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Noticeable boost from 2GB to 4GB (both DDR3)?

aaquib

aaquib

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 11, 2007
1,496
1
Toronto, Canada
I am considering upgrading my RAM from 2GB to 4GB today at the Apple Store, and was wondering if I will notice a significant performance boost. 2GB is fine, but occasionally I'll get that annoying beach ball. It's $150 for a 4GB boost, and I have the 2.0GHZ aluminum MacBook. Would it be worth it for me to upgrade it?
 
More RAM=faster everything. Yes you will see a speed boost in your apps, games, etc.
 
I have just upgraded from 2GB to 4GB in a MacBook which can only address 3.3GB!! But hey, the speed increase is fantastic. Now I can Aperture hard at the same time as everything else.

Upgrade for 2009 Q3/Q4 ... SSD!
 
More RAM only makes a difference if you constantly go over the amount of RAM that you have nowadays. Don't buy if you don't need it. RAM will only get cheaper later on.

If you constantly hover 1GB/1.5GB as I do, then 4GB won't do you anything that your current 2GB doesn't. HOWEVER, if you constantly break the 2GB limit, then 4GB will get you extra speed (quite a lot indeed) when you go above the 2GB limit :)
 
Menge said:
More RAM only makes a difference if you constantly go over the amount of RAM that you have nowadays. Don't buy if you don't need it. RAM will only get cheaper later on.

If you constantly hover 1GB/1.5GB as I do, then 4GB won't do you anything that your current 2GB doesn't. HOWEVER, if you constantly break the 2GB limit, then 4GB will get you extra speed (quite a lot indeed) when you go above the 2GB limit :)
Click to expand...

Just browsing Firefox, with iTunes, Mail, and messenger I have about 400mb free, but when I add video encoding, or a pages/keynote file, that drops down to 20mb free and minor slowdowns.
 
SpaceMagic said:
I have just upgraded from 2GB to 4GB in a MacBook which can only address 3.3GB!! But hey, the speed increase is fantastic. Now I can Aperture hard at the same time as everything else.

Upgrade for 2009 Q3/Q4 ... SSD!
Click to expand...


Are you sure? I thought the architecture that Apple uses, since its based on UNIX can use all 4GB. I know the way Windows addresses RAM it cannot use a full 4GB

In fact on I believe either OWC or Crucials website they say the aluminum macbook can handle up to 6GB ram
 
aaquib said:
Just browsing Firefox, with iTunes, Mail, and messenger I have about 400mb free, but when I add video encoding, or a pages/keynote file, that drops down to 20mb free and minor slowdowns.
Click to expand...
Don't just count the "Free" memory. The "Inactive" memory is also "Free" in a certain fashion. It's just pre-allocated - but free for use if the OS needs it. I have 2GB of RAM on my Unibody MacBook and I work with Photoshop, various browsers and a virtual machine to test websites and haven't had the need for 4GB yet.

Well... you seem to want the RAM anyway ;) go for it :) won't hurt.
 
Menge said:
Don't just count the "Free" memory. The "Inactive" memory is also "Free" in a certain fashion. It's just pre-allocated - but free for use if the OS needs it. I have 2GB of RAM on my Unibody MacBook and I work with Photoshop, various browsers and a virtual machine to test websites and haven't had the need for 4GB yet.

Well... you seem to want the RAM anyway ;) go for it :) won't hurt.
Click to expand...

Right now, there's 70mb inactive, but I'm guessing I might need to monitor it a bit more. I originally just told myself that I'd get the 2.0ghz + 4GB ram as apposed to the 2.4ghz, and so I'm going to be getting it done at the Apple Store tonight :) Hopefully it makes up for that .4ghz difference .
 
dinaluvsApple said:
why are you paying the apple store $150?

owc does it for $84 plus they give back $25 when your send back your old 2gb of ram.
Click to expand...

Well, I live in Canada and the lowest shipping price is an additional $21. That, on top of the weak Canadian dollar = a better deal at the Apple Store.
 
aaquib said:
Well, I live in Canada and the lowest shipping price is an additional $21. That, on top of the weak Canadian dollar = a better deal at the Apple Store.
Click to expand...

$84American is ~$100Canadian (taking the 25$ back for the returned ram to counter shipping costs) is better then $150Canadian at the apple store. I actually got 4 guys together and we all ordered at once and will send back all the 1GB sticks together for return and saved on shipping costs. I had to pay GST on the ram at the post office but that was $10 (which was split between everyone as well). In Edmonton I never found a better deal then OWC. MemoryExpress was $100 per 2GB DIM of kingston.
 
excuse my ignorance, but what & where is "OWC"? i'd be interested in purchasing additional RAM, thanks!
 
It's probably not a good idea to trade in your RAM unless you are absolutely sure you won't have problems with the OWC chips. I did have problems, and I would have been without a functioning computer.
 
brop52 said:
It's probably not a good idea to trade in your RAM unless you are absolutely sure you won't have problems with the OWC chips. I did have problems, and I would have been without a functioning computer.
Click to expand...

That is why they ask you to test the new ram dims to make sure it is functional before sending back to orignals. All OWC's ram has a life time warranty too, so other then as you said possible time loss (which I hear they are really good at shipping in this case) you have a full warranty for problems on it.
 
Kevlar said:
That is why they ask you to test the new ram dims to make sure it is functional before sending back to orignals. All OWC's ram has a life time warranty too, so other then as you said possible time loss (which I hear they are really good at shipping in this case) you have a full warranty for problems on it.
Click to expand...

I stand by OWC, but their DDR3 is screwy with the NVIDIA chipsets (or certain MBs/MBPs with the NVIDIA chipset). Perpetual RMA is no fun.
 
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