Macbook pro mode 2.5ghz model identifier4,1 max ram querry

Question

Hello All
I recently upgraded my ram from the basic 2 g by adding a 4 gig chip plus one of the original 1 gig ( i was talked out of a matched 4 gig set by a regular and trusted dealer).  I have read it was possible with a number of MBPRo models to do as much and made a snap decsion to do as much.
I am having doubts that this configuration is efficient given my needs.  My main reasons for suspecting that is not are; currently i am running just numbers and  firefox and this machine is sluggish - sometimes when typing in the browser my lines of text are 5 or six words behind and i need to wait for them to catch up to make certain i have nt any mistakes etc;  Numbers'08 is sooo sluggish today its painful - I cant get a small document with 2 charts to respond   quickly;  Lastly,I use this machine for audio and I upgraded my cubase version to 6 which is considerably more cpu intensive than version 4  but it is really slow on this machine (as part of the upgrade i  installed NI Komplete 8 ( it required 10.6 and cubase 4 was not supported on 10.6 so everthing was upgraded)  I fully expected a cpu hit on this machine with those software changes but I was  surprized by  how much of a cpu hit,  At first i just chalked it up to the reality f the software changes but i am wondering if this configuration isn't efficient and i should consider the 4 gig set or the 4 gig and 2 gig pair OWC recommends.
I have found this link with an interesting explanation of how ram works during my search for answers to my problem.
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/forums/viewthread/82056/
  Anyone out there provide any more information for my specific system or confirm what whas posted  here and whether the software i am using (or all software on a mac) needs to  "bank"  data the way GreatGazoo198 has pointed out.
Just to be clear when i installed the single 4 gig chip i did not have any adverse behaviour which i have had on previous machines with a bad stick ie kernal panics,  unusuall crashes and/ or software just acting "wiggy" 
10.6.8/ 7200 rpm int
Hardware Overview:
  Model Name:    MacBook Pro
  Model Identifier:    MacBookPro4,1
  Processor Name:    Intel Core 2 Duo
  Processor Speed:    2.5 GHz
  Number Of Processors:    1
  Total Number Of Cores:    2
  L2 Cache:    6 MB
  Memory:    5 GB
  Bus Speed:    800 MHz
  Boot ROM Version:    MBP41.00C1.B03
  SMC Version (system):    1.27f3
  Serial Number (system):    *********
  Hardware UUID:    A7A56F92-EF8F-5844-859D-729FEE9E90BC
  Sudden Motion Sensor:
  State:    Enabled
i have done a few searches here and was surprized not to find any other users asking ( hopefully my searches terms were on target)
TIA
Message was edited by: phidelity1

Answer 1

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