Recently got a Macbook

[InfinityFX]

Hey guys, I'm new here so first off, time for an introduction: I'm new to Macs. I've had PCs for as long as I've had computers. I had a PowerMac G4 a couple years back, but I never used it. It was vastly slower than the other computer I had at the time (and overclocked Pentium D) and I didn't like OS X 10.1. However, recently I picked up a Macbook from a friend at school. It's (I think) a 2008 model, I know it's a Santa Rosa with a 2.4ghz Core 2 Duo P8600 (Penryn). It has 2GB of DDR2 667 (2x1GB) and a 250GB 5400RPM disk. It's running a fresh install of OS X 10.6.5.

It's fast enough for most things, but I'd like to give it a bit more of a kick. It's not going to be used for gaming, just general-purpose work (web browsing, word processing, maybe some flash games).

I figure the most logical thing to do at this point is to target the slow disk drive. A SSD is far too expensive if I am to get one that is large enough, and a standard HDD isn't really that much faster. Thus, my plan is to get a Seagate Momentus XT, probably the 250GB variant.

I'm probably also going to bulk up the memory. I think I'm going to replace one of the 1GB sticks with a 2GB one. Would 4GB make a huge difference vs 3GB, or would I be best off saving my money?

Also, this thing runs hot as hell. Like 90c loaded, and it's still loud as hell when under load. Anything I can do about this?

Also, any suggested programs that I put on it? I have MS Office 2011, OpenOffice, Mathematica, Firefox, and Chrome. Other than that, it's bone-stock.

 

[leekohler]

Definitely up the RAM. It sounds like you'll be doing everything I would recommend. I can't answer you on the heat issue though.

 

[mrsir2009]

If you want to save a bit of cash, get 3GB. It will up your speed by 50% and it'll get all your tasks done no problem

 

[InfinityFX]

Definitely up the RAM. It sounds like you'll be doing everything I would recommend. I can't answer you on the heat issue though.

Thanks, that was my thought. Glad to hear that I had the right idea

Do you think that disassembling it, replacing the thermal paste, and cleaning out the dust would help much?

If you want to save a bit of cash, get 3GB. It will up your speed by 50% and it'll get all your tasks done no problem

That's an idea. I may get a 2GB stick for now, use that and one of the current 1GB ones, and then get another 2GB later if I want more

 

[mrsir2009]

Not sure about the thermal paste, but cleaning out the dust might be an idea. How old is the computer?

 

[InfinityFX]

Not sure about the thermal paste, but cleaning out the dust might be an idea. How old is the computer?

I'm pretty sure it's right at a year old.

Any apps that you think I should get? I got Skitch, gVim, Adobe Reader, Transmission and a few others earlier.

 

[mrsir2009]

I'm pretty sure it's right at a year old.

Any apps that you think I should get? I got Skitch, gVim, Adobe Reader, Transmission and a few others earlier.

SMC Fan Control?

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

I have the model immediately before yours (2.2 GHz C2D). Had pretty similar setup (2 GB RAM, 5400 rpm HDD). By upping the RAM to 6 GB (yes, it can take it) and the HDD to 7200 rpm, the computer is running so much faster than before. 6 GB is overkill for most people, so 4 GB would get you set up well. 2x2 GB isn't all that expensive, I think you'd save yourself about $30-40 by going with 3 GB, not worth it IMO.

Also, yours is about 2 years old.

The level of heat you're getting is kind of ridiculous. I'd try opening it up a bit and see if you can blow out any dust that's in there. I hardly ever hear my fan, so there's a possibility that your fan could be going as well. Granted, I have a hearing loss, but I could always clearly hear the right fan in my PowerBook when it activated.

 

[Tempto]

The level of heat you're getting is kind of ridiculous. I'd try opening it up a bit and see if you can blow out any dust that's in there. I hardly ever hear my fan, so there's a possibility that your fan could be going as well. Granted, I have a hearing loss, but I could always clearly hear the right fan in my PowerBook when it activated.

In addition to this, I would recommend a laptop cooling pad, which I believe is a must for all laptops. It might reduce battery life by a bit, but in the long run will increase your laptop's life.

 

[InfinityFX]

I have the model immediately before yours (2.2 GHz C2D). Had pretty similar setup (2 GB RAM, 5400 rpm HDD). By upping the RAM to 6 GB (yes, it can take it) and the HDD to 7200 rpm, the computer is running so much faster than before. 6 GB is overkill for most people, so 4 GB would get you set up well. 2x2 GB isn't all that expensive, I think you'd save yourself about $30-40 by going with 3 GB, not worth it IMO.

Also, yours is about 2 years old.

The level of heat you're getting is kind of ridiculous. I'd try opening it up a bit and see if you can blow out any dust that's in there. I hardly ever hear my fan, so there's a possibility that your fan could be going as well. Granted, I have a hearing loss, but I could always clearly hear the right fan in my PowerBook when it activated.

2 years sounds right, although I know that it was purchased a year ago.

So the general consensus seems to be to get 4GB, so I think I'll do that. 6GB really doesn't sound like it would be advantageous to me.

I'll open it up probably tonight if I have time and see what I can do about dust

In addition to this, I would recommend a laptop cooling pad, which I believe is a must for all laptops. It might reduce battery life by a bit, but in the long run will increase your laptop's life.

Fundamentally I can't be bothered with this. I haul this around a lot and don't want to bring a laptop cooler with me as well.