04-12-2005, 11:16 AM

Hi guys,
After selling some stuff on Ebay, I have enough ££ to upgrade the RAM on my PB!

I got my powerbook with the standard 512MB RAM. On a busy day, it will be running Final Cut Express, Graphic Converter, iTunes, IM progs, Roxio Popcorn and the usual background stuff.

But the cheapest I've found a 1GB stick is £163.33 and for 512MB is £54.04. (it's more than double!! how terrible)

So, if I was being cheap and cheerful, would 1GB of RAM (in total) be enough to run my apps on a busy day without any slowing down? Or do I really have to push the boat out and get an extra 1GB?

04-12-2005, 01:37 PM

first of all, your computer will come with two sticks of 256mb making the 512. so in order for you get 1 gb you'll have to get the 1 gig stick. but if you want to get the 512 stick for a total of 768mb, that should be fine too. well actually, even with my 1.25 i still lag a little bit. you should definately get as much as you can afford. because you never know when you'll need it.

04-12-2005, 03:27 PM

just adding onto what epuff said, i hate to be cliche but its better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it. :miner:

04-12-2005, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by untoastytoast

just adding onto what epuff said, i hate to be cliche but its better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it. :miner:

I love that show (avatar) Moonites are hilarious

04-12-2005, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by deus_ex_machina

I love that show (avatar) Moonites are hilarious

**** straight, athf is awesome

04-12-2005, 04:17 PM

I got a 1GB stick of original apple samsung ram for £100 inc shipping on ebay. Keep your eyes out, and you will come accross a bargain!
Alex

04-12-2005, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by EYPUFF

first of all, your computer will come with two sticks of 256mb making the 512. so in order for you get 1 gb you'll have to get the 1 gig stick. but if you want to get the 512 stick for a total of 768mb, that should be fine too. well actually, even with my 1.25 i still lag a little bit. you should definately get as much as you can afford. because you never know when you'll need it.

Actually, in your 1.67 GHz PB, I believe your installed 512 MB RAM is using only one DIMM slot. Therefore, you can go to 1 GB or 1.5 GB by adding a 512 MB SO-DIMM or 1 GB SO-DIMM respectively. I have the same PB and I found the fact that Apple increased the base level RAM to 512 MB with a single memory stick to be a great improvement over the previous PB offerings.

As for the original question, the big CPU and RAM hog among your stated applications is Final Cut Express. If you run it by itself, then 1 GB RAM is probably enough. Adding other graphic conversion app's - while running Final Cut Express - might be a problem. I am assuming that Roxio will be used for disk buriing AFTER you've completed your Final Cut projects.

More RAM is better if cost is no object.

04-12-2005, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by roadracr

Actually, in your 1.67 GHz PB, I believe your installed 512 MB RAM is using only one DIMM slot. Therefore, you can go to 1 GB or 1.5 GB by adding a 512 MB SO-DIMM or 1 GB SO-DIMM respectively. I have the same PB and I found the fact that Apple increased the base level RAM to 512 MB with a single memory stick to be a great improvement over the previous PB offerings.

As for the original question, the big CPU and RAM hog among your stated applications is Final Cut Express. If you run it by itself, then 1 GB RAM is probably enough. Adding other graphic conversion app's - while running Final Cut Express - might be a problem. I am assuming that Roxio will be used for disk buriing AFTER you've completed your Final Cut projects.

More RAM is better if cost is no object.

You are correct, the 12" pb ship with a 256 mb stick soldered to the motherboard, and a 256 stick in the one so-dimm slot, the 15" and 17" come with a 512 mb stick soldered to the motherboard and the so-dimm slot free.

04-12-2005, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by untoastytoast

You are correct, the 12" pb ship with a 256 mb stick soldered to the motherboard, and a 256 stick in the one so-dimm slot, the 15" and 17" come with a 512 mb stick soldered to the motherboard and the so-dimm slot free.

*******s.. why couldn't they do that for mine? oh wells, now i have to buy a g5 to wash away my sorrows.

04-13-2005, 10:26 AM

I just checked and I have one more slot free, maybe i can sell more stuff on ebay!

04-13-2005, 11:06 AM

the 15 and 17 powerbooks don't have any ram soldered to the motherboard, I have a 17 1.33 and it had a 512 chip in slot a and I bought a 512 for slot b. I can take them both out and get 2 1gigs if i like.

just to clear that up...

04-14-2005, 06:54 PM

If you're curious about whether or not you can benefit from more RAM, simply open the Activity Monitor and under "Page ins/outs:" you'll see two sets of numbers seperated by a slash. The last set of numbers represents your page outs, that is, the amount of pages your Mac is writing to the hard drive, due to not having enough RAM. If that number is in the thousands, you're okay. If it's in the tens of thousands, you need more RAM.

Note: This trick only works after your system has been running for a week or so (it resets with each boot), and has had time to track your average usage.

04-14-2005, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by untoastytoast

You are correct, the 12" pb ship with a 256 mb stick soldered to the motherboard, and a 256 stick in the one so-dimm slot, the 15" and 17" come with a 512 mb stick soldered to the motherboard and the so-dimm slot free.

That is not correct. The 15 and 17 inch models have NO memory soldered to the motherboard whatsoever. They have two memory slots, both of which are full from the factory (unless you specified otherwise), the exception being the absolute latest Powerbooks, which only had one slot filled (with a single 512 stick).

04-14-2005, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Osiris22x

If you're curious about whether or not you can benefit from more RAM, simply open the Activity Monitor and under "Page ins/outs:" you'll see two sets of numbers seperated by a slash. The last set of numbers represents your page outs, that is, the amount of pages your Mac is writing to the hard drive, due to not having enough RAM. If that number is in the thousands, you're okay. If it's in the tens of thousands, you need more RAM.

Note: This trick only works after your system has been running for a week or so (it resets with each boot), and has had time to track your average usage.

How does the ratio work with pages in? My pages out is in the hundred thousands here...but there's a 1GB of RAM!

04-17-2005, 12:47 AM

yea, I know my 17" had one 512 Mb stick, not two smaller ones.

One thing, if you install the ram yourself, you'll need an incredibly small screw driver. If you look at the screws at the bottom of your case, it is the same size to open the Ram shield. I had to take a sunglass screwdriver and take a fingernail file to file it down to abt. 1/3 the original size. Once you get the screwdriver, it's really easy to install the ram.

I do extensive media work on my 17" PB, and I do fine w/ a total of 1 GB Ram. I really feel like I've yet to max out what my PB can handle.