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memory size for performance
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raviruddarraju
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Atlanta
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Dec 13, 2003, 03:57 AM
 
Hello,

I recently compared Panther performance on a 500Mhz G4 with 1GB RAM and a 1Ghz G4 with 512MB RAM. I notice a significant performance improvment on the slower G4 with larger memory in terms of general UI response.

Though this may be my exaggeration, but I felt there a HUGE speed difference. Is memory such an important thing, when the processor speeds are so different on both the computers?

- ravi
- Ravi
     
Arkham_c
Mac Elite
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
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Dec 13, 2003, 09:12 AM
 
If both have enough RAM, the faster machine will shine. 512MB is really not enough for OSX.

With not-enough RAM, the computer used disk space for memory. Disk space is orders of magnitude slower than real RAM, and that accounts for a larger slowdown overall.
Mac Pro 2x 2.66 GHz Dual core, Apple TV 160GB, two Windows XP PCs
     
rjenkinson
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Join Date: Sep 2000
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Dec 13, 2003, 09:25 AM
 
did you compare both systems with different amounts of RAM? how did you separate the difference between the processors from the RAM difference?

-r.
     
dgbatchelor
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Join Date: Jun 2003
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Dec 14, 2003, 02:17 AM
 
More RAM usually equates to significantly better performance... but it all depends on how you use your 'Book...

If you question whether or not you are suffering from "low RAM syndrome", you can monitor the virtual memory paging with the application "Activity Monitor"... You can see the amount of real memory, how it is allocated, the amount of virtual memory, and the page in/page out stats. High paging and low free memory are good "hints" that you can use more RAM.

In my experience, it is difficult to have too much RAM!
     
   
 
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