Macbook RAM

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Adam
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Hey,

I'm thinking of upgrading my 2 x 1GB of RAM to 2 x 2GB. This is to make my computer run faster when editing photos (mainly).

I've got a Macbook:

Processor 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Memory 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Two questions really

1. Will an upgrade make a big difference?

2. Which RAM should I go for - will one type improve performance more than another?

Thanks! :)
 
i should imagine it would make a decent difference doubling the ram yes but i'm not up on ram speeds/types.
 
definitely go with Crucial dont use Apple as its waaaay to expensive ! I have 4gb in my macbook pro 2.4ghz and it runs Lightroom 2 and CS4 both at the same time very well ! as well as email, web browser etc etc !
 
IanC_UK said:
definitely go with Crucial dont use Apple as its waaaay to expensive ! I have 4gb in my macbook pro 2.4ghz and it runs Lightroom 2 and CS4 both at the same time very well ! as well as email, web browser etc etc !
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Hey, that's what I wanted to hear - confirmation that it's actually gonna make a difference! :D

Happy Snapper: I did see Crucial, thanks.

I've seen this on Play which is cheaper than Crucial RAM though... but will it be less good quality?
 
You need to check your model of macbook will accept 4Gb, not all will.

My site has the specs if you need them.
 
andrewc said:
The cruicial ram checker told me what I could use, and I referred to Cowasakis site to do the upgrade - only tool required is a coin and a set of jewellers screwdrivers
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Fantastic, any santa rosa macbook will take the full 4gb.

As my site says: Basically after the battery comes out and you undo the 2 or 3 screws (they are captive screws so they will undo and stay in the bracket) you remove the bracket and will see two small levers. When you pop the SODIMMs out you MAY find them covered in white goo. This is quite normal and is basically just heat sink compound. I normally just wipe it off and then stick the new ones in. I don't put new compound on the SODIMMs I am fitting. Lastly the bracket has some spongey material on it you need to push this in with a screwdriver whilst putting the bracket back so that it fits back snugly.

Overall no harder to do than changing a fuse. Good luck and enjoy :woot:

Oh and don't forget to keep up to date with my top tips!
 
Increasing the RAM should help with memory hungry apps such as Photoshop.Others it may not make that much of a difference.
 
For research for my site (I really need to update it but I'm busy doing the photoshop script!) I tried the mac pro with 1Gb, 2Gb, 4Gb and 6Gb. I found that there was a MASSIVE increase in speed jumping from 1Gb to 2GB then a significant increase again when jumping from 2 to 4. After 4 there is a diminishing return so I would say 4gb is the optimum size/price/speed level (Its also the maximum for a non solid body aluminium laptop).
 
So are we saying that running just photoshop nothing else, it runs faster with 4g of ram than 2g, cos I only got one brain and running 5 apps all at the same time is nutzz.

*pops diazapam and offers them round*
 
joxby said:
So are we saying that running just photoshop nothing else, it runs faster with 4g of ram than 2g, cos I only got one brain and running 5 apps all at the same time is nutzz.

*pops diazapam and offers them round*
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Yes it will be faster but it all depends on what you are doing. Even when you think you are only doing one thing your computer is doing 30!
 
Apart from what its doing in normal operation.......and photoshop, does photoshop run faster with 4g than 2g, cos this was the question at the beginning and still nobody answered it.
It doesn't sound right to me, photoshop and normal operation processes don't require more than 2g, so photoshop won't run any faster with 4g......or will it......maybe faster ram speeds things up...I dunno....I'm computer illiterate :shrug:
 
joxby said:
Apart from what its doing in normal operation.......and photoshop, does photoshop run faster with 4g than 2g, cos this was the question at the beginning and still nobody answered it.
It doesn't sound right to me, photoshop and normal operation processes don't require more than 2g, so photoshop won't run any faster with 4g......or will it......maybe faster ram speeds things up...I dunno....I'm computer illiterate :shrug:
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Check out my top tip about "Activity Monitor" you can see how much ram you are using and if this does not go above 2Gb then you will not see any improvement. You probably will though!
 
