what do I upgrade?
March 6, 2008 4:27 PM   Subscribe

Hello you beautiful Meta-Mac-Geniuses. Please tell me how much and what kind of memory my Macbook will hold. I am hovering at 16 free GB of HD space and 160 mb of memory and do not know what kind or how much to buy. Should I upgrade or just buy an external HD? details inside.

Model Name: MacBook aka 'Matilda'
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB21.00A5.B07
SMC Version: 1.13f3
Serial Number: xxxxxx
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
I don't know if you need to know more to know which model I have. I don't want to buy it from my local apple store because I know I can shop around and get it cheaper online.

I want to be able to store more movies/music and perhaps upgrade to Jaguar and install windows too. Or do I? Is there enough room on mine to do all that? I am trying to get an idea of what to expect price wise before I get in too deep. I am not very smart when it comes to all this hardware stuff and don't want to get taken. I have Istat Pro which allows me to monitor my usage and I am near to maxing out most everything. Do I just need to delete more music and files or do I have room for upgrades?
posted by meeshell to Computers & Internet (15 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
www.crucial.com. Plop your make/model in their memory finder and they'll dump you to the right information.
posted by rhizome at 4:31 PM on March 6, 2008 [1 favorite]


Best answer: What you have is an Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2Ghz Model. I assume this is the one that cost you $1300 when you bought it? So, you should know there are two types of memory computers use, RAM (for open applications, and to be able to run more things at once quickly) and hard-drive space which is semi-permenant storage (which is probably 120GB in your model).

In your computer, you have 2x512MB chips. If you want to upgrade, you can go up to 4GB, but 2GB would be a huge upgrade from what you have. You can purchase two 1GB chips from a vendor like Newegg for very cheap. Here's what you need...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231116

That won't allow you to store more music or video. If you are running out of space (you can find out by clicking on "Macintosh HD" and typing Cmnd+I), you can purchase an external hard-drive or upgrade your internal. Any SATA 2.5" hard drive will work.

In your current configuration, you will not have an issue upgrading to Leopard or installing Windows in Boot Camp (part of Leopard). Upgrading to 2GB of RAM is an excellent idea though, such a huge performance boost for $40.
posted by cgomez at 4:38 PM on March 6, 2008


Best answer: You need a larger hard drive, not memory (RAM), unless you are are finding the MacBook slow in operating - you seem to suggest you just want space, not that you are having performance issues. Don't worry that your "available" RAM is only at 160 mb at any given moment, unless you find the performance slow. RAM is cheap and easy to upgrade, however.

It sounds like you would benefit from a largish external hard-drive. You could use it to store movie and music you aren't using frequently, and reserve your internal drive for things you are actively using/working on.

I use a Maxtor, so I recommend them based on the ease-of-use and durability I've experienced.

Get a USB 2.0 capable model. In my experience, spending ~$150 on this is enough. I can recommend some specific models, if you tell me how you like to shop and any other caveats or preferences you have.

External drives are easy to use with Macs... you typically just attach them and they appear as a drive on the desktop within seconds... drag the icon to trash to stop using the drive.
posted by chudmonkey at 4:41 PM on March 6, 2008


I think you'll find you want to upgrade to Leopard, not Jaguar, but I'm just nitpicking

You you can buy an external drive for ridiculously cheap nowadays, I just bought a 320gb drive for ~$75 for my parents for christmas, but its even more cost efficent to put it together yourself.

If you wanted lots of storage, you could go this route:
a honking sata drive
and an
external enclosure
and never worry about storage again. Assembling is a breeze.

Well, I shouldn't say again, as I'm pushing 2 terrabytes now. HDV will do that to you, but it should be more than enough for your current needs.
posted by mhp at 4:46 PM on March 6, 2008


As other MeFites have described, RAM and hard drive space are different. RAM is the amount of stuff your computer can think about at the same time; hard drive space is its long term memory, where it stores ideas that it isn't thinking about right now.

I think you should upgrade both. Mac OS X needs 2GB to be happy, but once it's happy, it will [i]sing for you[/i]. An external hard drive is great if you're at home a lot, but a new internal hard drive is as portable as your laptop. I recommend the WD Passport series, which are basically MacBook-ready internal hard drives that are sold with a useless external exterior: crack it open and swap it into your MacBook.

