Can Anyone Verify if My New Crucial RAM is Good?

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Level 1

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Can Anyone Verify if My New Crucial RAM is Good?

Hey,

I bought 2 x 1GB Crucial RAM from Newegg. It does not have Micron chips but instead it has SAMSUNG chips. Yes, I am sure. Here is the Newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146545

Nevertheless, I ran Xbench. Here are my before and after results:

OEM 512 MB RAM Results

System
Allocate - 428.17 Kalloc/sec
Fill - 3160.34 MB/sec
Copy - 821.71 MB/sec
Stream
Copy - 1312.29 MB/sec
Scale - 1318.28 MB/sec
Add - 1376.66 MB/sec
Triad - 1368.41 MB/sec

Crucial (SAMSUNG) 2 x 1GB RAM CT12864Z40B

System
Allocate - 445.74 Kalloc/sec
Fill - 4214.97 MB/sec
Copy - 1096.72 MB/sec
Stream
Copy - 1662.18 MB/sec
Scale - 1684.84 MB/sec
Add - 1739.58 MB/sec
Triad - 1740.25 MB/sec

Both of these test were performed with no open programs and only one open Finder window. When I open up numerous programs with the 2 GB of RAM I expected the "used" RAM to get chewed up but it didn't. I never hit 400 MB (guess the hyper threading is working).

I thought I would have seen more impressive results. Can anyone assess and advise? My iMac does boot a little faster but it only seems to be 10 secs faster.

Anyone?

Cheers,

Chuck

iMac G5 2.0 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.4), Mac Convert

Posted on Jan 26, 2006 5:36 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 26, 2006 6:42 PM in response to ckowitz

The only time you are going to see a benefit to that extra RAM is when the computer needs it. Running XBench does not stress the system in terms of RAM to have it make much of a difference at all.

Now if you were to run tests running Photoshop or Final Cut or some other RAM intensive program you would see a difference.

The OS does not need any more than 512MB RAM, so you would not see a big difference with 2GB or 8GB in a Power Mac if you are just running the Finder.

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Answer 2

ckowitz Author

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Jan 26, 2006 8:28 PM in response to Eric Kracinski

Eric,

It all makes sense. Hey just out of curiosity is the Techtool Deluxe RAM test a good tool to assess my newly installed RAM?

Cheers,

Chuck

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Answer 3

Jan 26, 2006 8:35 PM in response to ckowitz

Chuck, I forgot to welcome you to the discussions!

Yes, the TT test is as good as any, but if you haven't purchased it already, you can always run the extended test from your install DVDs that came with your Mac. You can also download Memtest the command line test - or add Rember which is a graphical front end for the faint of heart!

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Answer 4

ckowitz Author

Level 1

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Jan 27, 2006 5:30 AM in response to Eric Kracinski

Eric,

Thanks for the welcome, but I was already here as "Talon Driver" it is just that I reset my Safair and forgot the password for that account and just set it up as myself.

Nevertheless, I asked about at TT Deluxe as it was with Applecare. The link you passed along for Memtest does not work anymore.

I do appreciate your responsiveness.

Cheers,

Chuck

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Answer 5

Jan 27, 2006 8:27 AM in response to ckowitz

Sorry about that link. I checked as far as getting to Mac Update, but didn't follow it up from there.

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Answer 6

myhighway

Level 5

7,270 points

Feb 1, 2006 12:50 AM in response to ckowitz

If you use the AppleCare TT Deluxe, make sure you've upgraded to the latest version, if a newer one is available, either through an online update at their website, or instead order their update on CD.

Apple Hardware Test - the extended test, will also run a sufficient check of the memory.

There is no reason to think that Crucial's Samsung memory components are not every bit as good as its Micron components, as they both meet Apple's specifications and industry standards. These are, after all, the two largest memory component manufacturers, and probably the two biggest memory suppliers to Apple.

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