cowasaki said:
Check out my top tip about "Activity Monitor" you can see how much ram you are using and if this does not go above 2Gb then you will not see any improvement. You probably will though!
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I use task manager, its much sexier...:D

so the answer is definitely unknown....:lol:

macs...:suspect:
 
Late last year I upgraded from 1Gb to 4Gb (I also used Crucial) but tbh I don't see that much difference, running Lightroom 2.0, the software update from Lightroom 2.1 to 2.1 made much more of a difference to the running speed...
 
joxby said:
Apart from what its doing in normal operation.......and photoshop, does photoshop run faster with 4g than 2g, cos this was the question at the beginning and still nobody answered it.
It doesn't sound right to me, photoshop and normal operation processes don't require more than 2g, so photoshop won't run any faster with 4g......or will it......maybe faster ram speeds things up...I dunno....I'm computer illiterate :shrug:
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I upgraded my imac from 1g to 4g definately see a huge difference overall
 
make sure you keep the original ram, if you have any problems with the machine , swap out the ram, otherwise your warranty ,'aint worth sheeeeet'
 
as-i-said said:
make sure you keep the original ram, if you have any problems with the machine , swap out the ram, otherwise your warranty ,'aint worth sheeeeet'
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Actually the RAM in a macbook is user upgradable (they even have the instructions on the Apple site) so it does not void the warranty. You are still better popping the original ram back in though because if you return it and the ram is faulty they will charge you.
 
cowasaki said:
Actually the RAM in a macbook is user upgradable (they even have the instructions on the Apple site) so it does not void the warranty. You are still better popping the original ram back in though because if you return it and the ram is faulty they will charge you.
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not what the salesman in the apple store , Exeter said
 
cowasaki said:
You need to check your model of macbook will accept 4Gb, not all will.

My site has the specs if you need them.
Click to expand...
Hey Mate

How do I determine if I can upgrade my memory further than the amount I already have? Your site suggests I can have a max of 3GB, but the crucial site scanner suggests I can only have 2GB.

How do I determine the maximum RAM I can install?
 
theMusicMan said:
Hey Mate

How do I determine if I can upgrade my memory further than the amount I already have? Your site suggests I can have a max of 3GB, but the crucial site scanner suggests I can only have 2GB.

How do I determine the maximum RAM I can install?
Click to expand...

What is your MODEL NUMBER, check this against my site. You can double check by typing your model number followed by MAX RAM into google but the original model WAS 2gb then the max went to 3gb (due to limitations with the chipset) and then onto 4gb. Just change one of your 1Gb modules for a 2Gb and you should be fine.
 
cowasaki said:
What is your MODEL NUMBER, check this against my site. You can double check by typing your model number followed by MAX RAM into google but the original model WAS 2gb then the max went to 3gb (due to limitations with the chipset) and then onto 4gb. Just change one of your 1Gb modules for a 2Gb and you should be fine.
Click to expand...
Hey cowasaki

Thanks for the reply.

How do I determine my model number?

I have a Macbook, purchased in May 07, processor is 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.

The 'About this Mac' reveals:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
 
theMusicMan said:
Hey cowasaki

Thanks for the reply.

How do I determine my model number?

I have a Macbook, purchased in May 07, processor is 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.

The 'About this Mac' reveals:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
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May '07 could be either the 11/08/06 model revision 2 OR the 15/05/07 release. The later release is still the same revision they have just fitted different processors and hard drive options. For that reason you DEFINATELY have a revision 2 model.

AND if you look at the bit below it says this

2Gb Ram (2 x 1Gb) {according to Apple}

3Gb Ram (1 x 1Gb + 1 x 2Gb)

Memory can also be mixed so changing 1x512Mb to 1x2Gb is acceptable and gives 2.5Gb Ram
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Your computer is one of those that Apple have lied about :)

If you have 2x512 OR 2x1024 I would just go and buy a 2Gb stick and replace one of the sticks giving you 2.5 or 3 in total.

