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MacBook 3GB RAM: yay or nay?

nocturn

nocturn

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 17, 2007
9
0
Ireland
Hey all, could someone please please clear this up for me: can the current Macbooks take 3GB of RAM (ie: 1x 2GB and 1x 1GB)

Please put me out of my misery, because ill be saving myself a lot of money by not having to get a MBP if it can!!

Also, as a side note: are firewire hubs for audio interfaces a good idea?

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!
 
nocturn said:
Hey all, could someone please please clear this up for me: can the current Macbooks take 3GB of RAM (ie: 1x 2GB and 1x 1GB)

Please put me out of my misery, because ill be saving myself a lot of money by not having to get a MBP if it can!!

Also, as a side note: are firewire hubs for audio interfaces a good idea?

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!
Click to expand...

Yes they can. They can also access up to 3.3GB of RAM (which is accomplished by installing 2x 2GB)
 
tiredhorses said:
Yes they can. They can also access up to 3.3GB of RAM (which is accomplished by installing 2x 2GB)
Click to expand...



whoa! I was always under the impression that it could at most be upgraded to 2GB using 2x 1GB.

Just clearing it up: On my MacBook (2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor - NOT Core 2 Duo), I can install 1x 1GB and 1x 2GB?
 
apsyhn said:
whoa! I was always under the impression that it could at most be upgraded to 2GB using 2x 1GB.

Just clearing it up: On my MacBook (2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor - NOT Core 2 Duo), I can install 1x 1GB and 1x 2GB?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I can't really help there. I'm not really sure about the Core Duo MacBooks.

I think I saw that they can only access 2GB tops though? Someone else should be able to help you out.
 
apsyhn said:
whoa! I was always under the impression that it could at most be upgraded to 2GB using 2x 1GB.

Just clearing it up: On my MacBook (2.0 GHz Core Duo processor - NOT Core 2 Duo), I can install 1x 1GB and 1x 2GB?
Click to expand...

Sure you can install 3 gigs on a Core Duo but your Macbook will only see or use 2 gigs. :cool:
 
the newest 2.2 and 2.4 can take up to 4GB, older 2.16 and 2.33 are up to 3

just installed 2 2GB on one of the 2.4 and 1 piece to my own 2.33
 
A couple quick questions about ram upgrades on my Macbook. (It is a core 2 dual I purchased in June.)

Since the maximum is 3.3 gigs, I can either get 1 2gig chip and 1 1 gig chip, or I can get 2 2gig chips to run them in dual channel and get the last .3 gig of memory, and also it is the only way to run dual channel because I don't think 1.5 gig chips are made.

Without having the computer in dual channel mode does it make the computer more likely to crash? Will it slow down the graphics chip on the computer? (My understanding is that the mac does not have a good graphics chip compared to the mac pro, so it needs all the help it can get.) At some point once I get the new system software I want to run bootcamp, so will the non matched memory work with windows xp also?

I wanted to go to a mac centered dealer to make sure the part will fit when I order it, but OWC does not offer the 4 gig matched chips on a Macbook, just a Macbook pro. If I order it for a macbook pro will it fit in my Macbook?

Thanks, just trying to decide on the 4 gig matched is worth the extra $60 from the 3 gig unmatched.
 
Richdmoore said:
A couple quick questions about ram upgrades on my Macbook. (It is a core 2 dual I purchased in June.)

Since the maximum is 3.3 gigs, I can either get 1 2gig chip and 1 1 gig chip, or I can get 2 2gig chips to run them in dual channel and get the last .3 gig of memory, and also it is the only way to run dual channel because I don't think 1.5 gig chips are made.

Without having the computer in dual channel mode does it make the computer more likely to crash? Will it slow down the graphics chip on the computer? (My understanding is that the mac does not have a good graphics chip compared to the mac pro, so it needs all the help it can get.) At some point once I get the new system software I want to run bootcamp, so will the non matched memory work with windows xp also?

I wanted to go to a mac centered dealer to make sure the part will fit when I order it, but OWC does not offer the 4 gig matched chips on a Macbook, just a Macbook pro. If I order it for a macbook pro will it fit in my Macbook?

Thanks, just trying to decide on the 4 gig matched is worth the extra $60 from the 3 gig unmatched.
Click to expand...


In my opinion the dual channel effect is way overrated...
there has been a benchmark testing result on otherworld computing where a Macbook (C2D) has been tested with different RAM settings and the difference between 3GB and 4GB is tiny.
I'd say it makes a difference of 5%...if that is worth spending the extra cash...well...I guess it is up to you.

byakuya
 
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