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AltecXP · Jul 19, 2009, 12:19 PM

I'm about to get a new 13in MacBook I will probably order it with 2GB of memory, but I was wondering if anyone had benchmarked different memory setups under OSX and which gave the best performance.

I only plan to run XCode, Office, Adium and FIrefox.

Thanks for any help.

Rumor · Jul 19, 2009, 12:25 PM

2x2GB will give the best performance.

ibook_steve · Jul 19, 2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

2x2GB will give the best performance.

Because that equals 4 GB. If you only get 2GB, 2x1 GB will probably be best since you'll have matching memory. However, when you end up upgrading, you'll probably end up tossing 1 or both sticks.

Steve

CharlesS · Jul 19, 2009, 04:56 PM

Get 2x2 GB. The 2 GB DIMMs are not too expensive these days, and you'll appreciate the speed boost from the extra RAM.

mduell · 10:07 PM

2x2GB is the best option. There's no latency or bandwidth penalty for multiple modules.

Originally Posted by ibook_steve

Because that equals 4 GB. If you only get 2GB, 2x1 GB will probably be best since you'll have matching memory.

But 2x2GB was an option in the title.

Jasoco · Jul 19, 2009, 08:15 PM

SPEND THE EXTRA $100 FOR THE 4GB! You will NOT regret it! If you PASS right now, you will have to pay $400-$500 to get 4GB later on from third parties.

Get the 4GB NOW. Trust me.

Rumor · Jul 19, 2009, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Jasoco

SPEND THE EXTRA $100 FOR THE 4GB! You will NOT regret it! If you PASS right now, you will have to pay $400-$500 to get 4GB later on from third parties.

Get the 4GB NOW. Trust me.

$100 from whom? Apple?

$400 - $500 from a third party?

4 GB RAM upgrade (2x2GB) for a 13" MBP (or MB Unibody) is $66 from OWC. It is about $60 for the same for a White MB.

Jasoco · Jul 19, 2009, 09:06 PM

Computer memory upgrades for Apple MacBook Pro 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (13-inch DDR3) MB990LL/A Mid-2009 Laptop/Notebook from Crucial.com
$449.

Wow, how does Crucial get away with that?

CharlesS · 09:23 PM

That's a 4 GB module. Those are expensive, no matter whom you buy them from. The OP was looking at getting 2 2 GB modules for a total of 4 GB. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page pointed to by your own link, that's $65.99 at Crucial - about $34 cheaper than Apple's $100, and the same price as OWC.

Oh, and if you bought a couple of those 4 GB modules from Apple, it would cost you $1100. That's $550 each - $100 more than Crucial.

So much for Apple's RAM upgrades being a good deal.

Simon · Jul 20, 2009, 05:23 AM

Charles is right. Don't waste money.

Newegg -> 2x2GB Crucial DDR3 SO-DIMM for $58 shipped

SierraDragon · Jul 20, 2009, 12:38 PM

For sure install 4 GB RAM. And since the Apple upgrade is only $35 more than third party and the 1 GB DIMMs you would take out have little value in this case I would just pay the $100 to Apple. Saves multiple ordering, futzing with the tiny screws, re-switching the DIMMs for warranty claims, etc.

Ya gotta love the falling RAM prices. It cost me US$450 via third party to go from 2 GB RAM to 3 GB RAM with my early MBP and it has been well worth it.

-Allen Wicks

CharlesS · 12:50 PM

Huh. I swear that I tried searching Newegg last night, and didn't turn up any Crucial when I searched for 2x2GB DDR3 SO-DIMMS. Now the Crucial shows up right at the top of that same search. Huh. Maybe I was just tired last night or something and made a mistake. Anyway, Simon is right, that Crucial RAM from Newegg is the best deal that I think you're going to find.

edit:

Originally Posted by SierraDragon

For sure install 4 GB RAM. And since the Apple upgrade is only $35 more than third party and the 1 GB DIMMs you would take out have little value in this case I would just pay the $100 to Apple. Saves multiple ordering, futzing with the tiny screws, re-switching the DIMMs for warranty claims, etc.

