memory or processor speed?

Discussion in 'Buying Tips, Advice and Discussion (archive)' started by stuuke, May 2, 2004.

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  1. stuuke, May 2, 2004

    stuuke macrumors regular

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    #1
    I am thinking about getting a new 12" powerbook with 1.256gb of ram. The 1.256gb of ram is maxed out on the 12". My question is would a used with 15" be more beneficial performance wise since I could get more ram on it. I generally use photoshop and convert raw images to jpegs which bogs down my 550mhz 512mb machine. I can get the 12" 1.33ghz with superdrive and 1.256gb ram for just over $2000 with educational discount. How would a 1.25ghz 15" loaded with more ram compare? Which is more important ram or speed? Thanks
     
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  2. Mav451, May 2, 2004

    Mav451 macrumors 68000

    Mav451

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    #2
    Personally the difference in screen sizes is enough to make a difference (15 vs. 12), especially since you USE Photoshop. I don't think I've met anyone who wouldn't mind a larger working area (this girl went from an old dying 14" CRT to a Sony LCD 17"...needless to say, she continues to Photoshop ;) )

    The cpu diff between 1330 and 1250 is not significant when you consider how much more RAM you will have (compared to your current) and 3" more visual real estate.

    I would definitely take the 15" with more RAM.
     
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  3. stuuke, May 2, 2004

    stuuke thread starter macrumors regular

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    #3
    I currently plug my powerbook into a 21" monitor if that makes a difference.
     
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  4. JOD8FY, May 2, 2004

    JOD8FY macrumors 6502a

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    #4
    Also take into consideration the graphics card. The 12" comes with 64MB and the 15" can get up to 128MB. If that's not a problem, I'd go with the 12" since you have an external display.

    JOD8FY
     
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  5. virividox, May 2, 2004

    virividox macrumors 601

    virividox

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    #5
    for on the road editing id prefer a 15 over a 12, but if u have a screen and arent moving around too much stick witht he 12
     
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  6. stuuke, May 2, 2004

    stuuke thread starter macrumors regular

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    #6
    So which has the advantage, faster processor or more ram? Financially I could get the last model 15" or later or I can get a brand new 12" pb. The new 15" would add about $700 to the price.
     
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  7. ftf, May 2, 2004

    ftf macrumors member

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    #7
    More ram will only make a difference if you actually require it i.e. if your system isn't paging out to disk that often then extra ram is not going to speed anything up... the processor speed will make more difference. Obviously its hard to test this unless you have the machine there to test it on :)

    Of course if your images are super large and cant fit into memory then the extra ram might be useful (and noticeable). Just how big are these images that you work on?

    FWIW I would get the updated model on the assumption that many of the previous issues have been sorted out.
     
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  8. stuuke, May 2, 2004

    stuuke thread starter macrumors regular

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    #8
    I generally work with an 8.5 and 11 mp camera. That gives me images from 20-34 mb. I can easily have 100 to process. A tower would be the most obvious choice but I do a lot of location work and don't currently have the funds for two computers. I prefer to get another powerbook I'm just not sure about which one. I have budgeted around $2000 with educational discount. That limits my choices to a used 15" or new 12".
     
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