Is 4 GB RAM needed? Or will 2 do?

[faizan]

Hi,
I'm about to receive a new Macbook (2.0 Ghz Unibody). I was wondering if I should consider upgrading RAM to 4 GB. Is crucial the best place to buy RAM upgrades?

I'll only be using Office, Photoshop and Aperture on the Macbook (and maybe some games).

Thanks?

[tersono]

Depends on what you're doing, but Photoshop is quite memory hungry and 4gb will improve performance noticeably. RAM is cheap these days - worth the investment.

Crucial is my preferred supplier of RAM - been using them for years (both for personal needs and for work). Never had a problem.

[Jeremy81]

I just upgraded to 4 GB's. I've noticed a definite difference. Since you are using Photoshop I would recommend it. It's worth the 50-60 bucks in my opinion.

[faizan]

thanks for the info.. I'll order my extra RAM from Crucial!

[sheepforwheat]

Do you have the new White Macbook ? If so you might want to check out this thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=662488) first, crucial has some RAM on sale (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=20-233-066&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=25&SelectedRating=1&PurchaseMark=&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&Page=1&Keywords=(keywords)) on newegg.com that says it is compatible with "all macbooks", but a couple reviewers say that it was not compatible with their new white macbook MB881LL /A with NVIDIA.

[zotes24]

last night i just bought the (2x2) 4 gb sticks from OWC, http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3

$66 shipped. I went ahead and got it because it was only $66 and that compared to apple was like $100 cheaper...

they even did a DIY which looks very easy to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY2LC6JKZ4k&feature=channel_page

[Boston Fan]

4gb kit (2gb x 2) Crucial for $52.99 with free shipping - works great with the Aluminum MacBook:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148191

[jimboutilier]

last night i just bought the (2x2) 4 gb sticks from OWC, http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3

$66 shipped. I went ahead and got it because it was only $66 and that compared to apple was like $100 cheaper...

they even did a DIY which looks very easy to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY2LC6JKZ4k&feature=channel_page

I've been getting my upgrades through macsales.com (OWC) for a number of years and their prices are good and have never had problems. Their customer service is great too. I upgraded my 2.4 MB memory and HD through them and it works great.

OS X runs well in 2gb RAM but thats the lower edge of good performance and you loose a quarter gb to video on the new MB so the 4gb upgrade is a good purchase particularly if you use programs like Photoshop.

[KnightWRX]

Best thing you could so is wait till you have the notebook and work on it with the 2 GB in place. Start activity monitor and check RAM usage. If after a few hours of working on it (in Photoshop and Aperture) you're not yet using SWAP, you don't need the memory.