Adding RAM to a macbook...is 1.256 GB unmatched okay?

evilxsystems · Post by **evilxsystems** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:34 pm

So the ableton tech gurus say my problems (cpu spikes) are due to insufficient RAM. I don't have the cash to buy a full 2gb for my macbook all at once, I was thinking about getting one 1GB stick and adding it to one of the existing 256 sticks. I know this works, but has anyone used this configuration with Live?

-Thanks
jason

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:48 am

From my (limited) understanding, the problem with not having matching RAM will be that you computer can't operate in DDR mode. Therefore you'll be slowing down by half

However, it is possible that 1.25G running at half speed would be better than 512MB running at normal (double) speed...

can't say for sure, and I might be talking out my @$$

put the 2x256 on craigslist and eat rice for a week - then you can have your 2x 1G sticks!

napalmskatterjazz · Post by **napalmskatterjazz** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:39 pm

I didnt think those macs even supported ram sticks as low as 256.. I thought minimum would be 512. wierd that they max out at 2GB as well, the motherboard and Northbridge support 4GB...

So you have two 256 sticks, yeah sell em for what you can get and go get two 1GB sticks... get ready for rice for a week...

keithkemp · Post by **keithkemp** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:21 am

longjohns wrote:From my (limited) understanding, the problem with not having matching RAM will be that you computer can't operate in DDR mode. Therefore you'll be slowing down by half

However, it is possible that 1.25G running at half speed would be better than 512MB running at normal (double) speed...

can't say for sure, and I might be talking out my @$$

put the 2x256 on craigslist and eat rice for a week - then you can have your 2x 1G sticks!

Can you explain this more please?
set-up:
Live 6.05
Macbook CoreDuo2, 1.83ghz with 1.25g of ram..
Have had no problems with my system at all, but i would like to know if i am doing something wrong or harmful..

bensuthers · Post by **bensuthers** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:02 am

you don't have to match your ram in macintosh.

evilxsystems · Post by **evilxsystems** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:45 pm

bensuthers wrote:you don't have to match your ram in macintosh.

are you sure it doesn't matter which macbook version you have?