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RAM question - upgrading from 2gb to 3gb. Worth it?

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xfusejc

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 29, 2006
442
468
I have a 2.16GHz Intel C2D iMac (white, not aluminum). I currently have it set-up with 2GB of RAM, 1x1. I'm looking to upgrade the RAM once again, to max it out. Accordingly, the computer can run up to 3GB of RAM, and if using 4GB, it won't actually use more than 300MB past the 3GB mark so it's kinda pointless. This is all info I read. Correct me if wrong.

I want to know if upgrading from the 2GB to the 3GB would have a noticeable difference, or at least less of a waiting time between things.

I use Photoshop, which is actually pretty fast with my current set-up and sometimes use VMWare. Those are the two most RAM-hog programs I can think of, but I'm pretty typical outside of that. The 2GB stick of RAM is only $20, and then I'll just keep one of the 1GB sticks that's currently on my iMac, so it's not a big expense or anything. If it's not gonna make a difference though, then I won't even do it.

Let me know. And sorry about another one of these threads.
 
The point about VMWare is that disks are usually defined as a single file on a disk so the performance is worse .... therefore the more ram you can give a virtual machine the better .... but you don't want to give ALL your ram to the vm otherwise your host machine suffers .... RAM = GOOD .... get the ram ... its so cheap these days its almost a mute point
 
Does a 2-gig RAM iMac typically come with 1-gig RAM cards in each port. Or a 2-gig card in one port and the other port empty?


Also, if I allocate, say, 512MB to VMware fusion, is it unavailable for the Mac OS if it's not being used by VMware? Or is it only unavailable to Mac if it's being used by Windows via VMware?
 
Ram allocated to a VM is only in-use when the VM is running .... if its off/suspended then the ram is released back to be used by OSX

A VM is just a program like photoshop or anything else .... it uses resource the same...
 
just throw 2 2gig chips in there ram is so cheap now and your only losing 700mb of a dim so who cares just throw 2 2 gig dims in there and it will be fine just remember when computers had only 256mb of ram and you will appreciate that extra 300mb:apple:
 
You definitely want a paired set though Crucial apparently says that that iMac doesn't support dual channel. Though the maximum RAM may be 3.3GB rather than 3GB as stated so 4GB will be better than 3GB.

Install This paired Crucial set from Newegg for $34.99, no tax, and free shipping.

Don't forget Ebates to get 2% cash back at newegg.
 
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