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Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 11:21 AM

Ever since I got my MacBook on '06 I've had 1GB of RAM. Today I finally got myself a 2GB Crucial stick so now I have 2.5GB

.

I know about the dual-channel increase, but I've read it only gives you a 5% bump in performance.

YAY for me!

shifuimam · Mar 5, 2009, 12:08 PM

You can never have too much RAM.

Unless you're running a 32-bit OS. But other than that, you can never have too much RAM.

besson3c · Mar 5, 2009, 12:30 PM

Especially in a memory hog of an OS like OS X

Dakar V · Mar 5, 2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Especially in a memory hog of an OS like OS X

besson3c · Mar 5, 2009, 12:37 PM

Hehehe... Debbie Downer.

I get it, I'll try to be more upbeat and happy. For now on every one of my posts will have some references to happy things such as clowns, ointment, porno, friendly robots, Steve Guttenberg, Tony Danza, and not having sex with Dakar.

Simon · Mar 5, 2009, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

I know about the dual-channel increase, but I've read it only gives you a 5% bump in performance.

Not even that in most cases.

More RAM is always better.

Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

Unless you're running a 32-bit OS.

Is this true? If so, how come?

LOL @ Besson's last post xD

Simon · Mar 5, 2009, 01:24 PM

32 bit memory addresses mean you cannot address more than 4GB.

2^32 = 4,294,967,296

Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

Not even that in most cases.

More RAM is always better.

I'm already planning on getting another 2-gig stick. If only 4 gigs weren't that expensive...

Simon · Mar 5, 2009, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

I'm already planning on getting another 2-gig stick. If only 4 gigs weren't that expensive...

They're not.

1GB Rendition @ Newegg for $10. (since you can only address 3GB anyway)
2GB Patriot @ Newegg for $19.

Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 01:43 PM

I meant a single 4-gig stick to have a total of 6 gigs

.

I have an Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook now. My first-gen was replaced a month ago by Apple. Too many problems.

Simon · Mar 5, 2009, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

I have an Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook now. My first-gen was replaced a month ago by Apple. Too many problems.

Sig update.

And why post today about a RAM upgrade on a Mac that was replaced one month ago?

Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

Sig update.

And why post today about a RAM upgrade on a Mac that was replaced one month ago?

The new Mac brought 1GB of RAM. I got the 2GB stick today

.

Simon · Mar 5, 2009, 02:03 PM

So you got a white 2.1 GHz MacBook? In that case you can forget about 6 GB RAM. The ceiling's at 4 GB. Get a 2 GB stick and you're done.

Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

So you got a white 2.1 GHz MacBook? In that case you can forget about 6 GB RAM. The ceiling's at 4 GB. Get a 2 GB stick and you're done.

Really? MacSales says otherwise. It says 6GB for the 2.1Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook.

Edit: But it has the 64-bit processor, how come it doesn't accept more than 4?

Spheric Harlot · Mar 5, 2009, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Really? MacSales says otherwise. It says 6GB for the 2.1Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook.

Interesting. The late 2007 "Santa Rosa" (actually Crestline IIRC) support 6GB?

First I've ever heard of it.

Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 02:26 PM

I don't know if it's true, but I'm hoping it is. Although, I'm supposed to be getting a MacBook Pro on summer for college, so it wouldn't really matter for me.

Simon · Mar 5, 2009, 02:53 PM

Yeah, now I remember. The last Crestline MB(P) models did support 4 GB DIMMs. Good luck finding a decent priced one though. The cheapest Newegg has is $265.

Spheric Harlot · Mar 5, 2009, 03:00 PM

Supporting the 4GB DIMMS is not the same thing as actually recognizing more than 4GB of RAM, though.

My MacBook eats 2GB sticks just fine, but it won't see more than 3GB of the RAM.

Hg2491 · Mar 5, 2009, 03:08 PM

It's amazing how 2 gigs go for $20, but 4 gigs cost more than $200. Technology is a funny thing.

abbaZaba · Mar 5, 2009, 04:16 PM

does brand of RAM make a difference? I bought two 1GB sticks for my Blackbook back in 2006 and have been using that since, but since a 2GB stick is only $19, I figure why not bump it from 2GB to 3GB (or could I go 4GB?)

My question is, I can't remember the brand of RAM I bought back in 2006. would it matter if I buy that Patriot-branded 2GB stick? would it cause problems?

Spheric Harlot · Mar 5, 2009, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

It's amazing how 2 gigs go for $20, but 4 gigs cost more than $200. Technology is a funny thing.

A few weeks ago, 4 GB sticks cost $800. When 2 GB sticks came out, they cost $1200.

In six months, a 4 GB stick will cost $80.

How is that surprising or odd?

Simon · 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

Supporting the 4GB DIMMS is not the same thing as actually recognizing more than 4GB of RAM, though.

Yeah, I'm aware of that. So let's try it again.

The last generation Crestline MB(P)s were actually able to support, address, use, and release 6GB of RAM.

Hg2491 · Mar 6, 2009, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

Yeah, I'm aware of that. So let's try it again.

The last generation Crestline (MBP)s were actually able to support, address, use, and release 6GB of RAM.

Only MacBook Pro's, Simon? Also, is my MacBook a Crestoine; I'm behind on Intel names.

Spheric Harlot · Mar 6, 2009, 07:20 AM

It was supposed to say MB(P)s.

According to MacTracker, all MacBooks starting from the late 2007 revision can address 6GB of RAM.

Simon · Mar 6, 2009, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

It was supposed to say MB(P)s.

Indeed it was. I just fixed the typo.

Simon · Mar 6, 2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Also, is my MacBook a Crestoine; I'm behind on Intel names.

Yes, yours is a Crestline.

DCJ001 · Mar 10, 2009, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Only MacBook Pro's, Simon? Also, is my MacBook a Crestoine; I'm behind on Intel names.

Sure. If you don't mind adding about 35-40% of the price of the MacBook for the 6GB RAM upgrade.

Spheric Harlot · Mar 10, 2009, 09:04 PM

or 15-20% in a few months.

or 10-15% a few months after that.

A few months ago, you could have bought a second MacBook for the price of 6 GB.

Simon · Mar 11, 2009, 03:37 AM

SH is right. These DIMMs are expensive now because they're relatively new and there isn't much to chose from. Give it a few months and they'll become very affordable. Then give it another couple of years and they'll be very expensive again. Crucial 4GB DDR2 SO-DIMMs are $265 right now. That's already a whole lot lower than they were two months ago. Give it another while and they'll reach $150.