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Mac Pro - How Much RAM do YOU have?

I've got 3Gb; 2x512Mb that came with the machine and 2x1Gb of Kingston RAM bought from the following link, it came with the big hardcore heatsinks and runs perfectly.

http://www.streetwise.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=5049

I mainly do pro audio using Logic Pro 7.2.3 and Ableton Live and a massive number of plug ins as well as a bit of gaming in XP (C&C3 and Company of heroes). Everything runs well, I've never had a crash or any other problem.
Funnily enough it's only the apple apps, in particular Safari and Mail that run slow and bring up the dreaded beach ball...

Not sure if you've read this?
http://www.macworld.com/2006/10/features/macpromem/index.php

Mac Pro 2.66Ghz / 3Gb RAM / 2x320Gb+1x250Gb HDD / ATi X1900
 
thanks for posting that chart, Multimedia. I've pretty much given up on trying to understand why which stick should go where.

i wonder though (since i'm waiting for the next revision) if those configurations will change with new hardware?
 
Thanks for the chart Multimedia.

So from the chart the original 2x512 that came with the mac pro should be moved to the bottom (B) riser and the new 2x1Gb should be in the top (A) riser. Didn't know that. Is there a performance gain from swapping their position?

Cheers
 
The Chart Shows How Maximize Performance With What You Have

krell100 said:
Thanks for the chart Multimedia.

So from the chart the original 2x512 that came with the mac pro should be moved to the bottom (B) riser and the new 2x1Gb should be in the top (A) riser. Didn't know that. Is there a performance gain from swapping their position?
Click to expand...
Should be, but don't ask me to explain it. I only know that this chart shows you how to maximize performance with the sticks you have. Looks like the upper rear is the first part of RAM addressed by the system so you always want that to contain your largest two sticks. Lower rear next then upper front and finally lower front. But not always. Sometimes the third pair goes in the lower front instead of the upper front.

 
I have 3 GB of RAM (2x 1GB, 2x 512MB). I want to add another 2x 1GB, but I also need a new laptop...

rockinrocker said:
i wonder though (since i'm waiting for the next revision) if those configurations will change with new hardware?
Click to expand...

They will not change. The only thing that could make them change is if we move to 12 DIMM slots (which I doubt), in which case, the same rules would apply, but the charts would look different.
 
Just installed the extra 2GB for a total of 5GB. This feels like a whole new system now, much snappier. I'll check in in a few hours for pageouts.
 
I have 3 gb. two stock 512 chips and 2 1gb chips that are Kingston's ordered from canadaRAM I use it for photo management, some video editing, music management and just all round multitasking. :D
 
hi, sorry for what might be a silly question. but what are page ins and page outs?

running 5gb for what it's worth. thanks to everyone who posted the diagram, that helped a lot when installing my RAM.
 
quesofrito said:
hi, sorry for what might be a silly question. but what are page ins and page outs?

running 5gb for what it's worth. thanks to everyone who posted the diagram, that helped a lot when installing my RAM.
Click to expand...

page in/outs are the same as swap files in xp and whatnot. its data swaps from RAM to HDD, so that free space can be made in the RAM to allow for programs to run faster (because RAM is faster than a HDD for reading small files)
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I have just brought a Mac Po 2.66 with 1 GB - I purchased 2x 512MB from Crucial yesterday so will have 2 Gigs of RAM which is the same as my current Del set-up - and that runs photoshop and illustrator fine.

I assumed that would be ample what with the "wow super speedy Mac Pro" I keep reading about; but this thread leads me to believe it won't be....

:confused:

Ps: Mac Pro is here but not taken it out of the box yet let alone tested this 2 Gig setup out in real world.
 
aussie_geek said:
I have found that running disk utility - repair permissions free's up inactive ram as seen in activity monitor. after this, you will have more available so there will be less page outs.

dont know why it does this.. anyone have a clue?? :confused::confused:

aussie_geek
Click to expand...

You shouldn't be running repair permissions that much. Clearing out inactive RAM is bad because it's reserving information that the computer could access at any time to make your computer respond faster but, as new data comes in, it overwrites the old stuff automatically, so you shouldn't have to clear it using any type of method.

Multimedia said:
Here's the Mac Pro Memory Configuration Chart that shows everyone the correct way to put all combinations of sizes of sticks together for maximum performance in case you put yours in the wrong way too:
Click to expand...

I used that same chart for my 5GB setup... I'm glad I found it because I may have installed them wrong without it. Thanks for posting it here because it will help others too.

Glenn Wolsey said:
Just installed the extra 2GB for a total of 5GB. This feels like a whole new system now, much snappier. I'll check in in a few hours for pageouts.
Click to expand...

Nice! I knew you'd like the extra boost! The Mac Pro cannot perform well on 2GB and barely gets by on 3GB. For me, 5GB is where it's at.

stimpycat said:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I have just brought a Mac Po 2.66 with 1 GB - I purchased 2x 512MB from Crucial yesterday so will have 2 Gigs of RAM which is the same as my current Del set-up - and that runs photoshop and illustrator fine.

I assumed that would be ample what with the "wow super speedy Mac Pro" I keep reading about; but this thread leads me to believe it won't be....

:confused:

Ps: Mac Pro is here but not taken it out of the box yet let alone tested this 2 Gig setup out in real world.
Click to expand...

