RAM or SSD ?

Hi, I need to upgrade my old (6yrs) PC. I am looking at a core i7 920 processor with either 6GB RAM and a SSD for a photoshop scratch drive, or the same processor with 12GB RAM and a WD Velociraptor for a scratch drive. Does anyone have any exprience with anything similar? I will be running widows 7 professional (64 bit) and Photoshop CS3 (upgrading next year to CS5).
Thanks
J

Whatever you do - go 12GB RAM. Having fast scratch drives does not negate the need for sufficient system RAM, even more so on 64bit operating systems. That said, SSDs are good for anything that only involves reading files, but often quite slow when writing things. Ergo, for scratch disks, they are usually not suitable unless you get the really good and expensive ones. This situation is analogous to e.g. memory cards for digital cameras - you can get some for a few bucks, but they will be slow and only allow you to do one pic at a time where more expensive ones may actually be fast enough to do serial shots because they can write more data.
Mylenium

Similar Messages

Performance with 2GB RAM and SSD

I own a late 2010 MBA, 13" baseline model with 2GB RAM, w/SSD. I am using Snow Leopard, and it runs perfectly. I would like to upgrade to ML to sync with ipad, but a concerned with performance. I use my MBA for word processing, emails, and internet surfing, including occasional movie downloads. I cannot upgrade the RAM on this model. I would therefore very much appreciate if someone who has run the latest versio of ML on this model can inform me of its performance w/2GB RAM and an SSD drive. (I know it can run; I want to know how it runs). Thanks very much!

Just went through the same situation with my 2006 iMac. Technically my memory tops out at 3gigs, but I can get 4 in there if I insist (though the machine won't take full advantage).
After a considerable amount of research, and hearing some horror stories of some folks who dove straight into Lion on older machines, I opted on upgrading memory to 3gig, backing up all my data, then running a clean install of Snow Leopard. I then reinstalled all my stuff, followed with a run of Monolingual (a shareware program that removes unnecessary languages and builds), then ran OnyX (another shareware) to run scripts and check/repair permissions.
Works fantastic. Machine is operating perfectly on 10.6.8 and with the memory upgrade and clean drive its running faster than ever. Definite new breath of life in the machine.
As per memory upgrade, I'd recommend going to Crucial. They're very Mac friendly, customer oriented, and reasonably priced. They have a small program you can download that scans your machine to determine the correct chip required, then brings you stright to an info and ordering page. I managed to get a 2gig chip with shipping for about $25. With the Snow Leopard upgrade total cost was under $60 for resuscitation.

Upgrading RAM and SSD on MacBook Pro 15" mid 2009

Hey,
I want to upgrade RAM and SSD on my macbook pro, identifier 5,3, and I want to make sure the parts I picked will be compatible with my Macbook.
I'm specifically not sure about its support of 512GB.
I thought about RAM:
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-8500-SODIMM-204-Pin-CT2K4G3S1067M/dp/B008LTBJF M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420487078&sr=8-1&keywords=DDR3+PC3-8500
SSD:
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX100-adapter-Internal-CT512MX100SSD1/dp/B00KFAGCU M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420486598&sr=8-1&keywords=CT512MX100SSD1
Thanks!

" I have also created a back up on Time Machine (I think I did)."
Check this out:
http://macintoshhowto.com/repair/back-up-computer.html
Once you think you've done it correctly restart and hold down the option key or go to "System Preferences" under the Apple and look at "Startup Disk".
That will tell which Disks are bootable.
Now about that Crucial drive:
http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Crucial-SSDs/512GB-M4-and-2009-Macbook-Pro/td-p/7805 6
It's not clear to me that this issue was resolved. The last post goes nowhere!
I always use OWC:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC
Just did two including this MacBook Pro early 2011 13" and a 2012 Mini. Total no-brainer! The way I like it.

