

Youre experience with 2 vs 4 gigs of ram will depend on wat u do. 2 gigs will run lots of apps smoothly including games. 4 comes in handy when working with huge .tiffs or .psd ( a few hundred mb). Unless you do intense photo or video editting, you may never notice a difference.

Its like the difference between a car with 500 horsepower or 600 horsepower...

what I meant about games was beyond 2 gigs your graphics card becomes the bottleneck for performance, not RAM.

[wakerider017]

the sweet spot on ram for the imac is 3 meg. you can get a 2 meg for 119 and with your single gain 100 percent performance increase "with certain apps ie photoshop" the 4 meg only adds about 5% more. you can always get another 2 meg later if you want to go.

Lol,

Like I would take advice from someone who says "the sweet spot on ram for the imac is 3 meg"
:eek:

[jamesi]

if you have to ask then ill bet you really only need the 2 gig, maybe even 1 gig honestly.

[powerbook911]

3GB over 2GB made mine go faster, but mainly with just things like aperture and VM Ware. Other things are the same.

[bluedoggiant]

im getting the highest end imac with 2.8 core 2 extreme, alot of people on here have that, except they all upped the ram to 4gb, is the 4gb worth it for web design, sum photo editing, movie editing with final cut maybe, listening to music, surfing the net, and playing fsx on bootcamp running vista, im planning on getting my imac with leopard, will leopards app recommend at least for 4gb??? please tell me!!! thanx alot in advance

[sinisterdesign]

without a doubt. RAM can be expensive, but i've always said that it's the most bang for your buck. i notice more of a difference in doubling the RAM than upping the processor (to an extent, of course).

if you're doing all the design & editing on the badest-ass machine, no doubt go for the 4GB. if price is an issue, go down a step in the processor & get the extra RAM.

my $.02

[bluedoggiant]

without a doubt. RAM can be expensive, but i've always said that it's the most bang for your buck. i notice more of a difference in doubling the RAM than upping the processor (to an extent, of course).

if you're doing all the design & editing on the badest-ass machine, no doubt go for the 4GB. if price is an issue, go down a step in the processor & get the extra RAM.

my $.02

i said on the imac 24 core 2 extreme,photo editing will be done in elements, for my websites, any maybe sum other stuff, but not intensive, video editing MAY get serious, as i might get final cut, is 4gb still worth it?

[CanadaRAM]

Don't forget to price out third-party RAM in comparison to Apple's expensive parts.

[mothergoose45]

I have had my 2.4 24" Imac for 3 weeks now with 4 gig OWC ram. Good ram by the way. I have done everything you have mentioned and never get over 2 ram in use. 2 gb should be enough but for how cheap it was ($239) it was a no brainer to get the 4 gig. The 2.4 is very fast by the way. Im glad I went with the 2.4 instead of the 2.8. You cant overclock it anyway which is the main purpose of the extreme. Spend the extra $250 on ram.

[bluedoggiant]

I have had my 2.4 24" Imac for 3 weeks now with 4 gig OWC ram. Good ram by the way. I have done everything you have mentioned and never get over 2 ram in use. 2 gb should be enough but for how cheap it was ($239) it was a no brainer to get the 4 gig. The 2.4 is very fast by the way. Im glad I went with the 2.4 instead of the 2.8. You cant overclock it anyway which is the main purpose of the extreme. Spend the extra $250 on ram.

so u do EXACTLY what i do?? do u use final cut and run fsx??

[bluedoggiant]

can i get the highest end 24inch imac standard config, then goto the memory section of the store and buy one gig of memory, so in total it will have 3gigs of ram? the one in the imac is 2x1gb, and the one gig apple sells seperately is just 1x1gb, tell me if that combination will work

[flopticalcube]

no. The iMac has only 2 memory slots.

[Blue Velvet]

There is no need to start three threads over the past few days in different forums to ask exactly the same questions over and over again. I've merged them all together.

[bluedoggiant]

no. The iMac has only 2 memory slots.

okay, can i get the low end 24 imac, with standard config (the 1 gig takes one memory slot) and the 2 gig which is 1x2gb? will that work? also, is there a difference on how many slots are fill like will 2x1 be more powerfull than 1x2?

There is no need to start three threads over the past few days in different forums to ask exactly the same questions over and over again. I've merged them all together.

this is a different question :( i was talking about memory slots, not how much memory i shud buy

[MacinDoc]

okay, can i get the low end 24 imac, with standard config (the 1 gig takes one memory slot) and the 2 gig which is 1x2gb? will that work? also, is there a difference on how many slots are fill like will 2x1 be more powerfull than 1x2?
Yes, that will work, but most ppl here will suggest (as CanadaRAM did) that you check out 3rd party memory. You can take you iMac to 4 GB with 3rd party RAM for less than it would take it to 3 GB at the Apple Store.

[thejadedmonkey]

I get away with one gig. I wish I had an extra 512 megs when I run Parallels. I wish I had an extra gig when I try running 15 programs at once.
Usually it's just iCal, Safari, iTunes, Adium, Mail, and maybe word, fetch, Photoshop, Poisoned, or iMovie 08 with 1 gig.

[iBunny]

the sweet spot on ram for the imac is 3 meg. you can get a 2 meg for 119 and with your single gain 100 percent performance increase "with certain apps ie photoshop" the 4 meg only adds about 5% more. you can always get another 2 meg later if you want to go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_Access_Memory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh

I mean jesus christ....

