Macbook 1,1 Ram upgrade

I've heard that this should work. The limit is supposedly for total memory. There was another thread where someone was asking if his Macbook 1,1 (in System Profiler) would perform better with 2x1GB since he had ordered a single 2GB module which worked just fine. I think it was debatable whether or not that would have been better. I'm not sure now but there are some benefits compared to unmatched memory (like 1GB+512 MB) in terms of a slight head start when switching between modules.

You should put in the 2GB only (not a 2GB + 512MB). If you go beyond the 2GB max, your machine won't boot.

The best case scenario would have been to purchase a 2GB kit (2 x 1GB)

-GDF

GfulDedFan wrote:
The best case scenario would have been to purchase a 2GB kit (2 x 1GB)

From a price point of view perhaps. The 2x1GB kits seem to be at a slightly lower price point than single 2GB modules.

I started thinking about this from a technical point of view, and I'm not convinced that 2x1GB will necessarily perform better than 1x2GB. The whole reason why the dual-channel interleaved function boosted performance slightly was because it gave a head start when switching between modules. If there only one module, then there's no switching between modules. There are multiple internal banks in the modules, but I would think they get their own interleaving handled by the memory controller.

I think back in the days of the PowerPC G5 there was a distinct advantage to matched memory pairs because those chipsets operated matched pairs in parallel - doubling the effective width of the data channel. Intel's mobile chipsets aren't known for doing this.

Ok, I have sort of the same question but from a different perspective:

I am responsible for 12 2-yr-old macbooks (the original intel models, NOT the core 2 duos). They each came with 512MB -- 2x256. I have a macbook pro which I took to 3GB in two steps, first by adding 1GB (back in the day that 2GB was $350!) and then when the price of the 2GB chips went down, pulling the 1GB and replacing it with a 2GB. My husband's MBP came with 2GB, and he also pulled one of the 1GB chips and replaced it with a 2GB.

So two lucky teachers with the old macbooks have benefitted by replacing one of their 256's with one of our cast-off 1GB chips. Which is nice for those two, but memory is cheap enough that I'd really like to give them all more memory.

So, here's my question: should I buy 2x1GB or 1x2GB for each machine? They seem to be the same price, or, if anything, the 1x2GB is cheaper. And price definitely IS an object here (these are teacher machines in a typically cash-strapped Catholic school.)

Do the brand new aluminum macbooks take the same DDR2 memory as these older macbooks? Here's my thinking...

The 1x2GB option: I buy a single 2GB chip for each of the macbooks. I pull both 256MB chips out, and collect them in my drawer full of cast-off memory. Then, later, when I replace a machine, I buy the cheapest configuration, which is 2GB (2x1GB). I open them up and swap in the 2GB chip (that I just pulled out of an old macbook) for one of the 1GB chips. Then I go back to the old machine and put in either 1GB + 256MB, or 2x1GB.

The 2x1GB option: I buy a pair of 1GB chips for each of the old macbooks. Like before, I end up with my drawer full of 256MB chips. But now, when I replace a machine, I need to buy new 2GB chip(s) at that time in order to boost it past 2GB, and I'm going to end up with a bunch of 1GB chips in my drawer full of cast-off memory.

So, I'm soliciting opinions... Is trying to buy memory now that's going to be useful longer simply a fool's errand? (Back in Jan 2007 I paid an astoundingly good $100 for that 1GB chip, and 2GB was simply unattainable at $350-$500. Today if you shop around you can get a 2GB DDR2 chip for $30 after rebate. http://www.omnitechnologies.biz/cgi-bin/store/cp-app.cgi?&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref= APLMBP2GB667O&mp=NT )

cathy fasano wrote:
Ok, I have sort of the same question but from a different perspective:

I am responsible for 12 2-yr-old macbooks (the original intel models, NOT the core 2 duos). They each came with 512MB -- 2x256. I have a macbook pro which I took to 3GB in two steps, first by adding 1GB (back in the day that 2GB was $350!) and then when the price of the 2GB chips went down, pulling the 1GB and replacing it with a 2GB. My husband's MBP came with 2GB, and he also pulled one of the 1GB chips and replaced it with a 2GB.

So two lucky teachers with the old macbooks have benefitted by replacing one of their 256's with one of our cast-off 1GB chips. Which is nice for those two, but memory is cheap enough that I'd really like to give them all more memory.

So, here's my question: should I buy 2x1GB or 1x2GB for each machine? They seem to be the same price, or, if anything, the 1x2GB is cheaper. And price definitely IS an object here (these are teacher machines in a typically cash-strapped Catholic school.)

If you're worried about future resale value, I'd think the single 2GB modules might be worth a bit more in the future, but it's not that important.

Do the brand new aluminum macbooks take the same DDR2 memory as these older macbooks? Here's my thinking...

PC3-8500 (aka DDR3 1066). It's a 204-pin module while DDR2 is 200-pin. They use the Nvidia chipset's memory controller. I remember reading Intel's latest mobile chipset datasheet, and they apparently had configurable support for either DDR2 or DDR3. Physically a computer would have to be made with a specific 200 or 204 pin slot (or permanent memory) so I don't think they can switch to either as a practical matter.

The 1x2GB option: I buy a single 2GB chip for each of the macbooks. I pull both 256MB chips out, and collect them in my drawer full of cast-off memory. Then, later, when I replace a machine, I buy the cheapest configuration, which is 2GB (2x1GB). I open them up and swap in the 2GB chip (that I just pulled out of an old macbook) for one of the 1GB chips. Then I go back to the old machine and put in either 1GB + 256MB, or 2x1GB.

The 2x1GB option: I buy a pair of 1GB chips for each of the old macbooks. Like before, I end up with my drawer full of 256MB chips. But now, when I replace a machine, I need to buy new 2GB chip(s) at that time in order to boost it past 2GB, and I'm going to end up with a bunch of 1GB chips in my drawer full of cast-off memory.

So, I'm soliciting opinions... Is trying to buy memory now that's going to be useful longer simply a fool's errand? (Back in Jan 2007 I paid an astoundingly good $100 for that 1GB chip, and 2GB was simply unattainable at $350-$500. Today if you shop around you can get a 2GB DDR2 chip for $30 after rebate. http://www.omnitechnologies.biz/cgi-bin/store/cp-app.cgi?&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref= APLMBP2GB667O&mp=NT )

I got a 2x2GB kit (OCZ PC2-5400) in Dec 2007 for $110 minus a $25 rebate. It's even cheaper now.

I'd say go with the single 2GB modules. They might be useful in the future if you want to scavenge them for machines that can take 2x2GB.