Apple ram vs self for MB

[bassism]

I've been looking into ordering a Macbook.
The cost at the Canadian Education store for 2x512 is $115.
My other option is to buy a 1gb stick, for 1.25. However, the best price I've found is $150 plus shipping.
Cost is an issue.
I'm not sure that the benefit of 1.25 single channel over 1gb dual channel is worth 50 bucks, if it would even be noticeable.

Currently, on my PC, under windows I have a typical ram usage of about 600, and under linux a bit less. What usage could I expect from OS X?

 

[xfiftyfour]

having a 1 gig stick would be benefitial/cost effective if down the line you wanted to upgrade to 2 gigs.. since you'd already be halfway there and could just pick up another gig stick whenever you could afford it (however, with 2 512s, you would have to buy 2 1-gig sticks, and your existing ram would be trash). also, extra ram will really help with your macintel in programs that use rosetta.. especially photoshop and the rest of the adobe line.

if you're not interested in running the adobe software (or, at least don't care that it's going to lag until CS3 comes out), cost is a big issue, and you don't have any plans of upgrading in the near future, then i'd go with the 2 512 sticks.

 

[Acehigh]

I've been looking into ordering a Macbook.
The cost at the Canadian Education store for 2x512 is $115.
My other option is to buy a 1gb stick, for 1.25. However, the best price I've found is $150 plus shipping.
Cost is an issue.
I'm not sure that the benefit of 1.25 single channel over 1gb dual channel is worth 50 bucks, if it would even be noticeable.

Currently, on my PC, under windows I have a typical ram usage of about 600, and under linux a bit less. What usage could I expect from OS X?

In the macbook you want to put in matching ram. Since it is dual channel.

I paid 165 shipped for 2GB. It works perfect. So i think it better just to upgrade to 2GB now for 165. I would not get the 1GB upgrade from Apple. If you plan to ever upgrade to 2GB you cant sell the 1gb. Since if you ever have to send the Computer to Apple it needs to be put back to factory settings.. (ram, HD ect)

Of course after the warranty is over you can sell it. Or can sell it and if something happens you need to buy some back from somebody else.

 

[regre7]

I'm buying a 1GB stick from OWC when I buy my MBP, and then once I get my next paycheck I'll probably get a second stick. I can't afford to get 2GB AND a MBP AND a case AND iWork '06 AND iKlear Polishing Kit.

 

[afornander]

In the macbook you want to put in matching ram. Since it is dual channel.

acualy, thats bin proven wrong. as long as you have two memory sticks in it, insted of one, you will get a small boost in speed.

 

[dialectician]

I'm buying a 1GB stick from OWC when I buy my MBP, and then once I get my next paycheck I'll probably get a second stick. I can't afford to get 2GB AND a MBP AND a case AND iWork '06 AND iKlear Polishing Kit.

Just don't get the iKlear kit and save some bucks

 

[Satori]

acualy, thats bin proven wrong. as long as you have two memory sticks in it, insted of one, you will get a small boost in speed.

Hi -
Where did you find this? A lot of forums I have been reading seem to suggest that MB can be sluggish without matching RAM. Also, all of the upgrade configurations you can order from the online apple store are paired strips, suggesting that apple think this is the best set-up too.

D

 

[Bern]

Just be aware the ram is a b*@#! to get in. You really need to use a heck of a lot of force. My finger tips ached for a week.

 

[Phatpat]

Yeah, I upgraded to 2gb and that surprised me. You really have to push it. I'd recommend matched pairs, definitely. The integrated graphics needs the extra speed.

 

[Moe]

Given the Canadian price for 2GB is over $300, and you can get Apple 2-512MB for $115 Canadian, that's the way I'd go for now, so that you'd have the double bandwidth of dual-channel operation to support both the CPU and the integrated memory. You can always sell the Apple memory down the road to someone with only 2-256MB, who also can't afford 2GB at the time.

 

[colinp]

All this talk about matched pairs confuses me a bit. Are you saying that Pbook owners have been inherently at a disadvantage when they bought their books with 256mb standard and then added say 512 or 1gig in the second slot?

Would I be better off just adding another 256mb of RAM so that they match, even if it only reaches 512? That sounds a bit absurd to me. I can heartily guarantee that I would get better performance with 768 or 1gig or even 1.25 gig of ram from the default 256mb and 1gig or whatever, than I would get from 512MB with two matching 256mb.

 

[bassism]

All this talk about matched pairs confuses me a bit. Are you saying that Pbook owners have been inherently at a disadvantage when they bought their books with 256mb standard and then added say 512 or 1gig in the second slot?

Would I be better off just adding another 256mb of RAM so that they match, even if it only reaches 512? That sounds a bit absurd to me. I can heartily guarantee that I would get better performance with 768 or 1gig or even 1.25 gig of ram from the default 256mb and 1gig or whatever, than I would get from 512MB with two matching 256mb.

From what I understand, the new Intel chips benefit more from having dual channel ram than the G4s did, because of them having two cores. In the case of a PB, I would not worry so much about having the ram run dual channel.

Acehigh: Did you pay 165 shipped CANADIAN dollars for 2 gigs? If that is a Canadian price, it's far better than what I've found. The best prices I've found for 2 gigs are still too high for my budget.