The MacBook was designed for easy upgrading. (It's much easier than the Pro, which is really scary and requires you to take everything apart.) There's no need to bring it into a shop if you're brave enough to do it yourself or have a nerdy friend who owes you a favor.



Leopard is nice, but hardly necessary. Buy it if you have some leftover cash, but it won't make a big difference in your day-to-day Mac usage.
posted by svolix at 5:06 PM on March 6, 2008


Response by poster: Oh wow I was way off base. When I have too much music and video saved (I download a movie, then I shrink it with isquint so I can put it on my ipod, and occasionally convert to dvd then burn to disk) I might be doing that wrong too. ... anywho when I do that and my 16GB goes down less than 12 or 10 my programs start working very slowly. Windows open and minimize slowly, internet slows ect. So I delete a bunch of stuff and it gets faster. According to Whatsize I have 40.8 GB in music and 27.5GB in Movies the rest in in library/application privacte ect, According to Cmnd +I my capacity is 111.47 GB, Avail is 16.96GB, used 94.51 GB

This was a gift and I wasn't there when it was purchased, I tried to read the apple site but didn't understand what it meant. I am still not sure I want windows on it because I don't want to deal with antivirus stuff. I have been afraid to do the Leopard ~~ thank you mhp~~ because I was afraid it wouldn't have room.

So if I am understanding it correctly my actionplan should include buying at least 2 GB RAM and an external HD or the WD Passport? I won't even try to tinker on the hardware on this thing, I will wear some cleavage to work one day and con (kidding) one of the guys at work do the install for me. He works on the windows computers and keeps wanting to get his hands on my Mac anyways. I love my Mac and know that if I fill it to the brim it will start getting wonky on me.

mhp I'm not even going to pretend I comprehend what a pushing 2 terrabytes or HDV is.

Ya'll rock around here! I learn so much from this site.
posted by meeshell at 5:24 PM on March 6, 2008


I vote for moving to 2GB of RAM. You'll notice the speed boost, no doubt about it. And I wouldn't go through the expense of moving to 4GB of RAM.

Pick a reliable RAM vendor. I have purchased from NewerRAM in the past, and have been happy with the results.
posted by browse at 5:25 PM on March 6, 2008


Aw, shucks, you had me at meta-Mac-Genius. Get one of these and call it good... though an extra gig of RAM never hurt anyone.
posted by squirrel at 5:28 PM on March 6, 2008


Yes, get an external drive to store your video files one, and sure, upgrade the RAM.

HOWEVER, and I don't want to sound mean, but since you're unfamiliar enough with the machine that you don't know the difference between memory and RAM, I recommend against you installing it yourself. Get a friend who's done it before to do it for you, or take it to a shop - doesn't have to be an Apple store, and don't use a Best Buy big-box place. There will be an Apple-authorized repair place somewhere near you, probably - call and ask what they'd charge.
posted by rtha at 6:10 PM on March 6, 2008


I'm not even going to pretend I comprehend what a pushing 2 terrabytes or HDV is.

A terabyte is 1000 gigabytes- I was just saying I have almost 2000 gigs because I work with high definition video, which eats up the storage.

I was just saying that I shouldn't say 750 gigs is all you'd ever need, but plenty for your current use.
posted by mhp at 6:25 PM on March 6, 2008


Best answer: Adding some RAM will give you a noticeable increase in speed, especially when you are using several programs at once.
Right now you have 1 GB of RAM in the form of 2 modules of 512 MB each.
It is important to know that this model of Macbook will only recognize up to 3 GB of RAM.

So, if you really want to get the best Matilda can give you, you would need to buy a module of 1 GB and another of 2 GB. Buying 2x2 GB would be a waste.

If you feel you don't need that much right now (though you probably will need 3 GB eventually), even 2 GB will give you a nice boost. But instead of 2x1GB, I would recommend buying 1x2GB (assuming the price is similar). That way, you only throw away one of the two 512 you have in there now, and end up with 2GB+512MB, which is slightly better. And you can always buy 1GB later to replace the remaining 512.

Oh, and adding RAM in a Macbook is really easy, though I can understand how it could seem a little intimidating. Judge for yourself: How-To from Apple, and some guy on youtube.

