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Does 8gb of RAM make a major real-world difference for the time being?
- Thread starter Whackintosh
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For hardcore things it wouldn't... But 4GB is enough for most people, I'm getting 4GB in my 15" MBP
I agree when it comes to thinks like Geekbench, but those OWC tests pretty closely simulated real-life usage conditions for a certain class of users (designers and photographers) and isolated the performance impact of different amounts of RAM. I'd say that's actually a pretty good controlled test for those of us trying to figure out how to maximize our performance within a budget.
http://eshop.macsales.com/Reviews/Framework.cfm?page=/Benchmarks/iMacSnowBench.html
Well judging by these tests. 8GB over 4GB in 64bit mode performance wise is nothing. Zero. And last time I checked Snow Leopard was a 64Bit OS.
Wait until the applications can take advantage of the extra ram that you install. Then go get 8 or 12 or 16 when the prices go down.
I installed a extra 2Gb left over from my old mac for a total of 6GB and can't tell any difference from 4GB. None. I doubt that there would be any difference between 6GB or 8GB right now or even in the future. 4Gb to 8Gb yes later.
The tests speak for themselves. Don't waste your money. And a year from now you will save money and it would be a nice upgrade when the OS can take advantage of the extra ram.
Well judging by these tests. 8GB over 4GB in 64bit mode performance wise is nothing. Zero. And last time I checked Snow Leopard was a 64Bit OS.
Wait until the applications can take advantage of the extra ram that you install. Then go get 8 or 12 or 16 when the prices go down.
I installed a extra 2Gb left over from my old mac for a total of 6GB and can't tell any difference from 4GB. None. I doubt that there would be any difference between 6GB or 8GB right now or even in the future. 4Gb to 8Gb yes later.
The tests speak for themselves. Don't waste your money. And a year from now you will save money and it would be a nice upgrade when the OS can take advantage of the extra ram.
Maybe if you are running a single process, but if you are running multiple processes that suck up RAM, there is a distinct advantage to avoiding going to virtual memory.
It always depends what you're doing with the machine.
If your surfing the web and checking e-mails, 4GB is plenty.
Editing video, surfing the web or checking e-mails in between, and listening to Itunes at the same time, you might want to go for the 8GB.
If your surfing the web and checking e-mails, 4GB is plenty.
Editing video, surfing the web or checking e-mails in between, and listening to Itunes at the same time, you might want to go for the 8GB.
If you're a hardcore video editor, I'd say yeah, go with 8GB, it'll make the rendering time shorter.
But, as far as just using Aperture goes, I really don't think that 8GB is that necessary.
But yeah, more RAM can't be a bad thing.
But, as far as just using Aperture goes, I really don't think that 8GB is that necessary.
But yeah, more RAM can't be a bad thing.
I thought I'd post even though I have the MP but I run multiple CS4 apps and the usual finder/FFox/Mail etc and I've yet to eat up all 8GB in one day. Granted I'm doing page layouts, posters and the like but if you plan on editing giant panoramas then yes the more the merrier.
My iMac came with the "Best" real world Ram configuration
iMac 21.5" Late 2009
3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo NVIDIA GeForce 9400
64 bit - 193.69 190.25 182.45 183.16
32 bit - 193.34 193.02 185.89 185.97
According to OWC's "real world" tests of different ram configurations my new iMac came from Apple with the "best" ram configuration.
Didn't cost me any additional time or money to find the "sweet" ram configuration.
iMac 21.5" Late 2009
3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo NVIDIA GeForce 9400
64 bit - 193.69 190.25 182.45 183.16
32 bit - 193.34 193.02 185.89 185.97
According to OWC's "real world" tests of different ram configurations my new iMac came from Apple with the "best" ram configuration.
Didn't cost me any additional time or money to find the "sweet" ram configuration.
Didn't cost me any additional time or money to find the "sweet" ram configuration.
Well playing off your reply and mine to an extent, I am only going to 8gb so I can run parallels at the same time as needed.
Discretionary Income
iMac 21.5" Late 2009
3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo GeForce 9400
4GB 8GB 12GB
4561 4581 4694
.004% 2.9%
I recently paid $1049 for my iMac, adding 4GB of memory so that I have 8GB total will cost me approx. $115 which is approx. 11% of my original cost for a .004% increase in performance.
Many of the OWC statistics are based on using Adobe CS4, which I do NOT use. Even when using CS4 which is a very graphic intensive program there is generally ONLY a 4% improvement.
I do use Adobe Lightroom and my 4GB iMac is very responsive with the stock memory.
I do not see a cost benefit to me for the upgrade. Even , if I were to play games, then I would need to upgrade to 12GB of memory and the cost benefit becomes even more questionable for me.
I realize some will buy a 400HP car so that they can say that they have the fastest car, But they don't get home from work any faster than the person driving a car with "only" 100hp!
I guess it comes down to how much discretionary income you have, how you want to spend it.
iMac 21.5" Late 2009
3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo GeForce 9400
4GB 8GB 12GB
4561 4581 4694
.004% 2.9%
I recently paid $1049 for my iMac, adding 4GB of memory so that I have 8GB total will cost me approx. $115 which is approx. 11% of my original cost for a .004% increase in performance.
Many of the OWC statistics are based on using Adobe CS4, which I do NOT use. Even when using CS4 which is a very graphic intensive program there is generally ONLY a 4% improvement.
I do use Adobe Lightroom and my 4GB iMac is very responsive with the stock memory.
I do not see a cost benefit to me for the upgrade. Even , if I were to play games, then I would need to upgrade to 12GB of memory and the cost benefit becomes even more questionable for me.
I realize some will buy a 400HP car so that they can say that they have the fastest car, But they don't get home from work any faster than the person driving a car with "only" 100hp!
I guess it comes down to how much discretionary income you have, how you want to spend it.
I recently paid $1049 for my iMac, adding 4GB of memory so that I have 8GB total will cost me approx. $115 which is approx. 11% of my original cost for a .004% increase in performance.
I guess it comes down to how much discretionary income you have, how you want to spend it.
Not sure where you are getting the $115 rate from to get 4GB of memory? Obviously depends on what brand you want, but you can still get quality memory for $80-85 if you look for it. The prices have gone up a bit lately, but if you wait they will fall down again. I got lucky and picked up my 4gb last week for $61 after mail in rebate.
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-CT2KI...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259704794&sr=8-1
the price keeps changing, i got mine about $80. not a bad upgrade for $80, now only if the iMac reaches home soon
the price keeps changing, i got mine about $80. not a bad upgrade for $80, now only if the iMac reaches home soon
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http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-CT2KI...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259704794&sr=8-1
the price keeps changing, i got mine about $80. not a bad upgrade for $80, now only if the iMac reaches home soon
Yeah, I would recommend looking around for better prices and/or waiting for prices to fall. I would also recommend to consider other brands outside of Crucial that are equally as good. I have used both Crucial and Mushkin memory in my computers and have had no problems with either. Usually tend to go with which ever one I can get the better deal on.
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