12-04-2011, 09:11 AM
davester wrote:
How do I evaluate activity monitor? Page in/out ratio was about 1:1, some mem free though not a lot. Also, I noticed python using a lot of real mem but little CPU. What is that about?
Also, nobody said anything pos or neg about a SSD. Would that help the situation much or not?
I considered recommending a faster HD (either SSD--expensive--or a Momentus XT Solid State Hybrid--more affordable, respectable speed boost) but HD surgery on a Mini, besides being harder to do, doesn't offer the dramatic performance boost + bang-for-the-buck advantage that RAM does. If I had only 2 GB or real memory, the HD is not the first place I'd look. Also, I erroneously thought the memory access panel on your Mini was the easy kind. Before Apple made the easy-access round black screw-open bottom door.
You wrote: use safari to get Netflix or view shows on network sites, megavideo, etc. Also, my son occasionally uses it for games.
These are not items that involve major read/write to internal HD activity as a primary performance issue, I'm inclined to think RAM is the more immediate factor.
That said, I realized that no one has asked this yet. How full is your internal HD? If it's only 1/2 full or less, that means one thing, but if it's 80-90% full, that means something else, re: performance.
I have the Momentus XT Hybrid drive. I'm among those here that think they're great. If you're gonna open it up anyway to upgrade RAM, then I'd consider the HD for updating, for sure. And I'd consider the Hybrid as an affordable alternative to pure SSD.