RAM-Is the 3gb worth it?

[otjatt]

Hi,

I have the 15" MPB C2D 2.16 Ghz and currently have 1gb ram. I use software like Aperture, iMovie alot. I noticed that my computer can start to get a little slow when I have all those open along with Firefox and/or Adium. I wanted to upgrade my RAM to either 2gb or 3gb. Just wondering if anyone has experience using 3gb and if you could provide some insight as to how well it worked...do you think that maybe 3gb is a little excessive? Or is 2gb fine?

I am on a budget, but I dont mind spending the extra 60 or 70 bucks to buy the single 2gb module from OWC if it is going to be that much better performance wise.

Also, I heard that using Matched ram is always better....does that mean that using 2 x 1gb (matched) sticks can actually perform similarly to that of having a 1x 1GB and 1 x 2GB sticks (3gb total)?

Cheers

 

[sLux]

I used Aperture before and found it to slow down, now i use Lightroom and its much faster I think 2 GB is fine!

 

[kaidomac]

2gb is fine, but if you can afford 3gb I'd say go for it. That way in the future when you feel like upgrading from 2gb to 3gb you won't take another loss by taking out a gig stick and replacing it with a 2 gig stick. Especially if you use apps like Aperture, the more ram the better! I've got 4 gigs in my Santa Rosa MBP and Aperture still eats ram

 

[mphubbar]

I run 3gigs in my MBP and love having it. I wish I had more some days. I run photoshop cs3 and final cut express as well as parallels and safari. I am not aware of the "matching" problem you were talking about I think you'll be fine and I think you will be happier later on if you go with the 3 gigs...it just depends on how much of that spinning rainbow circle you can endure I have plenty of friends with 1 and 2 gigs who are perfectly happy...

 

[Kash]

Since you're using memory intensive programs, you should definitely see a marked improvement with 3GB of RAM. Any benefits of dual channel are offset by the availability of that extra gig of RAM for your programs. So don't worry about losing any performance by not having matched pairs of sticks.

 

[mo_albaker]

i recently upgraded my ram from 2GB to 3GB on my MBP "2.33GHZ" C2D.
I've felt the different and on photoshop, it works way faster than before.
About "Aperture" i've never used it... I assume that it will make a huge jump from 1GB to 3GB!
----
Mohammed

 

[nl74]

I recently upgraded and have posted a thread with comparison results if you are interested. You should still be able to find it on the first page.

 

[otjatt]

thanks everyone!
based on all this, I decided to upgrade to 2gb instead of going to the 3gb. I couldnt justify spending about $145 before taxes and shipping for the 2gb module. I was actually lucky when i bought my laptop a few months ago, i didnt realize....it actually already came with 1 x 1gb stick instead of the 2x 512mb.

I picked up the Corsair 1gb module from Ncix.com for $49.99 cdn with an extra $10 MIR....here is the link:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18811&vpn=VS1GSDS667D2&manufacture=CORSAIR

 

[otjatt]

oops...
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18811&vpn=VS1GSDS667D2&manufacture=CORSAIR

 

[Evermore]

Ok i already i have 2gb in my mpb but i am lookin into taking out the one of hte 1gb sticks and replacing it with a 2gb stick becuase i am starting to use parallels w/ windows more, and aperture, and final cut and things like that but does any one have a link to a good 2gb stick of ram that is cheap?

 

[otjatt]

the cheapest that i found was OWC and it was $135 US.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/5300DDR2S2GB/

 

[mo_albaker]

that's not true, they are not the cheapest....
go to yourmacstore.com they sell the Micron Ram "same as the factory one comes with your MBP, MB, imac and mac mini
the line is: http://www.yourmacstore.com/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=158&cat=Memory+for+MacBook+Pro

 

[Evermore]

is that the same one u can buy from apple? just alot cheaper so like both sticks will be the same except one is 1gb and one is 2gb so it will run better?

 

[mo_albaker]

it's the same as far as i know...... and that's true it's cheaper..
the guy "company" who sells the RAM is a member here too!
also, if you are in SoCal the shop is in Torrance, CA.
Good Luck.
----
Mohammed

 

[bobtomay]

If you are only looking for the cheapest - newegg as always has it. Look down the page - as low as $97.99

And more on this page.

Cheapest is not usually best and often not even best for the money.

Both the OWC and the yourmacstore parts are going to be more equivalent with the lowest priced parts at newegg.

If you are only going based on price, would recomend the Patriot over the other cheaper ones.
If not, would be looking at the Corsair, G-Skil or Mushkin. (For most it would not matter as long as it works.)
And whatever you go with - just make sure it has lifetime warranty.

 

[mo_albaker]

i meant by cheaper as price-wise "micron ram" sam as the one comes in apple macs.....
that's all.....
i didnt mean cheap quality.