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Help Me Decide: Processor Speed vs. Extra Ram

V

Vashti

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 24, 2003
95
1
New York, NY
Hey y'all. I'm going to take advantage of Black Friday sales before midnight Pacific time. I'm weighing the comparative value of a 2.0 macbook upgraded (to 250 hard drive and 4 GB ram) or the 2.4 macbook without any changes. So the question comes down to which helps me more - extra ram or extra processing speed?

I do pretty basic things - music, e-mail, web, word processing, excel, light picture editing. I do often have many apps open at once.

I asked at the apple store and via phone to apple online. One said ram, the other said processing speed. So I thought I'd turn it over to you experts to see if you could illuminate me.

Thanks for the help. I will be ordering within an hour.
 
For what you do, I would probably say go with more RAM, but then again RAM/hard-drive is easily upgradeable in the Macbook whereas the processor is not. You may want to get the best processor now and upgrade the RAM, hard-drive later on.
 
I'd get the faster processor. You can always upgrade the ram later when the price drops, you can't upgrade the processor.

And plus you get the back-lit keyboard.
 
Vashti said:
I do pretty basic things - music, e-mail, web, word processing, excel, light picture editing. I do often have many apps open at once.
Click to expand...

2 gigs of ram should be fine for this. I doubt you need 4 gigs at the moment..
The ram is ddr3 and its faster than the ddr2 in the old macbooks.

'If', and its a big if, you find it is running slow/paging out..then stump up the extra cash in 6 months or so and bump up the ram. Cheaper than replacing the whole laptop.
 
Thanks, y'all. This is really helping. If I'm reading this right, it seems like folks think the Ram would be better if I can only do one - but most of you think I should upgrade the processor and then buy more ram if I need it later. Does that sound right?

Again, thanks. I really appreciate the help!
 
I had convinced myself I was wrong for spending extra $300 on CPU, 90 GB HD space, and iluminated keyboard. But reading the firs few replies made me rethink, especially with Snow Leopard around the corner. I thought was rather pointless to have upgraded HD when I want a faster 7200 rpm HD and not this snail they included. Realistically, the 5400 rpm HD that came with it will become a better external backup not money wasted. And the 20% faster CPU may meet minimum requirements for some software three years from now. The illuminated keyboard will prevent many first stroke errors in bed (ok not that kind of stroke). You get point. So turns out I am genius and not an idiot, or just got lucky!

So the high-end MB may work out!
 
Done! I ordered the 2.4 version with no extra Ram. If I need it later, I'll buy it then. Thanks a lot for all the guidance. Happy Holidays.
 
Vashti said:
Done! I ordered the 2.4 version with no extra Ram. If I need it later, I'll buy it then. Thanks a lot for all the guidance. Happy Holidays.
Click to expand...

Actually, if I were you, I would upgrade the ram now... You will need it. And, it's only $150 to have Apple do it and not mess with your warranty. But if you cannot afford it, then definitely wait.

Congrats.
 
2.0 MacBook with iPod Touch or 2.4?

I would recommend the 2.4 because of what others have said about upgrading when prices drop. the backlit keyboard is nice also! (please disregard the title, i copied from the thread i posted by accident)
 
I took the base model 2.4ghz route because like others said, the CPU is not upgradable. I can buy more ram or a HDD when the time comes. I may end up buying the ram sooner than I thought, I'm getting the itch already haha.
 
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