If you need a supplier then I normally use CRUCIAL direct or alternatively SCAN which is www.scan.co.uk

It is an easy enough upgrade but if you are not practiced in upgrading then just take your time and use the CORRECT SIZED SCREWDRIVER :) a size 0 to avoid damaging the screws.
 
cowasaki said:
May '07 could be either the 11/08/06 model revision 2 OR the 15/05/07 release. The later release is still the same revision they have just fitted different processors and hard drive options. For that reason you DEFINATELY have a revision 2 model.

AND if you look at the bit below it says this



Your computer is one of those that Apple have lied about :)

If you have 2x512 OR 2x1024 I would just go and buy a 2Gb stick and replace one of the sticks giving you 2.5 or 3 in total.

If you need a supplier then I normally use CRUCIAL direct or alternatively SCAN which is www.scan.co.uk

It is an easy enough upgrade but if you are not practiced in upgrading then just take your time and use the CORRECT SIZED SCREWDRIVER :) a size 0 to avoid damaging the screws.
Click to expand...
Thanks cowasaki

I have already upgraded to 2 * 1GB, and will purchase a single 2GB stick as you suggest. Is this the right one..?

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=EB3FAA4EA5CA7304
 
theMusicMan said:
Thanks cowasaki

I have already upgraded to 2 * 1GB, and will purchase a single 2GB stick as you suggest. Is this the right one..?

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=EB3FAA4EA5CA7304
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Wowwww NO

That one is a DDR3 module for the latest generation solid body macbooks

you need a DDR2 module which is actually LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE :)

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/lis...uo (13-inch White) MB061LL/B&pl=Apple&cat=RAM

Now I know that it says that this is for the later variant but that is because Apple only list your computer as a 2Gb which means you would never need a 2Gb stick. It is the right one though.
 
Hehe, ta for the heads up... I shall purchase the one you pointed out. Ta matey... you're a good 'un.
 
Craikeybaby said:
Late last year I upgraded from 1Gb to 4Gb (I also used Crucial) but tbh I don't see that much difference, running Lightroom 2.0, the software update from Lightroom 2.1 to 2.1 made much more of a difference to the running speed...
Click to expand...

Lightroom doesn't use that much memory (compared to Photoshop). All the work is done on the previews, which are relatively small. When you export the images it's then the changes are made, to the exported image, as it rendered. Hence the lower need for memory.
 
Yeah, when I upgraded to 2.0 it was so slow and I though that boosting the RAM might speed it up a bit.
 
All the stuff that's running on your Mac needs mmore than 2 gigs of memory. You mac will always make sure that you have some RAM (fast!) spare so a whole bunch of the running programs have some or their memory put on to disk (sloooww). Putting 4 gigs in allows your Mac to keep more of these programs in memory. In short your whole machine will be more sprightly. I have 4 gigs in my Macbook and it's just awesome! I got my RAM from Crucial.
 
I guess the XBench app that was linked one of Cowasaki's tips would be a good guide as to where the benefits are...
 
Ive just upgraded my alu 2.4 macbook to 4gig and was initially disappointed ( i remember doing similar in windows and it made a huge difference). I have since noticed that running photoshop is much quicker. It also can quite happily run photoshop, Win XP on Parallels and safari, mail etc with very little performance hit.
 
cowasaki said:
Actually the RAM in a macbook is user upgradable (they even have the instructions on the Apple site) so it does not void the warranty. You are still better popping the original ram back in though because if you return it and the ram is faulty they will charge you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, I was thinking of going from 2 to 4 for my MBP, but was worried that it might invalidate the Apple care if thinds went T-up! Will definitely hang on to the original RAM now:thumbs:
 
frostbear said:
Thanks for this, I was thinking of going from 2 to 4 for my MBP, but was worried that it might invalidate the Apple care if thinds went T-up! Will definitely hang on to the original RAM now:thumbs:
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Just follow the instructions carefully and you should have no problems.
 
frostbear said:
Cheers, looking forward to upgrading. better get some proper wee screwdrivers:geek:
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Yes seriously this is a biggy! Your screwdrivers MUST fit correctly or you will chew the head off the screws and it will become a pig of a job to get them out and will look a mess!
 
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