Windows 8 (all versions) stop several times, bootcamp 4.0 macbook air core i 5 4GB Ram, 128 SSD

Hello People.
1- Macbook Air Core i 5 4GB Ram 128 SSD. mountain lion 10.8.2 (latest updates).
2- Windows 8 core or windows 8 professional or windows 8 enterprise.
mixed with:
Boot camp 4.0 in a 35GB partition.
Results:
after complete installing the windows 8 it stops working if I install windows support drivers then stops working again.
Then I must restart required by pressing the power button for 10 seconds.
installing on a battery, not charging is OK and works good drivers updated, but when you plug in the charger for charging the MAcbook Air Battery , it stops working again.
I Confused. May be a driver of

I see that you are saying all versions of Windows 8 are failing on your system, but are you including 32-bit and 64-bit flavors? I understand why 32-bit versions might give you grief (too much RAM for a 32-bit system to handle). A 64-bit system might still have device driver issues. Microsoft does not auto-magically have all the device drivers in the world that are necessary to make any system usable. The original device manufacturers must provide Microsoft with drivers before the Windows Update servers would be able to communicate said drivers to the computers in question.
In regards to Apple devices, Apple has not yet released the device drivers needed to run the hardware with Windows 8. Apple has released the drivers for previous versions of Windows (XP SP2 and higher, Vista RTM and higher, 7 RTM and higher) to their userbase, but not to Microsoft for distribution through Windows Update (unless I am mistaken). Until Apple releases a version of Boot Camp updated for use with Windows 8, they have not yet released any form of the full collection of necessary device drivers for normal device function with Windows 8. Running compatibility mode on the Windows 7 device driver bundle via boot camp is not a fully palatable solution because compatibility mode generally is meant for application programs, not device driver services. Therefore, partial compatibility might be gained by using the Windows 7 device drivers for Windows 8 with the compatibility mode enabled prior to install. Unfortunately, much unanticipated incompatibility is equally likely with such a decision.
Some parting words on the subject may be necessary for clarification: prior to the RTM versions of Windows 8, the trial versions of Windows 8 were distributed with a much wider array of device drivers than the RTMs. This was for Microsoft's testing purposes. Furthermore, some of the architecture used during the trial period likely used Windows 7 engines more than Windows 8 engines. This means the Windows 7 drivers pack would have had more likelihood of working during the Beta and Release Candidate periods than during the final Golden Master period we have now entered. Regardless, it is not recommended by Apple (our hardware manufacturer) to use another method of installing Windows on a Mac than to utilize Boot Camp.
As Mende1 suggested, you would be wise to reinstall a previous version of Windows you may have been running. Also, given your previous post, you will want to repair your OS X installation back to full functionality prior to the Windows reinstall. For a reasonable timeline estimate, consider that it took 89 days from the original release of Windows 7 by Microsoft until Apple originally released device drivers via an updated Boot Camp. That puts a reasonable ETA for the necessary Boot Camp update at January 22nd/23rd. Even though this does not seem to apply to your situation, the discounted download for the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade will end after January 31st.
Cheers!

DVD Rom, RAM, and SSD question(s)

I purchased a nice T400 (6475-B14) on Ebay and I have upgraded a number of items on it to get it to where I want it.
I upgraded the OS to W7 Pro, put in a Lenovo 4GB RAM stick (now I have a 4GB and a 2GB), and I swapped out the HDD for an Intel X-25 G2 80GB SSD.
90% of the time the machine is great, however I have run into a few problems and I'm really hoping that someone here can help me.
The first issue, is the fact that every once in a while the machine can't start. I end up having to restore the machine using R&R. I don't know what could be the issue. I've replaced the OS and HDD so I'm not sure what to do next. I am by no means a computer expert, but could the mis-matched RAM (1X4GB with 1X2GB) be causing the problem? I don't mind getting another 4GB stick, but if it won't do anything to fix the issue I don't want to waste the money.
Number two, I'm trying to burn an image recovery disk, but according to the Nero Tool I can't write with my drive (HL-DT-St DVD-ROM DU10N). Do I need additional software? I find it hard to believe that Lenovo would include a drive that only reads and is not capable of writing on DVD or CD, but based on the searches I've done on this forum and others, I can't find any other answer.
Lastly, the SSD seems to be working great (I've only had to restore the system once since installing it, see issue number one), but I see in the Lenovo download site there is an ISO file for SSD's. However since I can't burn a DVD, I can't burn the ISO file. So my question(s) is/are do I really need the software? Can I use my Apple Mac Pro at home to burn the ISO file and then use that disk to install the software?
Sorry for the long, rambling questions, but I have tried to search a number of forums and the internet in general and I haven't been able find the answers.
Thanks!
GBA

