Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
Well, obviously, but do I really need more RAM?
When this screenshot was taken, Aperture was importing my iPhoto library, which isn't that big, and everything slowed down, a lot. As I understand it, Inactive memory is very much like Free memory, so why is so much VM being used?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Mid 2010 13" 2.66 4Gb 1TB
Hi r,
The general rule of thumb is that if page outs is more than 10% of page ins, more RAM would probably help. You are well over that 10% and have over 4GB swap used.
RAM is many times faster than the HD. When RAM gets "full" it has to save things to the HD until it can get to them. That's when it creates page outs and swap files. So then RAM not only cannot handle the tasks immediately, but it must write to the HD and then read back from the HD = slow. That's a very simplified version of how this works, as there are other variables, but that's the general idea.
Hi r,
The general rule of thumb is that if page outs is more than 10% of page ins, more RAM would probably help. You are well over that 10% and have over 4GB swap used.
RAM is many times faster than the HD. When RAM gets "full" it has to save things to the HD until it can get to them. That's when it creates page outs and swap files. So then RAM not only cannot handle the tasks immediately, but it must write to the HD and then read back from the HD = slow. That's a very simplified version of how this works, as there are other variables, but that's the general idea.
Thanks, I'd never come across that rule of thumb before. It looks like a new pair of 4Gb sticks are in my future.
If you don't mind answering a few related questions, why are page ins so much more than page outs? How do they relate to swap? With another 4Gb, would that virtually eliminate my VM use? Why is there 213.86Gb of VM available? I have twice that spare on my hard drive.
Here's a relatively straight-forward account of pages and swap, plus you'll get to learn about "dirty pages" an "thrashing!" 😉
http://querieslinux.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-is-difference-between-swapping-and .html
Here's another one, explained a bit differently, and Mac specific, and in more depth, including the technique to check for thrashing:
I don't know your computer so how much ram support but if you have some free slot i advice you to get as much as ram you can for that and from a apple store so that way you avoid problems in the future.I upgrade ram myself in a imac and macbook pro and imac is easy but macbook better if bring it to a apple store because is no so easy as a imac.If you reply with how much ram you have now and how much your computer support may better.Oh and more ram is better for Snow Leopard (64 bits) and to be ready for Lion.
Hope i am helpful.
Thebestplacehere wrote:
I don't know your computer so how much ram support
8GBs is the max.
Now the question is, where to buy it from. Apple?
This is with a corporate discount - it would be £320 without! Well, although I probably could get by with one kidney, I'd prefer to have a spare and get the new RAM from Crucial:
Well, I'd definitely start by holding on to the kidney, if you know what I mean. 😉
Some people swear by buying from Apple, some from Crucial, some from OWC, some from Kingston, etc. I've never had a problem with any of them. What's important is first to get a 100% compatibility guarantee, and then a lifetime warranty. After that, I shop for price. ymmv
Upgrade all done and dusted (and it was dusty in there!). That was surprisingly easy, easier than changing the hard drive. It looks a lot more healthy now:
Lion also seems to count the memory differently - when I had 4Gb, the pie chart showed 3.75, because 256Mb is used for graphics. Now it shows the full 8Gb.
Do I need more RAM?
