I am going to be getting the higher end macbook, but dont know if I should get the 4Gb ram or the standard 2GB. I use the internet a lot, I like to put videos on my Itouch with software, and only plan on buying one game. Blizzards Diablo 3. Is 4Gb really worth it?
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RAM 2GB or 4?
- Thread starter cjenkins505
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silverblack
macrumors 68030
I'd say go for it if you can afford it. You don't save that much (if any) buying it and installing it yourself.
It use to be that Apple charged a crap-load for their RAM. I hear that it's not as bad anymore. I'd check it out, but as a rule of thumb it's always cheaper to buy it separate and install it later. That way, you save money, and have a spare set of memory chips. That might have changed.
plinden
macrumors 601
From what you use your Mac for, you don't need 4GB.
I use my first gen Intel iMac for all kinds of things simultaneously, from Java and web development to music and photo management and DVD ripping. I only have 2GB and I only push the limit when I'm running Parallels or VMWare Fusion.
If you were doing Photoshop work or running VMs, I'd say go for 4GB, otherwise spend the money on a larger hard drive.
I use my first gen Intel iMac for all kinds of things simultaneously, from Java and web development to music and photo management and DVD ripping. I only have 2GB and I only push the limit when I'm running Parallels or VMWare Fusion.
If you were doing Photoshop work or running VMs, I'd say go for 4GB, otherwise spend the money on a larger hard drive.
well had mine for 2 weeks now - the base model 2gb/2.0
lastnight ran handbrake coding mp4 3.5hr magnolia movie last night ipod hirez setting, while surfing the net and listening to online radio at same time - machine did not even get hot, could not even tell it was coding. took about 2 hrs to run in background. Was thinking of going to 4gb- now dont see the need - may be in 12 mths when prices drop
Hope that helps
lastnight ran handbrake coding mp4 3.5hr magnolia movie last night ipod hirez setting, while surfing the net and listening to online radio at same time - machine did not even get hot, could not even tell it was coding. took about 2 hrs to run in background. Was thinking of going to 4gb- now dont see the need - may be in 12 mths when prices drop
Hope that helps
Keep an eye on Activity Monitor and see how many page outs you get in a given day of use. That'll give you an indication of whether you need to get more memory.
jav6454
macrumors Core
the average user really needs above 2GB. But seeing as you are gonna play a game, the highest RAM configuration is always the best.
Go with the 4GB. Besides, you never know when those extra 2GB can come in handy...😉
Go with the 4GB if you're gonna install Vista 64-bit. It has a SuperFetch technology that scales the speed with more RAM better than "old" XP technology.
Don't get this one.
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB402LL/B?mco=MTkzOTI0Nw
Rip Off! It says it's "new" but it doesn't look like they changed much and that price is ridiculous for those specs these days. $999
Netbooks are better than that and some are 1/3 that price. I don't think the other 2/3 is worth an aluminum case. rofl!
Don't get this one.
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB402LL/B?mco=MTkzOTI0Nw
Rip Off! It says it's "new" but it doesn't look like they changed much and that price is ridiculous for those specs these days. $999
Netbooks are better than that and some are 1/3 that price. I don't think the other 2/3 is worth an aluminum case. rofl!
silverblack
macrumors 68030
No one can tell you what is best for your needs.
However, I think Apple is charging a very reasonable price for the RAM upgrade nowadays. It won't be much cheaper getting it yourself.
jav6454
macrumors Core
No. For the first time, buying Ram from Apple is actually same priced to a 3rd party. Ram at Apple for the (2x2GB) modules costs $150, elsewhere it is around $141.95 without shipping. So for convenience sake, its much more affordable Apple and much less hassle.
So get the 4GB at Apple (that is if you get the new Aluminum MacBook).
This one is a pretty good deal. You can add 2G to this for $150.
