Do I need 6GB of RAM?

[24usedtorock]

For an early 09 Mac Pro, everything default option (planning on upgrading video card on my own).

Planned usages: Light Photoshop work, gaming, boot camp, lots of applications, multi-tasking etc.

I want to be able to leave the machine on all the time, or most of the time, run many applications simultaneously, without noticing any slowdown whatsoever. I dunno how much RAM Snow Leopard uses, but is there any reason not to spend the $150 on the 6GB Ram upgrade, it seems fishy since the price of upgrading RAM used to be like $500 for Apple.

 

[snouter]

I think the 09 MP comes with 6x1GB sticks, so you are prolly looking at pulling all 6 sticks, and putting in 6x2GB or 8x2GB.

 

[24usedtorock]

I think the 09 MP comes with 6x1GB sticks, so you are prolly looking at pulling all 6 sticks, and putting in 6x2GB or 8x2GB.

Sorry to clarify, I'm looking at the Quad Core machine (the $2499 version), not the 8-core.

Here are specs.

# One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor
# 3GB (3x1GB), 1066MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM

I will be putting in a 1GB GTX285 vid card.

Based on the above configuration and my stated usages, can you please estimate if the RAM (and overall performance) would be sufficient?

 

[snouter]

edit

yeah, get four 2GB sticks and call it a day...

 

[VirtualRain]

edit

yeah, get four 2GB sticks and call it a day...

I would suggest the 3x2GB option rather than 4x2GB unless you really need the extra 2GB (which is doubtful). We know you will get max memory performance running tri-channel this way.

 

[snouter]

I would suggest the 3x2GB option rather than 4x2GB unless you really need the extra 2GB (which is doubtful). We know you will get max memory performance running tri-channel this way.

maybe to a benchmark... no human is going to be able to tell any difference and it's never bad to have plenty of physical ram...

I'd just assume put in 4 matching sticks, max it out, and call it a day

Buy, yeah, you can't go wrong either way. If it's a tri-channel machine, it should have 6 slots... but... they didn't ask me.

 

[tempusfugit]

I think the 09 MP comes with 6x1GB sticks, so you are prolly looking at pulling all 6 sticks, and putting in 6x2GB or 8x2GB.

don't the mac pros only effectively utilize ram when installed in groups of 3 or something?

6x2 might be just as effective as 8x2....

 

[aaronw1986]

6GB really isn't that much, especially for a mac pro. That's only 1.5 per core. So yes, get at least that.

 

[snouter]

don't the mac pros only effectively utilize ram when installed in groups of 3 or something?

6x2 might be just as effective as 8x2....

As it turns out, he has the four slot single CPU model.

Like I said before, I doubt anyone could tell the difference between 3 or 6 sticks v. 4 or 8 sticks.

Better to buy all at once so it matches.

The price has dropped quite a bit since DDR3 first showed up on the scene...

 

[Umbongo]

As it turns out, he has the four slot single CPU model.

Like I said before, I doubt anyone could tell the difference between 3 or 6 sticks v. 4 or 8 sticks.

Better to buy all at once so it matches.

The price has dropped quite a bit since DDR3 first showed up on the scene...

With the 09 Mac Pros there is no reason to buy 4 or 8 sticks until you have had some time with 3 or 6 if you are not sure how much memory you need. If you are never going to use more than the capacity of 3 or 6 then having 4 or 8 is giving you poorer performance for no reason. The matching sticks issue is irrelevent with today's technology and internet shopping.

 

[zmttoxics]

Well, IMHO, 3GB should be just fine given your workload is average. Light photoshop, websurfing, and gaming, you should do well with 3GB. I have 6GB in my G5 and it only ever really needs 2-3GB.