Advice on buying RAM...Aluminium Macbook 13"

to1986 · Oct 29, 2009, 04:05 PM

was looking to upgrade from the standard 2gb RAm to 4gb, but needed advice as I am not too familiar with this. Ive been told crucial and OWC are good brands. Was looking on the crucial website and it gave me two options. Either a 4GB (2x2GB) or a 2GB stick. Is it ok to buy a 2GB stick as I already have 2Gb on my system, or do i need to buy the 4GB. Is there anything else i need to consider when buying. Any advice would be appreciated...thanks

andalusia · Oct 29, 2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by to1986

was looking to upgrade from the standard 2gb RAm to 4gb, but needed advice as I am not too familiar with this. Ive been told crucial and OWC are good brands. Was looking on the crucial website and it gave me two options. Either a 4GB (2x2GB) or a 2GB stick. Is it ok to buy a 2GB stick as I already have 2Gb on my system, or do i need to buy the 4GB. Is there anything else i need to consider when buying. Any advice would be appreciated...thanks

You will need 2x2GB.
You currently have 2x1GB of RAM; if you buy a 2GB stick you will replace one of the 1GB sticks you have, so you'll have a 1GB stick and a 2GB stick equalling 3GB. So buy the 2x2GB set.

acron1 · Oct 29, 2009, 04:38 PM

As tristangage said the 2x2Gb sticks are your best option. You could go with 1x2Gb stick and keep one of your old 1Gb stick for a total of 3Gb which is not a bad option if you are in a budget but keep in mind that you will be giving up your dual memory channel capability (a minor hit in memory performance).
Either Crucial or OWC will be a fine choice for you...
Good luck.

Vashed555 · Oct 31, 2009, 04:49 AM

OR, you could drop some serious cash on a 4gb RAM stick, and then buy a 2Gb stick, and have a total of 6gb of memory...

Just sayin...

andalusia · Oct 31, 2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vashed555

OR, you could drop some serious cash on a 4gb RAM stick, and then buy a 2Gb stick, and have a total of 6gb of memory...

Just sayin...

The serious cash part is what would put me off :P
Besides, without two sticks of equal memory, you don't get dual-channel support.

Vashed555 · Oct 31, 2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tristangage

The serious cash part is what would put me off :P
Besides, without two sticks of equal memory, you don't get dual-channel support.

It's not dual channel suppot. The difference has been measured several times, and there is no noticeable slow-down with the 4gb stick added to the 2gb actually. It's just uber pricey.

andalusia · Oct 31, 2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vashed555

It's not dual channel suppot. The difference has been measured several times, and there is no noticeable slow-down with the 4gb stick added to the 2gb actually. It's just uber pricey.

It has? Where are the results of these tests?

Vashed555 · Nov 1, 2009, 12:27 AM

Use Google!!!!!

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Confi...AM-96884.shtml

http://www.digitalhobbit.com/2009/09...to-6gb-of-ram/

http://www.zimbio.com/Laptop+Reviews...AM+But+not+8GB

http://db.tidbits.com/article/9839

etc.

This news is older than the hills....

Oct 29, 2009, 04:05 PM	#1
to1986 macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2009	Advice on buying RAM...Aluminium Macbook 13" was looking to upgrade from the standard 2gb RAm to 4gb, but needed advice as I am not too familiar with this. Ive been told crucial and OWC are good brands. Was looking on the crucial website and it gave me two options. Either a 4GB (2x2GB) or a 2GB stick. Is it ok to buy a 2GB stick as I already have 2Gb on my system, or do i need to buy the 4GB. Is there anything else i need to consider when buying. Any advice would be appreciated...thanks
	0

Oct 31, 2009, 04:49 AM	#4
Vashed555 macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio	OR, you could drop some serious cash on a 4gb RAM stick, and then buy a 2Gb stick, and have a total of 6gb of memory... Just sayin... __________________ 13.3" 2.4GHz Collector MacBook 12" PowerBook G4 1.5GHz iPhone 3GS, iPod Classic 120gb
	0

Nov 1, 2009, 12:27 AM	#8
Vashed555 macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio	Use Google!!!!! http://news.softpedia.com/news/Confi...AM-96884.shtml http://www.digitalhobbit.com/2009/09...to-6gb-of-ram/ http://www.zimbio.com/Laptop+Reviews...AM+But+not+8GB http://db.tidbits.com/article/9839 etc. This news is older than the hills.... __________________ 13.3" 2.4GHz Collector MacBook 12" PowerBook G4 1.5GHz iPhone 3GS, iPod Classic 120gb
	0

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Oct 29, 2009, 04:38 PM	#3
acron1 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	As tristangage said the 2x2Gb sticks are your best option. You could go with 1x2Gb stick and keep one of your old 1Gb stick for a total of 3Gb which is not a bad option if you are in a budget but keep in mind that you will be giving up your dual memory channel capability (a minor hit in memory performance). Either Crucial or OWC will be a fine choice for you... Good luck.
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