hello mate,
For your first issue the RAM can be the problem. U can mix different size of RAM but make sure to use DDR3 PC3-8500 or DDR3 PC3-10600 memory. And also the T400 does not support ECC be careful to don't mix ECC and non ECC memory.
For your second question your HL-DT-St DVD-ROM DU10N is just a DVD ROM reader and it's not capable to write any CD or DVD.
I don't know about the software for your SSD but if it's an ISO file for windows you can burn it with a mac it won't make a difference. All discs burned on the Mac work across platforms.
Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.
ThinkPad T510 4313-CTO Windows 8 x64 - Intel Core i7-620M - NVIDIA NVS 3100M - 8GB RAM - 240GB SSD- Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 - Gobi 2000.
ThinkPad Helix 3697-CTO Windows 8.1 x64 - Intel Core i7-3667U - Intel HD Graphics 4000 - 8GB RAM- 256GB SSD - Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 - Ericsson C5621gw

I am looking to make the switch from pc to mac and have been eyeing the MBP 13". I would like to know whether it is fine to add RAM and SSD myself? any compatibility or warranty problems? what brand/type of RAM and SSD is the best fit? thank you.

i am looking to make the switch from pc to mac and have been eyeing the MBP 13". I would like to know whether it is fine to add RAM and SSD myself? any compatibility or warranty problems? what brand/type of RAM and SSD is the best fit? thank you.

Chamar wrote:
I'm possibly wrong here but I suspect opening a brand new MBP to add parts yourself will void the warranty. It is probably in the small print. I certainly would not risk it for an expensive Apple product.
Some (Windows) laptops have easy access to memory and disk slots that do not necessitate taking the complete back cover off. However, Apple does not make life easy for you.
However, if you are going for a 'used' machine it is probably worth a try.
Not possibly, definitely wrong, Ram and Hard Drive are considered user replaceable and will not void the warranty if changed.

Export Results-Not Enough Memory (1). I need HELP with this please. Using Windows 7 32-bit. Intel i5 4690K CPU 16GB RAM 120 SSD and 1 TB harddrive.

Everytime I go to export a photo, I get an error.
"Export Results: Not enough memory (1)
Using Windows 7 32-bit. Intel i5 4690K CPU 16GB RAM 120 SSD and 1 TB harddrive.

Even though you have 16gb of ram installed, 32 bit Windows can only use 4gb of it so 12gb is wasted. This is the reason you are getting not enough memory errors and is a known problem with Lightroom an 32 bit Windows during export. You need to change to 64 bit Windows.

What year is Apple Macbook Pro 15" 2.4Ghz Core2Duo, 4GB RAM, 120GB SSD?

what year was Apple Macbook Pro 15" 2.4Ghz Core2Duo, 4GB RAM, 120GB SSD built?

Enter the serial number of the MBP in the appropriate field in this web site:
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
You can find the serial number on the bottom of the MBP.
Ciao.

U400 - adding ram and SSD

Is it possible to add ram and SSD to the U400 by user or if it can only be done by service? I would really want to have 8Gb of ram and the SSD but there is no available model with such config at the moment.

