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How much RAM will I need for regular Macbook?

C

coffeeinthebin

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 29, 2010
17
0
I have a 128mb RAM PC laptop right now. Its really slow, and I like to be running three applications at once. I can't do that now. This is the most I want to be running at the same time on my new Macbook (when I get it)
1) iTunes
2) Photobooth
3) Safari with Facebook open (on Facebook it will just be general things like scrolling down the newsfeed hahah), Picnik.com open to edit photos.
4) iWork
will the general 2gb ram be enough for this or should i pay extra for 4gb??
 
You could easily get away with the base 2 GB RAM, though ever since getting my current MBPu with 4 GB, I refuse to buy anything with less. However, I run what you do plus Photoshop, After Effects, Nuke, Shake, Final Cut Pro, and Maya a bit, as well as a few occasional games.
 
What do you mean, fine? Like it will run good and not freeze a lot? Cause I'm used to my computer freezing so much I have to force it off, and it taking 15 minutes to start up. I'm kinda expecting this to run near-perfectly but even a little fast with few crashes would be good.
 
2 gigs is more than enough for the tasks you listed

They wouldn't have it standard if it really sucked

For day to day stuff, I notice hardly any difference between my mb with 2 gig ram and my quad core hackintosh with 8 gig ram

Edit: considering 4 years ago that 512mb was standard for the macbooks and i believe those were running tiger/leopard and that was for the most part fine and those initial machines could only top out to 2 gig max (and slower ram at that than what these have)

I am an advocate of buying after realizing you need it than just upgrading for the sake of having more
 
You won't run into a problem with the base 2gb. I lived on that for a year doing MUCH more and never felt like I needed more.
 
2GB of ram will be ENOUGH for what you wanted to do, I think 4GB is kinda waste for you.

Btw you can still change to 4GB later on if you really really need it.
 
2gb will be fine/more than enough for the majority of users. I would say go for 2gb and then you can upgrade it yourself in the future as it's really easy to do and also much cheaper than paying Apple for it!
signature_silverapple.jpg
 
opera57 said:
2gb will be fine/more than enough for the majority of users. I would say go for 2gb and then you can upgrade it yourself in the future as it's really easy to do and also much cheaper than paying Apple for it!
signature_silverapple.jpg
Click to expand...
At the moment, it is actually cheaper to get your 4 GB RAM upgrade from Apple over other sources. Apple upgrade is $100 ($90 educational), whereas from MacSales the 4 GB RAM upgrade is $117, and a little more than that at NewEgg, and ect. But by the time he should possibly need 4 GB, prices should be down. To OP, my old MBu had 2 GB RAM, and it ran no problem, even with some 3D work, and light photoshop and after effects. So for your purposes, it will be fine. I even ran a few games on it.
 
In the years before he needs 4gb of ram, the prices will have dropped like current PC1 ram.
 
brucem91 said:
At the moment, it is actually cheaper to get your 4 GB RAM upgrade from Apple over other sources. Apple upgrade is $100 ($90 educational), whereas from MacSales the 4 GB RAM upgrade is $117, and a little more than that at NewEgg, and ect. But by the time he should possibly need 4 GB, prices should be down. To OP, my old MBu had 2 GB RAM, and it ran no problem, even with some 3D work, and light photoshop and after effects. So for your purposes, it will be fine. I even ran a few games on it.
Click to expand...

well apple's upgrade doesn't let you keep the original 2 gig of ram
 
coffeeinthebin said:
What do you mean, fine? Like it will run good and not freeze a lot? Cause I'm used to my computer freezing so much I have to force it off, and it taking 15 minutes to start up. I'm kinda expecting this to run near-perfectly but even a little fast with few crashes would be good.
Click to expand...

It will run great with what your doing:D
 
Don't worry, 2GB will be fine :) I have the standard 2GB in mine, and I can run garageband, iPhoto, iMovie, Safari (with facebook open) AND Microsoft office, all with no problems :D You'll be fine, don't worry
 
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