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View Full Version : 8GB RAM or 7200RPM HDD for Macbook PRo?



ZzBoG
Sep 10, 2008, 02:04 PM
I wanna boost my 2.4 C2D Macbook Pro, but I can't decide which way to go..

I have enough money for either installing 8GB RAM (I have 4 now) into it, or changing stock 160GB 5400RPM HDD for a 320GB 7200RPM one.

Which will be more useful?

I have enough hdd space on external drives, so I'm upgrading for speed only.

I do film editing in FCP2 and some Photoshop and some web-browsing of course.


mattyb240
Sep 10, 2008, 02:06 PM
I don't think it supports 8gb?!
Tallest Skil
Sep 10, 2008, 02:08 PM
It doesn't support 8GB of RAM. Get the HDD.
MacBass
Sep 10, 2008, 02:43 PM
4 GB is the max that the MBP/MB/iMacs can support. The Mini can support up to 3 GB, and the MP can support up to 32 GB. 4 GB should be plenty.
Scepticalscribe
Sep 10, 2008, 03:19 PM
The MBP cannot take more than 4RAM, (the top end desktop, the MP, can take more, obviously), ergo, go for the extra HDD.
Cheers
john123
Sep 10, 2008, 03:27 PM
4 GB should be plenty.

I beg to differ.
basesloaded190
Sep 10, 2008, 03:53 PM
I beg to differ.

care to elaborate?
Consultant
Sep 10, 2008, 04:48 PM
I beg to differ.

It's sort of possible, but since it doesn't work then the answer is actually no.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mbp%208gb%20ram%20site%3Amacrumors.com&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
dmw007
Sep 10, 2008, 05:00 PM
Go for the 7200rpm HDD, I had one in my MacBook Pro and it was quite speedy! :)
Genghis Khan
Sep 10, 2008, 05:35 PM
4 GB should be plenty.

I beg to differ.

care to elaborate?

have you ever photoshopped for 12 hours straight?

more ram = faster photoshop

*4GB made it possible for my computer to last that long, but it was struggling by the end.........
benwa02
Sep 10, 2008, 05:51 PM
have you ever photoshopped for 12 hours straight?

more ram = faster photoshop

*4GB made it possible for my computer to last that long, but it was struggling by the end.........

Bingo! - PS can chew up RAM easily
Bobjob186
Sep 10, 2008, 06:42 PM
have you ever photoshopped for 12 hours straight?

more ram = faster photoshop

*4GB made it possible for my computer to last that long, but it was struggling by the end.........

take a 15 second break and relaunch the app...problem solved.
SnowLeopard2008
Sep 10, 2008, 06:56 PM
the current macs that aren't fully expandable cannot support more than 4Gb of ram at a single given time. you can have the os swap out ram but cannot access all 8GB at a single given time. So go for the HD.
finalcut
Sep 10, 2008, 07:29 PM
Personally, even if the MBP would take 8GB, I'd take a 7200RPM HDD anyway
john123
Sep 11, 2008, 04:20 PM
Another case is virtualized environments. Run even one, and a lot in both environments, and 4GB feels constricting very fast.

It wasn't long ago that I thought 4GB was indulgent overkill. But that was before Parallels/VMWare became an everyday part of my life.
Consultant
Sep 11, 2008, 04:33 PM
Bingo! - PS can chew up RAM easily

CS3 apps can only use 3GB of ram max each if I remember correctly.


the current macs that aren't fully expandable cannot support more than 4Gb of ram at a single given time. you can have the os swap out ram but cannot access all 8GB at a single given time. So go for the HD.

Mac Pro can use >4gb of ram.