My user-upgrade experience is not good. Most of this is user (my) error, there is nothing wrong with the way the machine was supplied from Lenovo.
I found a YouTube video about cracking the case open and that is what I did, cracked the mount fittings in the front of the case. I got it back together but the front edge is not as secure as it should be.
If you decide to open the case, make sure you SLIDE, don't pry or lift the bottom off after removing the 2 feet screws at the back.
Second bummer is the hard drive is right next to the USB3 port. Everything fits fine w/ the supplied hard drive because the case is slightly recessed on a normal (spinning) disk. On the SSDs I've purchased, the case is the full rectangular size and doesn't fit in opening. I had to hack into the surround of the SSD to make it fit.
Needless to say, I hope I don't need warranty support on the machine or drive.

T400 rams and ssd compatibility

Hi all
I am planing to upgrade the ram and hdd for my laptop lenovo t400 .
Could u pls help me to know what is the ram and ssd that compatible with lenovo t400 ??
Note : i tried to upgrade the ram for lenovo t400 with bus 1333 pc-10600 but that not work .
Kindly advice .
Regards
Solved!
Go to Solution.

RAM = 1066 mhz 204 pin SODIMM DDR3 (although faster ram is also possible, so 1333 mhz and 1666 mhz DDR3 is also okay). But don't use Corsair ram to avoid incompatibility issues.
SSD = SATAII (Although SATAIII is also backward compatible), 2.5 inch, 9.5/7 mm thick drives.
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

Upgrading RAM and SSD on hp pavilion g6 2005ax

Hey guys,
I have hp pavilion 2005 ax laptop i want to upgrade ram and SSD i have one slot unused i want to know which ram should i go with.
Corsair DDR3 8 GB
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 4 GB
or if there is any other ram please provide me detail.
Also this is my cpu-z report
will this both ram will work at 1600mhz and compatible with my board ?
Should i add one ram to existing or replace it with two ?
what is max size i can upgrade for RAM ?
Will this SSD would be compatible?
Samsunng evo 840
Crucial MX100
i am guessing both will be compatible with my laptop but the main problem is ram and it's frequency i can't seems to find a way.
Please help.

Hi,
Your machine currently has 4Gb of RAM:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c03325481
It supports 8Gb max. CPU-Z (SPD tab) should show you RAM information including brand. You can work out what do you need using that information. My suggestion: use information on the SPD tab INCLUDING brand.
Regards.
BH
**Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

Macbook pro 13 retina 4 ram 128 SSD or 8 ram 256 SSD

Hello,
I would like to ask, what config would suit my needs the most. I have read all these forum questions, but I am still undecided.
Here are things that I WILL DO:
- Safari opened (max 20 tabs), music (iTunes), mail, skype = these tasks at the same time
- Full HD video playback (youtube, etc...) = only this task with skype running
- Pages or word = only this task with skype running
- 27 Full HD monitor connected via HDMI
Things I WON'T DO:
- playing games
- photo, video editing
- I wont be instaling new versions of OS X (will be on mavericks forever)
- no storing of heavy filles (only some documents, iTunes library which has about 15GB and that is all)
That's it. I would like to ask if the retina 13 base line models can provide me smooth experience with no lags, slow downs, page reloads, etc.. Or if I shloud consider the middle range model (8 ram, 256 SSD). I don't want Macbook air.
Thank you in advance and have a nice day. (sry for english )

Miselik,
Great clarity on describing your needs.
I use a 4 GB MBA on Mavericks with no issues. However 8 GB will future-proof the machine as applications get larger. So the 4/8 GB decision is not a heavy one. Either will work.
A bigger decisions is can you live with 128 GB of mass storage or would you prefer 256? From your description you indicate you will not need a lot of storage so 128 GB should do. If you run out of SSD space you can always offload some files on an external disk.
For only $200 more I personally would go for the larger model but your description indicates the smaller model will work for your needs.

Should I keep my MacBook Pro or exchange it for more Ram and SSD space?

