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izzy0242mr

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 24, 2009
745
524
I've seen conflicting answers on Google regarding whether unequal RAM modules is bad/not a problem.

I'm wanting to upgrade my Mac's (MC700LL/A) RAM from the stock 4 GB to something a little higher. I find my computer slowing down occasionally just from having a lot of word processing and browser tabs open, and it'd be nice to give it a little more speed. So, a couple questions:

1) I'm cheap, so I don't want to spend a ton. Would it be a bad idea to install one new RAM module, like a 4 GB or 8 GB in one slot, and leave the 2 GB stock module in the other slot?
2) If it would be a bad idea, what's the explanation for why, and would there actually be a negative? Or would it just be that "equal sizes increases performance over unequal sizes"? Because I'm considering buying an 8 GB module so I have 10 GB of RAM. Would that be worse than, say, buying two 4 GB modules for a total of 8 GB?
3) Is there any recommendation for exactly how much RAM would be best, and the impact it will have on usage? I mostly have Chrome (with usually a minimum of 10 tabs open, often more), Pages, Calendar, Stickies, TextEdit, and the occasional other app.
 
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