[Kinetic]

im getting the highest end imac with 2.8 core 2 extreme, alot of people on here have that, except they all upped the ram to 4gb, is the 4gb worth it for web design, sum photo editing, movie editing with final cut maybe, listening to music, surfing the net, and playing fsx on bootcamp running vista, im planning on getting my imac with leopard, will leopards app recommend at least for 4gb??? please tell me!!! thanx alot in advance

When I first got mine I played around with Photoshop working on some pics with the stock 2GB. Then I added more to up it to 4GB. I did notice a difference playing around with the same photos. I didn't have a way to actually measure it and it's just my perception but it does seem to be snappier. Surfing the net, I didn't notice any change.

[ChrisA]

But with 3 GB or more you won't have to reboot very often due to a memory shortage.

Reboot to reclaim memory? Why? Even if Safari did have the bug (It doesn't) you would only have to quit safari, not re-boot.

[iToaster]

This seems like the right place to ask: If I'm editing HD, just how big a difference will 4 Gbs make over the 2 Gbs in my MBP?

[ChrisA]

What is the best browser to use?

Safari works well but I'm using Firefox lately because for two reasons 1) I like the ad blocker plug in. It works well. 2) A use Linux a lot, all day at work and so at home. I like to use the same on both Mac and Linux.

[MK2007]

Reboot to reclaim memory? Why? Even if Safari did have the bug (It doesn't) you would only have to quit safari, not re-boot.No, quitting does not reclaim the memory. You must reboot. That's the nature of memory leakage -- you don't get the memory back after you quit the application.

[sushiman]

I get away with one gig. I wish I had an extra 512 megs when I run Parallels. I wish I had an extra gig when I try running 15 programs at once.
Usually it's just iCal, Safari, iTunes, Adium, Mail, and maybe word, fetch, Photoshop, Poisoned, or iMovie 08 with 1 gig.

I will be buying my first Mac ( iMac ) as soon as Leopard comes out . I am no computer geek . I use the computer mainly for internet , email , iTunes , Photoshop , Skype ...you know , basic stuff . No games . Can I get away with 1 GB ? Or would you guys recommend that I spring for 2 ?

[ChrisA]

what is 2GB capable of, what extras do u get with 4GB, like tell me how many mid size apps i can run at once, how many professional type apps, and what kind of load, and again, tell me what more i can get with 4GB, thanx!!!

The bottom line is to look at newegg.com. Their price for RAM is cheap enough you may as well just buy 4GB. You only save something like about $80 by going with 2GB.

But you want a more technical answer?
You can run everythign all at once with only 1GB of RAM. The question is "How fast?" The way you can tell if more RAM will make something go faster is to first do that "something" while keeping an eye on the Activity Monitor. Watch the number of page outs. Ideally you want this to be zero but if it trails page ins by a 10:1 ratio it is "good enough" Once you reach the good enough point. Adding more RAM does not help much.

But you have to evaluate this for each usage case and it's always easy to find a case were even more RAM helps. For example try opening four VMware Fusion virtual machines while running Aperture. For that you'd need a lot more than 4GB.

You ask "How many professional apps?" Is this reasonable? Are you really planing on running FCP to edit some video footage while at the same in another window you are designing a new condo complex with a 3D CAD system? People just never do this except in tests.

I will be buying my first Mac ( iMac ) as soon as Leopard comes out . I am no computer geek . I use the computer mainly for internet , email , iTunes , Photoshop , Skype ...you know , basic stuff . No games . Can I get away with 1 GB ? Or would you guys recommend that I spring for 2 ?

I have 1GB in an iMac. I can do what you describe. It would be nice to have 2GB. What I add VMware Fusion into the mix it really is a drag on performance due to the limited RAM. I need more.

Do you really use Photoshop CS3? You say "I am no computer geek" but CS3 implies that you are rather serious. The new CS3 runs well enough in 1GB but itend not to do much else when I'm working on a photo in PS. Older versions of PS are PPC-only, not universal. and took up more memory due to Rosetta but CS3 runs OK but then I'm working with 6MP images at most.

[Luigi239]

There is no reason to get 4gb just for web browsing, email, photo editing, ext. I have 2gb in my c2d macbook, and I do more then the average consumer in terms of usage and apps open, and it never hangs or has any problems. 1gb should be fine unless you are using pro apps like final cut or photoshop, where then you should get the 4gb, although if you only use them occasionally, it is not worth the money.

I've even used a Macbook on 512 before, and it was fine for web browsing, email and iTunes. Only get the 4gb if you are doing pro work.

[sushiman]

There is no reason to get 4gb just for web browsing, email, photo editing, ext. I have 2gb in my c2d macbook, and I do more then the average consumer in terms of usage and apps open, and it never hangs or has any problems. 1gb should be fine unless you are using pro apps like final cut or photoshop, where then you should get the 4gb, although if you only use them occasionally, it is not worth the money.

I've even used a Macbook on 512 before, and it was fine for web browsing, email and iTunes. Only get the 4gb if you are doing pro work.

I use Photoshop occasionally at most . No pro work and no plans to do any . I'm just sick to death of Windows and Microsoft and even though the Mac is going to cost me more dough than a comparable PC I am GO for an iMac .

Thing is , one of my buddies , who has been a Mac guy for years and has a Mac Pro is saying I should get at least 2 GB or I'll be booting myself in the butt sometime down the road . Of course , he is a geek and does lots of pro work on his Mac so really needs a ton of RAM .