Hello,
I decided to purchase a MacBook Pro 15 inch with Retina display. I thought I would just bite the bullet and get it with the upgraded 16gb Ram and 512 SSD as I want this computer to last me at least 5 years. I don't know exactly what I will be using it for but potentially I will be running a small business with it as well as using it for photos, some videos and all the other things we all use everyday. This brought the total price tag up to about $2900 before tax. Way more than I wanted to spend, but again, I plan on this being my last computer purchase for at least 5 years...and this would be my only computer...not a secondary one but the primary one.
As I was asking the guy in Best Buy about any sales or discounts, he mentioned a MacBook Pro with retina display that was just retuned to the store by a lady that decided to go with a MacBook Air instead. It had been opened but not used and was in perfect condition. The sales manager said he could sell that one to me for $470 off the normal price. The problem was, it was the base model and only had 8gb Ram and 256gb SSD storage. So, I had the option of buying the computer I wanted...that I know would last me for years and years, for $2,900 OR buy the base model for $1,729. What would you do?
I decided to buy the base model as it was just to good a deal to pass up. Now, 2 days later, I don't know if I made the right decision. I know that 256gb of memory is not going to last me very long...especially considering how much more space modern software takes up nowadays...and its only getting worse. My solution is to just buy an external hard drive and store everything I don't immediately need on it. But I don't know if I'm being realistic as maybe it will be a major pain to constantly have to carry around an extra storage device. Then again, even if I had the 512 SSD model MacBook, I would still eventually run out of space and need an external drive. Has anyone else relied on an external device for their daily computing needs? Is it a major nuisance or easy to get by with?
My bigger concern is that it only has 8gb of Ram and can NOT be upgraded in the future. 8gb ram is fine right now, especially with the flash drive and i7 quad core processor, but in a couple years, I'm afraid it won't be enough and that ill be forced to purchase another computer. The sales manager said that because its a Mac and because of the "monster processor" that the 8gb of Ram will be more than enough for years to come. According to him, Macs require less Ram than PC's due to their operating system being much more efficient. (This is my first Mac so I'm a bit unfamiliar)
So this is my dellima, should I return the base model and buy the one I originally wanted or should I make do with the base model and be thankful for the great deal I was able to get?
Will the 8gb of Ram be enough in a few years? I realize that depends on what I'm using the computer for but, since I'm not sure what my needs will be in the next year, lets assume I'll be using it to run a small business as well as the typical storage of pictures and home videos, etc.
Bottom line, will the 8gb of ram be enough to prevent the need to buy another computer for another 5 years or so or do I need to suck it up, return the base model, pay the extra $1,100 and get the 16gb of ram I originally wanted?
Sorry for the long story, I just need some solid advice as money is tight and I want to make the right decision. I'd rather pay $1,100 extra now and not need to buy a new computer for 5-6 years than save the money now but have to buy a whole new computer in 1-2 years. If however, the 8gb ram will still make for a solid computer in a few years, I will gladly save the money.
Thanks in advance for your help. ;-)

Generally (and in my opinion):
1) do not buy any computer you cannot replace the hard drive and the RAM in.
2) do NOT (EVER, EVER, EVER) purchase RAM or expended hard drive from any vendor (like Apple, Dell, etc). they mark up the RAM
purchase the lowest machine that will work for you and upgrade the RAM and hard drive down the road. Just look at the price Apple charges for the upgrade from 4GB to 8 GB:
Apple is charging the (4GB RAM + $100) for the 8GB upgrade. You can easily get 8GB for $100. later you should be able to get 8GB for $60.
Same thing for the hard drives:
Applis charging the price of (500GB + $100) for the 750GB drive. I just bought a 750GB notebook drive for $99
I, personally, would return the retina notebook for a MacBookPro that you can upgrade the hd and ram

What RAM and SSDs will go in a Mac Mini? ...

