One 2gb ram stick for my macbook (2.16ghz) or two 1gb sticks??

[Steven T]

I am about to order some ram on newegg. I am looking at the mushkin sticks. I can get a 2gb stick and then add another 1gb later if I decide I need it

OR

I can get two 1gb sticks and leave it at that...

Apple recommends using the same sized modules for best performance though.

I am confused, what am I better off doing? Will one 2gb stick in one slot work just as well as two 1gb sticks in both slots.

my macbook model unofficially supports 3gb.

 

[Parasitic]

While people say that not running two sticks of the same size can hamper performance in a dual channel configuration, I did it before with 2.5GB (2+0.5) on the Macbook and 3GB (2+1) on the MBP and saw no real difference compared to just dual channel, same amount (i.e. 2x1GB). In fact the more memory the merrier.

 

[bearxor]

Yeah, technically dual-channel memory is faster, but in reality it's not going to net you more than 1-3% real world performance. You'd probably need a stopwatch to tell the difference.

 

[Steven T]

Well.. I do use EVERY bit of system performance for music production. It uses every ounce of ram and pushes the cpu to the max.

What do you guys think I should do after having heard that?

 

[Megatomic]

You could just max it out and get 2 x 2GB and get dual channel and TONS of memory.

 

[secretanchitman]

max it out! i did and i cant go back to 2GB of ram...

 

[Steven T]

It is a 2.16 from the end of 2007. It's not compatible with 4gb. Apple claims it supports only 2gb but the unofficial truth is that it can run 3...

Sooo....

I can't run 4.

Again, based on my previous post, would you say I'd be better off with 2x1gb or 2gb+1gb? I will be able to have more stuff going on but will it make my machine run sluggish? I want it to remain snappy too.

Does it matter what ram I get? Should I just grab the cheapest (g.skill/transcend) or would it make a difference to go with corsair or mushkin?

 

[secretanchitman]

2GB + 1GB....brand doesnt matter. as long as its ddr2-667 (anything higher than ddr2-667 will just downclock - its a mobo limitation even on the macbook pros and i think any current laptop, although im not too sure on that).

 

[Steven T]

BUUUUUT...... What I am REALLY trying to ask is...

Will I lose the snappiness of my OS if I am using 3gb?

I am just trying to figure out the validity of apples statement when they say to run the same size stick in each channel.

it wont be worth it to run 3gb if it makes my machine noticeably sluggish just so I can have more stuff going on at the same time.

Does anyone understand this question? I can re-word or re-clarify it if you ask.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Steven T
BUUUUUT...... What I am REALLY trying to ask is...

Will I lose the snappiness of my OS if I am using 3gb?

I am just trying to figure out the validity of apples statement when they say to run the same size stick in each channel.

it wont be worth it to run 3gb if it makes my machine noticeably sluggish just so I can have more stuff going on at the same time.

Does anyone understand this question? I can re-word or re-clarify it if you ask.

2*1GB will be a little snappier than 1*2GB, but, 1+2GB will be if not snappier still, then at least will have enough benefits to outweigh that lack of additional snappiness.

If nothing else, get 2*2GB, and run it at 3.3GB (what the system caps you at) that way you get 3GB and dual channel.

 

[KeithP]

Originally posted by: Steven T
Sooo....

I can't run 4.

From what I understand, you can put (2) 2GB sticks in and you will retain the performance advantage of dual channel memory. You will have only 3GB accessible to the OS however.

-KeithP

 

[Steven T]

COol.

I just grabbed 4 gigs of the mushkin ram off newegg. I cant even believe its only 60 bucks after the mail in rebate. Thats insane. I think I spent like well over 200 on 3 gigs pc6400 ram for my desktop build back then when e6600 chips came out.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Steven T
COol.

I just grabbed 4 gigs of the mushkin ram off newegg. I cant even believe its only 60 bucks after the mail in rebate. Thats insane. I think I spent like well over 200 on 3 gigs pc6400 ram for my desktop build back then when e6600 chips came out.

Oh, you want a sad RAM story (though i am sure there are sadder ones). Back when I built my Socket A system, I built it from the ground up to be an overclocking rig. So, XP-M 2500 Barton for the proc ($100) Abit AN7 mobo ($100) and 512MB of Geil Golden Dragon PC3200 ($160)... then, i decided that my rig needed a full gig, so a 2*256 kit this time, Geil Golden Dragon again, but this time, $150.

Thats right, $310 for 1GB of RAM, and you just both 4 times that amount, almost twice as fast, for 1/5th the price. Sigh, how times change

 

[TheGizmo]

does this apply to the mac mini as well? can I use 4gb to get the dual channel benefits and just have my OS recongize it as 3gb?.. my other option that I was thinking was to get a 2 gig stick and use it with a 512 stick in the 2nd slot making 2.5gb... from those 3 options whats my best bet? thanks

 

[0roo0roo]

more is generally better, without much video card mem using up addresses and such the mini would have more than 3gb ram accessable if you stuck in 4gb. prices are ridiculous these days, just shove it in, and the os will use it as cache to speed up your system after you use it for a while.

 

[Steven T]

Got it in from Newegg today. Im realllly happy with it. System is snappy and I dont feel completely restricted anymore. Good ram ftm