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Help Me Boost Performance for my MacBook!

B

blainehogan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 2, 2007
9
0
I have a 13" MacBook Core 2 Duo. 2ghz, running 1 gb (2 x 512mb) of RAM.

I am going to upgrade to 2gb (2 x 1gb) of RAM to boost performance, but I'm wondering if there are some other tricks to boost performance?

I usually am running photoshop, mail, browser, word, and maybe a couple other things at a time.

Any ideas!?!?!
 
I don't think you need anything else other than more RAM. Drop 2GB in your MacBook and it'll fly.
 
RAM is really all you need really. It will be enough to run PS, and will greatly aid in multi-tasking.
 
Where you having problems with just 1 gb, what slowdowns where there?

If you haven't ordered your ram yet, checkout dealram.com, I ordered 2 gb from crucial for $90. I haven't gotten it or my macbook yet, so I don't know how much of a difference it will make yet.
 
I would upgrade the RAM to 2gigs. Then order the new Seagate Momentus 7200.2 160gig hard drive. Those two things will give you a noticable boost.
 
Vader said:
Where you having problems with just 1 gb, what slowdowns where there?

If you haven't ordered your ram yet, checkout dealram.com, I ordered 2 gb from crucial for $90. I haven't gotten it or my macbook yet, so I don't know how much of a difference it will make yet.
Click to expand...


Mostly when I start photoshop up and have it running with other apps.
 
2 GB is a very decent amount.

A faster HD will help particually when swapping data from real to virtual memory and vica versa. It will also help application launch times.

Also, if you don't need them, close all of your dashboard widgets and you will save memory which can be allocated to other processes to speed them up.

A good way to learn about this is to spend sometime looking at activity monitor to see which processes take up RAM and CPU time.
 
Vader said:
Well, there's your reason for it running poorly. THe intel processor in the macbook has to essential pretend to be/emulate a PPC for it to work. This is done through something called Rosetta.
Click to expand...

so do I need a new version of CS2?
 
Vader said:
Actually, you need CS3.
There is no intel or universal version of CS2 available, only PPC.
Click to expand...

gotcha. I'm still not exactly sure what to get though. I see CS 3 upgrade here:

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=804783

for like $199

and then the whole suite here:

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=798223

any thoughts?

Also if I can't afford the CS 3 upgrade, would the 2gb RAM upgrade be helpful for this?

thanks so much for all your help!
 
I could help you in a week once I get my macbook and ram, as I have CS2 and CS3. I could test it then, but until then, I can't help you anymore, sorry.
 
Vader said:
I could help you in a week once I get my macbook and ram, as I have CS2 and CS3. I could test it then, but until then, I can't help you anymore, sorry.
Click to expand...

Thanks man!

Know of any good deals for CS 3 online anywhere?
 
Well, we generally dont speak of "the cheapest" ways to get software around here, if you know what I mean...;)
 
CS3 is a really big step up from CS2 performance wise on an intel mac.
 
elppa said:
CS3 is a really big step up from CS2 performance wise on an intel mac.
Click to expand...

Yes, it was my first Adobe purchase since Photoshop 7 and well worth it. It flies vs. the CS2 trial software that I had downloaded Pre-CS3. I'm an Adobe Beta tester who received both Fireworks CS3 and Photoshop CS3 and the Intel-Nativity made them faster then any RAM upgrade could.
 
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