Getting ready to snag a new Mac Mini after the announcement tomorrow.
Assuming the new ones accept the same RAM and HDs and the existing ones ...
What kinds/sizes of RAM go in the Mini?
What kind of SSD specs will fit in the Mini?
Thanks very much in advance,
Chris

christopherfromlima wrote:
Getting ready to snag a new Mac Mini after the announcement tomorrow.
That is just what is in the rumor mill. Would really
be suprised to see the Mini updated before the iMacs.
Not the usual path. But perhaps an iMac refresh will
be announced as well. Need to wait and see what
really is going to happen.
If a refresh is announced, it could be a while before
it is available.
As a note, the recently updated Macbook Pros use
DDR3 1600 RAM where the previous versions and
the current Minis use DDR3 1333. So, one would
suspect that a new Mini or iMac would be using the
faster RAM.

RAM or SSD upgrade?

I recently bought a nikon D800E and i'm having problems saving after editing. Also finding some tools are slower. My Alienskin plugin is freezing and even shutting down. I have a 2010 iMac 27". Is RAM my problem or should I upgrade SSD? I have 8GB RAM atm, thinking about getting 32GB. Any help is appreciated.

I'll go along with JJ. The D800 is the one with the huge sensor megapixel size - is that right? OK, I just looked and it is even bigger than I thought at 36Mp. How does it work now? Can you check RAM usage with OSX like with the Windows Task Manager? I have 32Gb with Win7, and never ever see Photoshop use all it's allocated memory, but with those big big image files...
SSD? Hmmm... I am not so sure nowadays. I have paired SSDs in a raid0 in both my desktop and laptop. The desktop has Samsung 256Gb Pro and tests at just shy of 1Gb/s, and the laptop a wee bit slower at 850Mb/s. The laptop is greased lightning in all respects. It starts and shuts down in no time flat, and opens Photoshop in about four seconds. The desktop tests as being faster, but because the system as a whole is more complex with so much going on, and has lots of other drives, in a lot of respects it is much slower than the laptop.

10.6, quicktime, and itunes on a macbook pro 2.53 w/ 4gb ram and ssd

Hi,
I am experiencing something extremely weird, and extremely frustrating...
What I am experiencing is that after I've been using my system for a while, I will launch quicktime, and I will get the spinning ball forever.. If I launch iTunes it will just bounce on my dock forever and not launch.
Then I have to reboot, which is sometimes impossible to do, so I will have to manually tell my system to shutdown via the terminal.
When my mac reboots, everything is fine.. Quicktime launches, iTunes launches, happy world...
... So I thought it was perhaps something that I was doing (applications that I was running, websites I was visiting etc.), but now I have evidence that it's not. Which is even more confusing. Last night, a friend wanted me to pull up something on quicktime-- I got the spinning ball.. Said "ugh, I don't understand what is up with my system". Clicked restart.. It wouldn't restart.. lauched terminal.. sudo shutdown -h now... Ok.. it's off.. turn it on.. Launch quicktime.. hooray.. there's the video..
Ok-- That was the extent of me using my computer. I left it on after that for many hours.. and eventually closed the laptop.
In the morning, opened it up.. Clicked quicktime, and.. SPINNING BALL. Had to reboot.
so, the only thing I can think is that something is occurring inactivity, or sleep, something that is causing QT and iTunes to mess up... I tried doing various tests, but could not come up with anything. I tried just running my screensaver for a while, but quicktime still comes up no problem.
Very frustrating.. I want to know if anyone else is experiencing this, and if there are any suggestions for what I should do. I have zapped p-ram, I have repaired permissions...
-patrick

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
1. That's a risk, and more in a MacBook Pro, that has got everything soldered except the hard drive and memory.
2. If you want performance, buy a SSD. It will get the best performance but they are expensive, so you should consider the option to buy a SSD with a small capacity to store OS X and applications and an external disk for other data.
3. SSDs are much better than hard disk drives because they haven't got mechanical parts. You will notice this difference in read and write tasks like a startup, that will be much faster. However, in other tasks, it doesn't mind if you have a HDD or a SSD, because performance depends on the processor and graphic card. Also, you will notice a difference with a 7200 rpm hard disk.
4. You can take it to an Apple Store or reseller to see what they can do in order to repair your computer

RAM or SSD ?

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