Wow! Going from 1gb to 2gb really makes a difference!! (C2D MBP)

[dustspec]

I'm actually receiving the HD today, hopefully I'll have time to swap it out and test if starting up speed is noticeable. I'll most likely do the same and keep the stock HD in an enclosure. I'll also let you know about heat/battery life but I haven't test the battery life except once (lasted for 3.5 hrs with wireless on and internet browsing, brightest setting, BT enable for 30% of the time).

EDIT:
Took 20 seconds to show the desktop and another full 10 seconds to load Quicksilver and show all the icons on my desktop.

Cool - look forward to hearing how you go. Great to have the 'as it happens' accounts! Much obliged.

 

[Tarkovsky]

I can't wait till the 2GB sticks come down in price, 3 gig sounds pretty megga. I don't think one would need a swap file for even the most intensive applications ATM then...

 

[Killyp]

Am I correct in thinking that if I swap the RAM in my MacBook Pro myself, it doesn't void the warranty/Apple Care? It's designed so the user can do it themselves isn't it?

 

[phungy]

Am I correct in thinking that if I swap the RAM in my MacBook Pro myself, it doesn't void the warranty/Apple Care? It's designed so the user can do it themselves isn't it?

It does not void the warranty though Apple may refuse to service it unless the original RAM is intact. Same goes for harddrives. Apple does not cover third party RAM/HDs though.

 

[islandman]

Extra RAM is probably the best upgrade one can make. 2GB should probably be the minimum anyone considers nowadays.

 

[Killyp]

Hmmm, I think I'll be better off getting it done through my local Apple store then.

 

[Killyp]

Extra RAM is probably the best upgrade one can make. 2GB should probably be the minimum anyone considers nowadays.

Apple considers 512 enough

1gb is enough really, my MacBook Pro is relatively fast with 1 gb, but I am still going to upgrade it...

 

[islandman]

I was blown away by the performance of my MBP when I went from 1 - 2 GB, even when working in Photoshop and Aperture, so that's why I said what I said. I agree that 1GB is plenty, but 2GB is even more plenty! hehehe

 

[toontra]

Well, postie has just been with a parcel for me! Got 2 x 1G Kingston RAM from the US for £140 (including postage) from an ebay shop. I was half expecting to pay import duty but luckily not. This is over £70 cheaper than Crucial at the moment, and is guaranteed Apple compatible (which it is) and has a lifetime Kingston warranty.

Whapped it in and my C2D MacBook is flying (yes, faster boot as well!). Parallels Desktop in now purring along nicely, leaving plenty of spare RAM for other stuff.

Do it - you know it makes sense.

 

[Arne]

I had the 2GB from the beginning; I of course noticed that it is very fast but I recently saw a friends MB, that only has 512MB RAM and I noticed that there is a big difference. At least I think it is the RAM since everyone here says, that the C2D is not THAT MUCH faster than the CD.

 

[phungy]

I had the 2GB from the beginning; I of course noticed that it is very fast but I recently saw a friends MB, that only has 512MB RAM and I noticed that there is a big difference. At least I think it is the RAM since everyone here says, that the C2D is not THAT MUCH faster than the CD.

Not trying to argue with you but from this thread.

Seems like the C2D is a bit faster but only a few seconds:

MacBook Pro 2.0 GHz Core Duo with 2GB RAM

100,000 - 5.160 sec.
250,000 - 33.010 sec.

Macbook T7200, 2x1GB RAM.

I only took three trials of each just to be a bit more accurate

100,000: 4.420, 4.430, 4.430
250,000: 28.240, 28.229, 28.250

That's it, I'm getting the 2.33Ghz MBP

iMac 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo with 2 GB of RAM.

100,000: 3.780 seconds
250,000: 24.110 seconds

 

[EstorilM]

I need to do this really badly, especially with Leopard around the corner. The dynamic RAM usage thing of Mac OS X is still new to me (coming from windows based machines.) It basically uses what it can get at all times, even if you're doing nothing - it'll do nothing... faster. It's a little confusing, but all hell breaks loose when I have Dreamweaver and Photoshop CS (plus various other small apps) running at the same time. It just takes a crap on me. Then again, most of that is due to Rosetta having to translate the (rather massive) non-universal programs I guess.

Either way, newegg has genuine Crucial 1gb PC-5300 chips for $133! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145048&ATT=20-145-048&CMP=OTC-Froogle

 

[barr08]

does RAM really speed up boot time? or is it maybe just placebo effect...

When I upgraded my iMac CD from 512 to 2 gigs, the startup time decreased greatly. Everything else was so much snappier. It was like a different computer. HIGHLY reccomended.

 

[apple_iBoy]

My C2D MacBook Pro had the stock 1GB of RAM until a couple weeks ago, when Best Buy had a sale on the appropriate 1GB module. The areas I have noticed the most improvement are in Aperture and Parallels, both of which are quite a bit faster and more responsive.

 

[phungy]

Cool - look forward to hearing how you go. Great to have the 'as it happens' accounts! Much obliged.

Just to keep this updated, the 7200rpm is FAST.

80GB 5400rpm took 20 seconds to show the desktop while 10 more seconds to completely load.

100GB 7200rpm took 10 seconds to show the desktop and 10 more seconds to completely load. 20 seconds is FAST!

 

[dustspec]

that is good news phungy - what enclosure are you getting for the drive you took out? I didn't realize that there seem to be so few SATA compatable 2.5 firewire cases.