always the more the merrier. RAM is good. the stock 1 gig is good, but the 2gig will be amazing.
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2GB or 1GB of RAM
- Thread starter wwhitmire
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On the MBP, you'll need a small (sometimes called a jeweler's) phillips head screwdriver, other than that you're good to go. You remove the battery, remove two screws holding the cover over the RAM, and you're there.
Apple has instructions and OWC has a video. It's a cakewalk.
MD
It sounds like going with the 512GB RAM and upgrading is the way to go. I'll be honest, though, I've never really done anything when it comes to installation of RAM, etc.
It doesn't sound too difficult though.
If I do the upgrading myself, what does that do to the applecare warranty?
It seems like most folks have said that it's worth buying applecare for notebooks from a 3rd party. If I forfeit the warranty, though, I don't know which is the better option.
It doesn't sound too difficult though.
If I do the upgrading myself, what does that do to the applecare warranty?
It seems like most folks have said that it's worth buying applecare for notebooks from a 3rd party. If I forfeit the warranty, though, I don't know which is the better option.
It's really not that hard. I did it on my iBook back in the day.
Just make sure you push it in hard to seat it.
Here's the link for instructions.
Just make sure you push it in hard to seat it.
Here's the link for instructions.
Is it recommended to just add 1GB or 2 x 1GB sticks of the same type? I've heard that you ought to have matching memory or something but is it that advantageous?
both MB and MBP can accept 3GB of ram, only thing is that u have to get a 2gig stick which IMO is very expensive right now...
2gb. If you plan on running windows at all through VM then you'll love to have it. Then you can run 1gb OSX and 1 gb Windows. Much better. I don't regret my 2gb ram upgrade AT ALL.
The Stig
The Stig
I started with 512MB. The upgraded to 1.25GB a few weeks later, and noticed a HUGE difference. Then, a few weeks ago, I upgraded again to 2 gigs. And while I did notice a increase in performance, it wasn't as obvious as the inital upgrade.
Whoa, this is very interesting to me! I heard that it is not smart to upgrade to 3GB unless you use high end apps, because you lose dual channel. But after reading your post, I might want to consider buying more RAM for my iMac. I'll probably upgrade in 6-8 months from now when prices go down.
Question - I am buying a Santa Rosa MBP when they are annonced, will I be able to take the 1GB stick that I take out of my iMac and put into a SR MBP? That would be really nice if I could do that. Thanks. House!!
Only the C2D MBP can handle 3G - the CD cannot.
And installing memory will not void AppleCare.
MD
This is from OWC->
"That's right. You're not seeing things - the MacBook Core 2 Duo can address up to 3GB of RAM - just like it's big brother, the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo!
Apple "strongly recommends" you add memory in matched pairs, and that's why they don't offer a 3GB factory configuration. The integrated GMA950 graphics chipset runs at it's fastest when it has matched memory, because it can address RAM using it's dual-channel memory controller.
BUT...
In our own internal testing with every possible iteration of RAM in the Core 2 Duo MacBook, it's just not a big enough difference to limit yourself to only 2GB of physical RAM. You can break the 2GB barrier in a MacBook and not lose enough performance to worry about."
they should up the limit to at least 3gb for santa rosa,
I want to have 3gb , Vista and linux in parallels at the same time....
I want to have 3gb , Vista and linux in parallels at the same time....
Dual channel isn't a factor on the MB Pro C2D according to the design notes from Apple. They even removed the note about installing equal sized modules. But, the MacBook still "prefers" equal modules. The difference most likely will be lost in the noise when going to 3GB as you will have fewer pageouts.
3gb is what the MB can do right now the C2D at least but u will have to get a 2 gig stick , sorry if i misundertod what u were saying tho i dunnot know if u already knew this, just making sure
I meant as a Built to Order option,
just wondering , is it possible to get 1.5 gb sticks?
If not maybe i should just get 4gb....
Just wondering cheapest price on a 2gb stick?
It is cheaper to buy the 120 gb drive seperately and install it yourself. This way you get an extra hd that you can house in a USB-case and get a nifty backup device.
Go for 2 Giga, preferably something you install yourself (to save money again).
Go for 2 Giga, preferably something you install yourself (to save money again).
It's worth it depending on what kind of user you are. My core duo was absolutely choked at 512MB. It's a completely different computing experience now with the 2gigs. If I left my mac running at night it would freeze and I'd have to hard shut down now it's not an issue at all. I can actually run just about every app I use(no video or audio editing here) running all at the same time without any hiccups.
Anyone here actually have 3gb installed?
if so what is startup time like?
Can the macbook access a limit of 3.5 gb?
For those wondering whether to get 1 or 2 gb,
I say get 4gb or at least 3,
Im going for 3 when i get a santa rosa macbook,
if so what is startup time like?
Can the macbook access a limit of 3.5 gb?
For those wondering whether to get 1 or 2 gb,
I say get 4gb or at least 3,
Im going for 3 when i get a santa rosa macbook,
Just a little tip for those in the UK - consider buying RAM now if you can. The price on Crucial for a 1gb stick is a measly £40 - it was £100+ at the start of the year! 
This from MacRumors Guide:
How to determine if you need more RAM
Restart the computer
Use the computer as you normally would for 10 to 15 minutes. Checking email, etc. Do not play intensive games-- they will disturb the results.
Open Activity Monitor
Click on the "System Memory" tab at the bottom
One of the listings reads "Page ins/outs" and has numbers following it in the format of "1424/9547"
The second number is the number of pageouts, or number of times that the computer has had to use the internal hard drive as virtual memory. If this number is very high, above 3,500, then you probably could use more RAM.
[edit]
So I followed this. I launched Safari, Mail, iTunes - and am playing some songs, iPhoto - and I edited several photos - and after 30 minutes I have zero pages out.
This has confirmed my own gut feeling that 1 Gig was fine for my MacBook given my uses, which admittedly are not overly demanding.
The only slowness I experience is with MS Office and I presume this is due to Rosetta.
How to determine if you need more RAM
Restart the computer
Use the computer as you normally would for 10 to 15 minutes. Checking email, etc. Do not play intensive games-- they will disturb the results.
Open Activity Monitor
Click on the "System Memory" tab at the bottom
One of the listings reads "Page ins/outs" and has numbers following it in the format of "1424/9547"
The second number is the number of pageouts, or number of times that the computer has had to use the internal hard drive as virtual memory. If this number is very high, above 3,500, then you probably could use more RAM.
[edit]
So I followed this. I launched Safari, Mail, iTunes - and am playing some songs, iPhoto - and I edited several photos - and after 30 minutes I have zero pages out.
This has confirmed my own gut feeling that 1 Gig was fine for my MacBook given my uses, which admittedly are not overly demanding.
The only slowness I experience is with MS Office and I presume this is due to Rosetta.