I think you're gonna find that you need more RAM in a Mac Pro than in a Dell system. It seems that for some reason, Intel Macs are a lot more RAM hungry than PPC Macs too. Also, you must remember, most people who are rockin' Mac Pros are doing some serious tasks on them so it really depends on what you are planning to do with your Mac Pro. Most consumers are not going to buy the Mac Pro because an iMac would suit them just fine for their basic web browsing and chatting needs. Again, Mac Pro buyers are usually seriously maxing out the performance on their 'Pros because they bought them knowing that they needed to use them for big power and RAM intensive tasks.
 
2.66GHZ mac pro, with 4 x 512 sticks and 2 x 2gb sticks
The first 2 512 sticks are the stock, then the reseller gave me 2 x 512 of lifetime ram. And I have bought from www.transintl.com (barefeast recomend it), so now I have 6GB of ram.
I use the machine for working with FINAL CUT and HDV movies, so 2 Gb was to little. Iam running 2x20" monitors, that takes more ram to.
So 6Gb will be ok for now, I may need a new video card (hope to see some HD2900 soon)
 
Can someone confirm that the LARGER amount of ram should be in Riser A?

I have 5gb (512x2 & 2x2) configuration 5C, but I just left the Apple ram in the Riser A and added the 2x2gb to Riser B. Is that giving me a serious performance drop? Or does it not matter. I can easily switch the risers, but I am curious if that is going to make any real difference at all.
 
dollystereo said:
2.66GHZ mac pro, with 4 x 512 sticks and 2 x 2gb sticks
The first 2 512 sticks are the stock, then the reseller gave me 2 x 512 of lifetime ram. And I have bought from www.transintl.com (barefeast recomend it), so now I have 6GB of ram.
I use the machine for working with FINAL CUT and HDV movies, so 2 Gb was to little. Iam running 2x20" monitors, that takes more ram to.
So 6Gb will be ok for now, I may need a new video card (hope to see some HD2900 soon)
Click to expand...

How does running 2 monitors use more RAM? Would adding monitors only use more VRAM? Yes, you should get a new better video card if you're going to be using 2 monitors. The only reason why 2 monitors might use up more regular RAM is because with 2 monitors you probably have more Apps running with more windows open because of the extra screen real estate.... but, simply having 2 monitors doesn't affect how much RAM you're using. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong... I never heard of such a thing before.

By the way, the word "too" is spelled with two "o"s.
 
Multimedia said:
I got my MP with 5GB, but the sticks were installed in the wrong way hampering maximum performance. My 512 sticks had been left in the back of Riser A instead of moved to the front so that the two pair of 1GB sticks could gain 256bit addressing by both being in the back of each riser.

If I were to add 4GB more without losing any of what I have, I would want to move the pair of 1GB sticks to the front of the Bottom Riser B and add the two 2GB sticks to the rear of the Upper Riser A.

Adding 4 more - really 3 more - I would lose the 512 sticks, move a pair of 1GB sticks from the rear of the lower riser B to the front of upper riser A and add the two 2GB sticks to the rear of lower riser B.

Here's the Mac Pro Memory Configuration Chart that shows everyone the correct way to put all combinations of sizes of sticks together for maximum performance in case you put yours in the wrong way too:
Click to expand...

Hi Multi,

I have 3 and i'm thinking of adding more to hit 5, but looking at these config charts, which one is best for 5 - the top or bottom pic?

Cheers,
keebler
 
Keebler said:
Hi Multi,

I have 3 and i'm thinking of adding more to hit 5, but looking at these config charts, which one is best for 5 - the top or bottom pic?

Cheers,
keebler
Click to expand...

I really don't think anyone knows for sure. It sounds like, according to the hearsay and the chart, that the larger amount of ram should be in Riser A, or if the amounts are equal, the fewer sticks of ram in riser A.

But so far, no one has been able to confirm if that is true.
 
Sean Dempsey Doesn't Want To Follow Directions

Sean Dempsey said:
Can someone confirm that the LARGER amount of ram should be in Riser A?

I have 5gb (512x2 & 2x2) configuration 5C, but I just left the Apple ram in the Riser A and added the 2x2gb to Riser B. Is that giving me a serious performance drop? Or does it not matter. I can easily switch the risers, but I am curious if that is going to make any real difference at all.
Click to expand...
Yes serious drop in performance because the system always addresses the RAM in the rear of top riser A First. You have a crippled Mac Pro the way you have your RAM arranged.

I can confirm the largest pair of sticks go in the rear of top riser A. What part of FOLLOW THIS CHART FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE do you not understand?
 
The Chart Is Clear About How To Install What RAM Where

Keebler said:
Hi Multi,

I have 3 and i'm thinking of adding more to hit 5, but looking at these config charts, which one is best for 5 - the top or bottom pic?
Click to expand...
I don't understand your question. The chart shows you how to install all ram combinations according to what you have. There is nothing ambiguous about the chart.
 
Multimedia said:
Yes serious drop in performance because the system always addresses the RAM in the rear of top riser A First. You have a crippled Mac Pro the way you have your RAM arranged.

I can confirm the largest pair of sticks go in the rear of top riser A. What part of FOLLOW THIS CHART FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE do you not understand?
Click to expand...

The chart doesn't say anything about "maximum performance" or make a distinction of the importance of riser position. I didn't read your posts because your Avatar creeps me out, so I just scroll past it. But now that you have informed me, I think I'll switch my risers.

Thanks for the help! Now the only thing crippled about my Mac Pro will be me!
 
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