[Tarball]

Hey Guys I'm new.

I currently have a Black MacBook with a 2.2 intel, 2gb ram, x3100 and a 160GB 5400 RPM HDD. I'm debating doing 2 things.

1. Upgrade to a 200GB 7200rpm drive
2. Upgrading the ram

But I have a few questions first.

1. How much will the 7200 HDD effect battery
2. WIll its performance gain be noticeable? (not expecting DRASTIC)
3. I'm trying to find benchmarks of 2/3/4 GB in a macbook but I'm not finding any. Can't one one link me to any or post up any tests they have done?
4. How do I tell if my MacBook is a "Penryn" or not? the Bus Speed says 800 MHz
5. Are there any other performance or "nicety" tweaks that I could do? I'd LOVE to get a new macbook, but just cat afford it. I'm sure some of you know how I feel.


Thanks a bunch guys!

[mduell]

Go to 320GB/7200RPM instead of 200GB; they're $90 or less.

1. Not much.
2. Depends what you do with it.
3. For $50, just go to 4 and never look back.
4. No, it's Merom.
5. No.

[Tarball]

Wow, short and simple... lol

1. Thanks.
2. Mostly Office work, play WoW and use xCode
3. Thanks
4. Can I run 800MHz RAM? or no luck?
5. thanks.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Tarball 

4. Can I run 800MHz RAM? or no luck?

All your RAM questions have already been answered in the sticky thread on MacBook RAM upgrades. It's at the top of the forum. Please check there first. That's what the sticky is for.

[mduell]

2. It should improve general "snappyness", but the place your most likely to notice it in a timed situation is compiling in Xcode.
4. Maybe, maybe not; there's no point in taking the risk since reusing it is unlikely as the industry moves to DDR3.

320GB/7200RPM Hitachi for $100 ($80 after mail in rebate) + 2x2GB DDR2-667 Transcend for $36 = $143 shipped (before the rebate)