---
Now for those who are wondering about the 3GB limit and whether it's best to have matching modules, here's some research I did when I was upgrading my macbook RAM last week:
- Benchmarks showing that matching modules really don't make much difference (except maybe for gaming)
- Understanding Intel Mac RAM
- Inside the MacBook Pro’s 3GB RAM limitation
- A Guide to MacBook RAM Upgrades
posted by OutlawedYeomen at 6:29 PM on March 6, 2008


Best answer: The reason that your computer is slowing down so much and taking up hard drive space has to do with something called paging, or disk swapping.

In a nutshell: your computer will run out of RAM when you're got too many things open. It has to remember all that stuff, but there just isn't enough space! So it takes a chunk of your hard drive space and pretends that it's more RAM by swapping memory in and out of it as needed. The problem is, hard drives are really, really slow compared to RAM.

Paging is a good thing because sometimes you need more memory than you actually have. But it's really slow, and if you're getting it a lot it's a good sign that you need more RAM. OS X loves RAM! It wants as much as you can get, and you and your computer will both be much happier when you upgrade. The difference will be obvious once you do.

Good luck!
posted by svolix at 6:42 PM on March 6, 2008


As others have outlined, you've got two things to spend your money on:
1) Short-term storage ("RAM") which lets your computer run all your applications responsively, and
2) Long-term storage (hard disk) which is where everything is stored when the machine is powered off, and as mentioned above, is used as a slow scratch-pad when the system runs out of short-term memory.

Resolving the first is very cheap and easy: I'd second (or whatever) Crucial.com - they've got a little Mac app that you can download which will scan your system and then link you back to the right memory type you need.

Alternatively, you select the relevant things in their memory advisor - "Apple", "Macbook", and then select the relevant 2Ghz Core 2 Duo 13" options (they all give the same result).

FWIW I've just got myself the same laptop, and have - yesterday - bought the RAM upgrade; £30 GBP is ridiculously cheap for 2GB of RAM - I remember paying £250+ for a 32MB SIMM on my Amiga all those years ago... doh!


For longer-term storage - i.e. keeping more documents, music, videos, etc. - then you need to buy yourself an external hard disk.
This will usually plug into a USB port on the laptop, and will show up as a new icon on your desktop where you can move or save stuff to.
Obviously, as it plugs into the laptop, you lose the ability to walk around. Not good.

If you want (and are able to!) spend more money, there's a decent solution...
(a) upgrade to Leopard (OS X 1.5)
(b) buy an Apple Time Capsule - this is a wireless device that has a hard disk inside it. You could either just use this to store your data on, or alternatively
(c) buy an external USB hard drive (I have several, Mefimail me if you need suggestions or ideas) and plug it into the Time Capsule.

If you go all the way to option (c) you'll have a new hard drive onto which you can save stuff, and you'll also have a backup hard drive that Time Machine (in the Leopoard OS) will automatically back everything up to, saving you having a nightmare and losing all your data should anything go wrong.
And all this will work wirelessly - whilst you're in range (i.e. in your home) - so there's almost nothing that you need to think about, apart from access to the files when you're out and about...

Hope that some of this helps!
posted by Chunder at 1:48 AM on March 7, 2008


Response by poster: The knowledge base of this group of people on Meta never ceases to amaze me its quite invaluable. rtha you don't sound mean, I am the first to admit I don't know alot about RAM and other computer things, I know about other things just not computer stuff. I used to have a spouse whose one good talent was with things technical so I would just let him handle these things. Now that he's chopped up and buried under the back porch for being an ass in all other ways its just me, so I guess I have to step up and learn a bit about it myself.

I think I will go with a 2GB RAM (I can always upgrade up to Three thank you OutlawYeoman) and will have to do some thinking on the route to take with the HD. I am home alot ( I don't travel with work, only for entertainment) so an external one wouldn't be bad but I like the idea of that passport one. You guys are helping me spend my tax refunds in the most wise ways!

Oh! I really want to bring you all home and make you pies, Would it be bad meta-form to mark all the answers as best answer as they all have great points.
posted by meeshell at 5:30 AM on March 7, 2008


I just followed the wired blog how-to on speeding up my mac. I downloaded Monolingual and it uninstalled all languages except english for a hard drive savings of 3.5 gigs!
posted by ijoyner at 5:46 AM on March 7, 2008


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