Dude, it's $42 more than Newegg. And since Apple's price is $100, that makes Newegg 42% cheaper. That's almost half off! Swapping new RAM, or even a hard drive, into the current MBPs is not difficult, and I'd recommend it over the Apple Store. Basically, my general rule with the Apple Store is: never buy anything from them if you don't have to, because you're always going to pay more than necessary. Apple's the only company that makes OS X, as well as the hardware to run it legally, so we have no choice there. But for hard drives, memory, or any kind of peripherals, never buy them from Apple because you're always going to get a much better deal somewhere else. If your time is so valuable that five minutes with a screwdriver is worth $42 to you, then I guess it might make sense to go pay twice as much as the RAM is worth, but everyone else should order it from elsewhere, IMO.

sek929 · Jul 20, 2009, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Basically, my general rule with the Apple Store is: never buy anything from them if you don't have to, because you're always going to pay more than necessary. Apple's the only company that makes OS X, as well as the hardware to run it legally, so we have no choice there. But for hard drives, memory, or any kind of peripherals, never buy them from Apple because you're always going to get a much better deal somewhere else. If your time is so valuable that five minutes with a screwdriver is worth $42 to you, then I guess it might make sense to go pay twice as much as the RAM is worth, but everyone else should order it from elsewhere, IMO.

Solid advice here. I've never ordered a Mac and paid for Apple's RAM, and all of my machines ended up with max RAM.

Simon · Jul 20, 2009, 05:38 PM

There's an argument to be made for paying for Apple's CTO RAM. But not when it boils down to paying approximately double. Swapping RAM on a MBP is extremely easy. Newegg/Crucial's warranty is just as good as Apple's. The only difference cost.

adamfishercox · Jul 20, 2009, 05:51 PM

The only advantage is that Apple won't try to blame their own RAM for any problems.

Simon · Jul 20, 2009, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by adamfishercox

The only advantage is that Apple won't try to blame their own RAM for any problems.

That's not an argument. Obviously you'd keep the stock RAM. Whenever you show your Mac to a genius or send it in you install the stock RAM and keep your own RAM safe.

Again, the only difference is cost.

adamfishercox · Jul 20, 2009, 06:10 PM

Why is that obvious? Most people will sell back to OWC or try to sell on forums like this.

Simon · Jul 20, 2009, 06:12 PM

Bad idea then, isn't it?

SierraDragon · Jul 21, 2009, 12:43 AM

One of the times that I installed RAM in an MBP at a shop various anomalies occurred that ended up costing several hours of my time, and my time has value. Personally I find ~$40 on a new $1200 box worth it to avoid multiple ordering, futzing with the tiny screws, saving/re-switching the DIMMs for warranty claims, etc. but I understand that other folks may value their time less and/or find those minor headaches worth saving $40.

-Allen Wicks

Rumor · Jul 21, 2009, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by SierraDragon

One of the times that I installed RAM in an MBP at a shop various anomalies occurred that ended up costing several hours of my time, and my time has value. Personally I find ~$40 on a new $1200 box worth it to avoid multiple ordering, futzing with the tiny screws, saving/re-switching the DIMMs for warranty claims, etc. but I understand that other folks may value their time less and/or find those minor headaches worth saving $40.

-Allen Wicks

Having a bad bit of RAM can come from Apple. This could cost you the loss of your machine for a week or two when it needs to be replaced by them.

CharlesS · Jul 21, 2009, 01:39 AM

Indeed. At least if third-party RAM goes bad, you can put the original RAM back in while you wait for the replacement.

Plus, Crucial is top-quality RAM that has just as low a likelihood of being bad as anything else.

Simon · Jul 21, 2009, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by rumor

having a bad bit of ram can come from apple. This could cost you the loss of your machine for a week or two when it needs to be replaced by them.

qft.

SierraDragon · Jul 22, 2009, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Having a bad bit of RAM can come from Apple. This could cost you the loss of your machine for a week or two when it needs to be replaced by them.

My experience did not involve bad RAM but rather retrofit RAM-installation issues (tiny screws overtightened during original manufacture).

As to bad RAM - or anything else under warranty - Apple typically replaces flawed laptop hardware parts literally overnight, not "a week or two."

-Allen Wicks

Simon · Jul 22, 2009, 01:09 PM

People that buy third-party RAM not only have extra $$$, they also have extra stock RAM they can use while they wait for their replacement RAM to arrive. Something people that CTO extra RAM from Apple don't have. IOW no matter how fast Apple is, it's downtime third-party buyers don't face.

Game over. There's simply no argument to made for wasting money for nothing.

Rumor · Jul 22, 2009, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by SierraDragon

My experience did not involve bad RAM but rather retrofit RAM-installation issues (tiny screws overtightened during original manufacture).

As to bad RAM - or anything else under warranty - Apple typically replaces flawed laptop hardware parts literally overnight, not "a week or two."

-Allen Wicks

It depends on how busy your local Apple Store is.