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should I add 256 MB or 512 MB RAM for my 12"?
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: sweden
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I have 1 GHz 12" Powerboook with only 256 MB RAM. Now I found out that the standard 256 MB is non-removable. I would like to max the ram capacity and buuy the 1 GB chip, but I just can't afford it. The problem I see with the current nonremovable chip is that if I buy a 512 MB chip and get a total of 768 MB (which I think will be enough for a while) and then feel I need more, I would have to buy the 1 GB chip and throw out the 512 one.
RAM memory prices always goes down so I was thinking that maybe I should buy a 256 MB merory chip and wait for the 1 GB one go down to a more affordable price. What do you think about this idea?
I do mostly music, with cubase and reason.
thanks!
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Netherlands
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From my own experience, reason runs fine on a g3 350 mhz with 256 mb. I don't see any use for a powerbook 12" with 2 gig of ram
i use a powerbook g4 17" with 512 mb, i have an extra 256 mb module but i don't even bother to put it in 
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Osprey, Florida
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The saying from day one for computers is still true:
You can never have enough memory.
aehaas
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: The Tollbooth Capital of the US
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Originally posted by dissident:
I have 1 GHz 12" Powerboook with only 256 MB RAM. Now I found out that the standard 256 MB is non-removable. I would like to max the ram capacity and buuy the 1 GB chip, but I just can't afford it. The problem I see with the current nonremovable chip is that if I buy a 512 MB chip and get a total of 768 MB (which I think will be enough for a while) and then feel I need more, I would have to buy the 1 GB chip and throw out the 512 one.
RAM memory prices always goes down so I was thinking that maybe I should buy a 256 MB merory chip and wait for the 1 GB one go down to a more affordable price. What do you think about this idea?
I do mostly music, with cubase and reason.
thanks!
While as one poster said you can't have enough RAM. It all comes down to what you can afford at that time. If you can Max it out then do so. 768 Megs is MORE than most people will need. I just got a 256 to bring mine to 512. I found that will be more than I need for now. As long as it saves on the OS accessing the HD when doing most things it will be fine. I think 512 is the minimum for any Machine. it helps OS X not to page to the drive as much which is a good thing.
For what you do 512 or 768 would be enough. IMO
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"Evil is Powerless If the Good are Unafraid." -Ronald Reagan
Apple and Intel, the dawning of a NEW era.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
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by the time the price of a 1 GB stick drops to where a 512 MB stick is now, you may be thinking of replacing your new powerbook. buy what you can afford now.
-r.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rockville, MD
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Originally posted by rjenkinson:
by the time the price of a 1 GB stick drops to where a 512 MB stick is now, you may be thinking of replacing your new powerbook. buy what you can afford now.
-r.
Yeah, moreover -- Panther uses RAM very efficiently, so 512MB to 768MB should be just fine for your purposes. I find that my G4 tower runs Panther quite nicely at just 384MB of RAM, although when I buy my next PowerBook I'll probably want about 512MB, just to cover my bases.
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Belgium
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I was in the same situation a few weeks ago. I also have a PB 1ghz with a 80 GB HD. I added a 512 MB stick. But I don't see a big difference. I would advice you to add a 256 MB stick : 512 is just enough. Except if you do some video editing (on regular basis).
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S k y p a t
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Oakland, CA
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Originally posted by aehaas:
The saying from day one for computers is still true:
You can never have enough memory.
aehaas
Ummm. . . Yes you can!
Typoon is right. RAM doesn't do anything just sitting there. It must be filled and accessed for programs to be faster. Accessing the HD is usually the bottleneck in terms of speed of computers. Having more RAM will help, but if it is just sitting there then it wouldn't be any faster.
It all depends on what you are doing. I using it mostly for MS Office (Word, Excel, and some PowerPoint), Internet (Safari, Mail, iChat), and of course iTunes. Then why would I need to max out with 2GB on my PowerBook even if I could afford it?!?! It doesn't make sense. If you could give me a clear reason why I need 2GB, I would run out and get it right away.
So, if you are only doing daily activities like myself, 512MB should be fine. But if you are doing a lot of video editing or Photoshopping then I suggest you get the most you could afford. It is worth it in the long run.
Sorry, I am not really familiar with the programs you listed, so I can't really tell you if they are memory hogging or not. But you could always see for yourself.
You could see how much RAM you are using in /Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor. In Jaguar, it is in the same place, but I think it is call Process Viewer (if I remember correctly).
(Last edited by ae86_16v; Jan 5, 2004 at 02:15 PM.
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