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How much RAM is needed for MB?

Doug's basic truths in life:

You can never have enough sex, memory, storage or bandwidth.

I've recently seen some benchmarks done, that running basic benchmarks, there actually is a performance improvement by maxing out memory at 4GB.

I've got a Blackbook upgraded to 4GB of RAM. The other way you can enhance performance is to upgrade the HD to a 7200RPM model. I've done this on PC notebooks for years. The performance improvements are quite noticeable. I'm toying with the idea of swapping in a 7200RPM 200GB Travelstar and putting the old Macbook 250GB drive in an external enclosure. That way I could hook that up to my Airport extreme base station and use it for time machine backups.

Other than memory and a faster HD there really is nothing else you can do to "upgrade" your Macbook.
 
I find I use most of my 2gb RAM without doing anything high level

I've got the standard 2gb of RAM in my latest model Whitebook (my first Mac and I'm very happy to have left the dark side). According to my Dashmonitor widget, I have 265 MB of RAM completely free right now. 325 is wired. 1040 is active 412 MB is inactive. I'm not doing much. Open applications: Mail, Safari (as usual about 10 tabs are open), iChat (by accident), iTunes, Real Player (currently playing a BBC radio station). This is the MINIMUM I have open at at any one time. I often have several of the following open: iWeb, iWork, Photo Booth, TextEdit, iCal, Limewire. I try to remember to quit functions I'm not using but often leave a few open by accident, as I suppose most people do. I reboot as little as possible, so the MacBook is often up for 2 or 3 days solid. I often see the beach ball, usually just for a few seconds, but sometimes in a more annoying way. Less would be good. I'm very happy with the performance compared with any PC I've ever used, but I do occasionally find very slow running which is most easily solved by a forced close. So I don't do anything high level, but I'm an intensive user of what I do use. It looks to me like 4 gb of RAM might improve performance. I'm very far from being a techie, but I would appreciate not being called an idiot because I think I might benefit from having 4 gb. Constructive, well informed, well reasoned advice in either direction would be most welcome (as a continuation of the original question obviously, I'm not trying to start a new thread).
 
BarryS said:
I've got the standard 2gb of RAM in my latest model Whitebook (my first Mac and I'm very happy to have left the dark side). According to my Dashmonitor widget, I have 265 MB of RAM completely free right now. 325 is wired. 1040 is active 412 MB is inactive. I'm not doing much. Open applications: Mail, Safari (as usual about 10 tabs are open), iChat (by accident), iTunes, Real Player (currently playing a BBC radio station). This is the MINIMUM I have open at at any one time. I often have several of the following open: iWeb, iWork, Photo Booth, TextEdit, iCal, Limewire. I try to remember to quit functions I'm not using but often leave a few open by accident, as I suppose most people do. I reboot as little as possible, so the MacBook is often up for 2 or 3 days solid. I often see the beach ball, usually just for a few seconds, but sometimes in a more annoying way. Less would be good. I'm very happy with the performance compared with any PC I've ever used, but I do occasionally find very slow running which is most easily solved by a forced close. So I don't do anything high level, but I'm an intensive user of what I do use. It looks to me like 4 gb of RAM might improve performance. I'm very far from being a techie, but I would appreciate not being called an idiot because I think I might benefit from having 4 gb. Constructive, well informed, well reasoned advice in either direction would be most welcome (as a continuation of the original question obviously, I'm not trying to start a new thread).
Click to expand...

I think you would be very well suited for 2GB of additional RAM. I ordered my RAM when I ordered my refurbed White MB/2.2. It runs flawlessly in my opinion. No drag, etc. I use it at home and work. At work I have iTunes, Word, Excel, Entrourage, CoRD, and a couple of networking utilities. Never a slow down, no beachballs, nuttin!

Go for it...
 
Here is a novel idea - get the laptop w/o the extra memory and see how much memory you have left after what you consider normal usage.

Here is some info on memory in OS X from Apple, in case you are new to the platform

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1342

A good rule of thumb I've heard in the past is that you want to have +25% in free and inactive memory under normal usage.

Oh, and I'd not go the 3 GB route, since the data rate goes down when two memory modules of different sizes are used.

For reference, I'm using a current 2.4 MacBook that came with 2 GB stock. For the most part I found this to be a good amount or RAM, but I upgraded to 4 GB for running VMWare + XP Professional. Having the extra RAM is nice for other apps, but so is the extra 80$ in your pocket.


Just one more thing - here are some 'hard numbers' done by OWC. The point where there was a massive improvement was when running Parallels, another virtualization software.

https://eshop.macsales.com/Reviews/Framework.cfm?page=/Benchmarks/Core2_RAM_benchorig.html

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Memory_Benchmark/Apple_MacBook/
 
I have the white Macbook 2.1Ghz... it came stock with 1 gb (2 x 512) and I upgraded to 2.5 gb ( 1 x 512, 1 x 2gb )... a lot of posters keep suggesting 4 gb and I am wondering if it will read all 4gb or just around 3.3gb? This is the lowest Macbook model ($1099).
 
This might seem like the normal answer but it is really the best advice and i follow it. Get as much as you can afford. To really enjoy and have the full mac os x experience you will need 2GB but if you are anything like me and have tons of stuff open all the time 4GB would go a long way.
 
neiltc13 said:
You do not need 4GB RAM to "run movies, email, word processing, keynote presentations". 1GB would be enough, but if you want to be on the safe side, get 2GB. ...
...There are some completely crazy people on here.
Poster: "I want to write emails, what laptop should I get?"
Crazy people here: "MacBook Pro! You never know when you might need a GPU!"
Click to expand...
+10000

I'm with you. You don't know how many times i read post like...
"Hey everyone, i'm looking for a new desktop for my home use... First time mac user and i will be surfing the net, emailing, listening to music watching some movies and office suite. Does everyone agree with 2.8Ghz MacPRO??