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB467LL/A?mco=MTkzOTI0Mw
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB467LL/A?mco=MTkzOTI0Mw
alphaod
macrumors Core
From your description it doesn't look like you need it. If you need it in the future, then buy it, but for now, I think 2GB is enough for your needs.
likemyorbs
macrumors 68000
when i upgraded my aluminum macbook to 4gb i noticed a significant performance difference, not only in heavy applications, but light ones too. i say its definitely worth the upgrade and will keep your computer up to date for at least 2 years...
Yuppi
Cancelled
I bought a 2GB version and ran into a store to buy 4GB. Is about the same price as the online option from Apple, BUT you still own the old 2*1GB 🙂 So in theory I could sell it on eBay or something.
Azureus/Vuze are huge wasters of RAM, also Safari can grow up to 500M at least for me. So there is 1GB gone only for those guys. With my current apps running the memory consumption is:
Safari: 451M (3 open tabs with no special pages)
Finder: 113M
NetNewsWire: 87M
Skype: 80M
iTunes: 72M
Mail: 62M
Adium: 42M
Ical&1Passwd: 21M
All in all the current usage is Active+Wired=2.1GB
On my iMac At first I only had 2 GB, then upgraded to 3GB until the prices went down and just recently upgraded to 4GB. The upgrade from 2GB to 3GB was a hell of a difference. The upgrade to 4GB was nice when running heavy stuff like lightroom, PS, vmware.
Upgrading RAM is most of the times the easiest way to get a felt better performance. Because Applications that are not in use by you can be swapped out (written to harddisk). When you then switch from the front most to another application it might be a little unresponsive for some few seconds.
My recommendation: If you want your MacBook quickly buy the 2GB Stock and upgrade when you feel the need for it. Upgrading unsymetrically to 3GB is not such a bad option as people will tell you it is. But it allows you to explore how much RAM you really need and buy cheaper later.
Azureus/Vuze are huge wasters of RAM, also Safari can grow up to 500M at least for me. So there is 1GB gone only for those guys. With my current apps running the memory consumption is:
Safari: 451M (3 open tabs with no special pages)
Finder: 113M
NetNewsWire: 87M
Skype: 80M
iTunes: 72M
Mail: 62M
Adium: 42M
Ical&1Passwd: 21M
All in all the current usage is Active+Wired=2.1GB
On my iMac At first I only had 2 GB, then upgraded to 3GB until the prices went down and just recently upgraded to 4GB. The upgrade from 2GB to 3GB was a hell of a difference. The upgrade to 4GB was nice when running heavy stuff like lightroom, PS, vmware.
Upgrading RAM is most of the times the easiest way to get a felt better performance. Because Applications that are not in use by you can be swapped out (written to harddisk). When you then switch from the front most to another application it might be a little unresponsive for some few seconds.
My recommendation: If you want your MacBook quickly buy the 2GB Stock and upgrade when you feel the need for it. Upgrading unsymetrically to 3GB is not such a bad option as people will tell you it is. But it allows you to explore how much RAM you really need and buy cheaper later.
so out of interest - i know its $150 to upgrade when building to 4gb but how much if you go back to the store say a month later to get it upgraded
thats what i did and i'm happy i did. not only was it well priced, its now FULLY COVERED by apple care because apple installed it.
If you install 64-bit Vista, it will use up like 1.2-1.5GB base I think. So that would leave you little room for something like Diablo 3. It actually uses up all your FREE RAM to store files as "common files disk cache". So if you have less disk cache space, that doesn't give Vista a chance to do it's speed boosting algorithms so you won't get that edge. And it seems from accounts that Vista without an extra RAM overhead is SLOW. Though the new Macs (not the $999) seem to have a high bus speed (with DDR3) so that might help a little.
You can also use a technology called ReadyBoost, where you stick in a flash drive and it will let you use it as disc cache. But you need fast flash for it to really make a difference and real world tests show that it's not as good as RAM and is only noticeable when you are near your cap. But that's a option.
You can also use a technology called ReadyBoost, where you stick in a flash drive and it will let you use it as disc cache. But you need fast flash for it to really make a difference and real world tests show that it's not as good as RAM and is only noticeable when you are near your cap. But that's a option.
