Do I need to add RAM?

[neilf]

Hi all,
I know this topic has come up a lot in the past and I have done a lot of searching for answers.
I think I understand the different types of memory utilisation (active, wired etc.) but I still have 3 questions:
1. How much "page outs" would indicate more RAM required?
2. What is a good working ratio between page ins/page outs?
3. How much "inactive memory" would indicate more RAM required?

In a past thread someone suggested it would be a good idea for a mod to develop a sticky for this whole RAM/memory subject. I second that. And if I knew more about it I would write it.

I have attached my memory usage for a 2.8 iMac.

Thanks for any help.

N.

 

[Soulwar]

The short answer for now would be, "Yes, you need more ram".

The max for your iMac is 4GB, so I would definitely upgrade. You should also install in matched pairs. (2x2GB)
Do you have the new 2.8 GHz ('08) or the late '07?

Understanding ram usage.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106386

 

[Zoolook]

If that is the maximum extent of load you place on your machine, you don't need more RAM.

Your machine should never have more than a few MB of 'Free RAM' except when you first start it up, because OS X caches almost everything it can. The key figure to keep an eye on is the Inactive RAM. If this goes very low, then your machine will start paging.

Your memory use indicates you have a 1.0gb Swap file, but 384MB of inactive memory, which suggests to me that since boot up, you have done something very memory intensive and then perhaps closed that application.

More memory gives you more headroom, but unless you're seeing performance issues when you're running apps, as opposed to opening everything and checking memory usage, then you could save your money. I agree with what Soulwar is saying to an extent, which is that you can always have more memory... It's just not necessarily going to make a difference to your day to day use.

 

[neilf]

Thanks for the replies Soulwar and Zoolook,

I half expected a split opinion, that's my predicament. As a fairly recent switcher from MS, I would have maxed out the memory on a Windows machine but wasn't quite sure if the same principle applied to the Mac.

I was really interested in the ratio of page ins and outs and as to whether this machine is operating efficiently.

I don't seem to notice too much lag when actually running programs but starting them seems to have a delay. Perhaps I just want everything to be immediate!!!

I am running XP in Fusion from Bootcamp because there aren't equivalent Mac programs.

My iMac is the 07.

Perhaps I should just get the memory but I feel a little guilty buying more stuff for my toys.

N

 

[Zoolook]

If you're running a virtual machine, then RAM becomes more precious. Additionally, OS X actually makes better use of 4 GB of RAM than either WinXP or Vista 32-bit, both of which can only really see and use about 3.2GB of RAM. WinXP is very poor at pre-caching applications.

So if you're the kind of person who usually likes your machine fully loaded, OS X will certainly take advantage of this at least as well, if not better, than a Windows machine. Having said that, Leopard can run well on a lower spec machine than Vista can.