Everyone: Yes def!!! the 3.06gzh is over kill for your use, the 2.8 macPro would be great!!!

^Are people serious?!?!!? And when i post "just wondering why you decided to go with the macpro. Have you taking a look at the iMac to see if that could have what you need in terms of computing?" <---and guess what?... every post is answered but that one.

LOL. It makes me laugh when people say, "hey just got a macbook, should i upgrade to 4gig?"... and again i ask "what are you doing that could require 4 gigs of ram??"<---and again my post questinos gets ignored.

If you NEEDED 4 gigs to run a pro apps, chances are you would have a pro laptop. If you knew you were going to have VMWare Logic Studio etc... you would NOT be getting the BASE model macbook and only upgrading the ram.

everyone around here seems to be recommending 4 gigs of ram automaticly without asking what the computer will be used for and saying it made night and day difference for their computers?........ DASHBOARD?!?!?! You see a night and day difference? Word is open????? to speak in all honesty if you are using standard apps like that you are not seeing the advantage of 4gigs compared to 2gigs. Really... so if you need your dashboard to load .6 seconds faster the first time you load it.... and bought 4 gigs of ram for that, then you have a wrong concept of ram.

I have MBP 2.4 STANDARD 2 GIGS OF RAM. I have had my compture on for 2 days so far (sleep when not in use) and ON AND IN FULL USE HERE IS WHAT I HAVE RUNNING.
imovie, Firefox 4 tabs, ichat, adium, itunes, address book, ical, word, excel, DASHBOARD.
All of thos are open at the SAME TIME and i EXpose with ZERO HICUPS..... THEN I OPEN UP 4 VIDEOS' AND EVERY APP, AND AGAIN ZERO PROBLEMS.

i TRIED the same thing on my fiance's macbook 2.4 and her's did it with no problem... First time doing Expose, you see a .5-1 second MAX of rest, then it does it like nothing.

In 1-2-3 years doesn't matter how much space you have processor chip, graphics card, plug ins (firewire, usb,etc...) will be new so doesn't matter how much space you put, technology will ALWAYS.. ALWAYS... ALWAYS have something new.

To the OP, get the ram for the things you will NEED. 1gig is ok, if you want to feel save go 1.5g... best go with 2gigs... In 2 years when you MIGHT feel a lag, get 4 total... anyway prices of ram might drop by then. 2 gigs and that would be great for you.

So, for now, use what will be great for you, 2gigs ram, you will be happy. In 2-3 years, when your comptuer starts slowing down, you could get the top of the line comptuer with a faster processer because... you know.... processors also increase? LIke having 4gigs of ram and a 1.3ghz processor.. ummmmm you know? in 3 years we will most likely have 3.5ghz standard.

Good luck and members give the right advise, advise him on what he will use and benefit him. Don't recommend a MacPRO for iphoto/imovie use, Macbook PRO for word processing in college, 4 GIGS or RAM for email, internet, itunes and imovie.
 
Neil321 said:
...no one suggested looking in there activity monitor at there page-in's page-outs to see if they need more memory ???
Click to expand...


Thank you.. chances are the people don't use of the whole 1 gig, but they are looking for 4 gigs.... ACTIVITY MONITOR will let you know how much you've used, and how much is free, and how much will be used by something else. If you use it heavily and see you barely use 1gig, you do NOT need 4 gigs.. like many recommend 2gigs would be great... Good call Neil321
 
Yes. I agree with you completely Neil321. If your not going to see the benefit of the 4 gigs then there is no use in paying the extra money, and its a shame no one ever listens to you...because its smart advice.

I think I will get the two gig, just to play it safe. Even though I do know how to open a macbook and change the ram, I worry that that will void my applecare coverage (is that true?), so I'll probably buy just above baseline (2.4ghz, 2gig) to avoid that.
 
dominordelingua said:
Yes. I agree with you completely Neil321. If your not going to see the benefit of the 4 gigs then there is no use in paying the extra money, and its a shame no one ever listens to you...because its smart advice.

I think I will get the two gig, just to play it safe. Even though I do know how to open a macbook and change the ram, I worry that that will void my applecare coverage (is that true?), so I'll probably buy just above baseline (2.4ghz, 2gig) to avoid that.
Click to expand...

replacing the RAM in your MB will not void your warranty,it considered user doable,as for the RAM billmister's got the right idea far to many n00bs come on here asking the same question ( no offence )
and get the same old answers,yes Max out your RAM it fly's get a 3.2ghz iMac for doing e-mails when they haven't a clue how memory is allocated. For basic tasks ie surfing word etc 2GB is more than enough. I only got more RAM when i started using progs that need it & my activity monitor told me i needed it
 
eXan said:
This is very silly argument. Why would someone buy something he would never use? Even if it is "cheap" as you say it still costs additional money.
Click to expand...

look, i am talking from my personal experience. my credibility lies in the fact that i have used my MB with all 3 stages of RAM (1 gb, 2 gb, 4 gb).

I saw the greatest leap when going from 2 to 4. I rarely, if ever get the color beachball ever since i went 4 gb. my recommendation is to upgrade. you can take it or leave it.
 
gothamm said:
look, i am talking from my personal experience. my credibility lies in the fact that i have used my MB with all 3 stages of RAM (1 gb, 2 gb, 4 gb).

I saw the greatest leap when going from 2 to 4. I rarely, if ever get the color beachball ever since i went 4 gb. my recommendation is to upgrade. you can take it or leave it.
Click to expand...

Of course you talk from your personal experience! But your usage is different from OP - thats the point. Some people need more RAM than the others. One doesn't need more than 1 GB for watching movies and e-mailing .. .
 
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