Which is the faster macbook

[GMZ]

Hi I'm new here, this is my first post
I'm buying a macbook to use for my graphic design work today or tomrrow and I'm not sure which one of the following two options I should get...
1.83 Ghz with 2 Gigs of ram
OR
2.0 Ghz with 1 Gig

and I want to know if it's absolutely necessary to install the RAM in matched pairs, because if that's possible I might just go with the 2 Ghz and not have to worry about wasting RAM sticks.

 

[robbieduncan]

You can install unmatched pairs of RAM but absolute performance would be better with matched pairs. Personally I would go with more RAM and less CPU speed as most of the time this will feel faster.

 

[Nuks]

Yeah, if you don't need to burn DVD's (the 1.83 can't), then the 1.83 w/ 2gigs of ram is a FAR better deal.

 

[miles01110]

Get the one with the most RAM! a .17 bump in clock speed isn't that much, but doubling the RAM is siginificant.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Yeah, if you don't need to burn DVD's (the 1.83 can't), then the 1.83 w/ 2gigs of ram is a FAR better deal.

That's what I said when I got my mini a year ago. Then I discovered iLife. Sure, you may not need a DVD burner now, but if you're creative, you may wish you had one later on down the road.

 

[Abstract]

I'd get the 1.83 Ghz model, no doubt. The 2Ghz version is only like 4% faster in real world performance anyway. Who cares. The RAM is more important.

On the other hand, if you need the DVD burner, I guess the Superdrive could make the difference. However, external DVD burners are much much better anyway, and much cheaper as well.

 

[kalun]

depends on how you use it.....
if you open alot of application at once, rarely restart your computer, or open a programs that takes alot of ram, then get 2gb of ram (by programs that take alot of ram, i mean like doing video editing, image editing, stuff like that)

I would actually suggest getting the 2Ghz verison. Why?
in a macbook, you can easily add more ram, but you cannot replace the CPU.....

 

[xfiftyfour]

I would actually suggest getting the 2Ghz verison. Why?
in a macbook, you can easily add more ram, but you cannot replace the CPU.....

i was about to say this same thing. in my opinion, buy the best you can afford of the things you can't upgrade later. IE: since you can't upgrade the processor, go for the 2.0 and upgrade with more ram later. besides, 1gb of ram will be plenty for the everyday activities.

there's a good argument, of course, for the 1.83 with 2gbs of RAM instead, because it really won't feel slower for the everyday use. BUT, also factor in which is a bit more "futureproof", which has better resale value for down the line when you upgrade..

 

[®îçhå®?]

i was about to say this same thing. in my opinion, buy the best you can afford of the things you can't upgrade later. IE: since you can't upgrade the processor, go for the 2.0 and upgrade with more ram later. besides, 1gb of ram will be plenty for the everyday activities.

I third that. good idea and what i am going to do myself.

 

[GMZ]

Thanks everyone for your replies ^-^
I think I've made my decision. I'm getting the 2Ghz with 1 GB of pqi memory as the apple store here overcharges for RAM upgrades. I figure that upgrading the optical drive and CPU can't be done later but I can always add on RAM once I get more money, and external DVD writers are just clunky imo >_o

Has anyone here tried this pqi model with the macbook? There's on review of it by a mac user on newegg, but it says they've used it for only a day.

 

[w8ing4intelmacs]

Thanks everyone for your replies ^-^
I think I've made my decision. I'm getting the 2Ghz with 1 GB.

Good choice. Another plus is that the resale value will be better.

 

[Sun Baked]

I'd say a refurbished MacBook Pro 2.0 @ $1699

Since the graphics GPU will make a difference with some of the apps.

 

[GMZ]

Hehe nah, MBP's are too big for me to carry around and I wouldn't even think about getting one 'til they'd solved the macboom issue and overheating problems. The macbook should be enough for me at least 'til I graduate, since I won't be doing a lot of 3D work anyway, mainly Photoshop and Illustrator.
Now I'm trying to find out if pqi RAM is 100% compatible with the macbook. No reason why it wouldn't be tho..

 

[GMZ]

Hehe nah, MBP's are too big for me to carry around and I wouldn't even think about getting one 'til they'd solved the macboom issue and overheating problems. The macbook should be enough for me at least 'til I graduate, since I won't be doing a lot of 3D work anyway, mainly Photoshop and Illustrator.
Now I'm trying to find out if pqi RAM is 100% compatible with the macbook. No reason why it wouldn't be tho..