how to configure ram upgrade

[Fritz]

http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/275...msg-275986

512m's, 1G's, 2G's or does the system not care?

[mattkime]

system doesn't care but you're less likely to replace larger chips.

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote Fritz]http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/275921/275986#msg-275986

512m's, 1G's, 2G's or does the system not care?
I always buy the max that will fit.
I ASSUME that you have 2X512MB now??
Buy 2X2GB that will give you 5GB which is really minimum in my book.

From The Memory PDF.:
"Note: The Mac Pro computer has two memory riser cards with a total of 8 memory slots. On each
card, the slots are arranged as two banks of two slots each. The computer comes with a minimum
of 1 GB of memory, installed as a pair of 512 MB fully buffered, dual inline memory modules (FB-
DIMMs) in two of the DIMM slots. Additional DIMMs can be installed in the open DIMM slots, as
illustrated below.
DIMMs must be installed in pairs of equal size from the same vendor. In the illustration below,
DIMMs in one colored pair do not need to match DIMMs in a different colored pair."
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/MacPro_...MM_DIY.pdf

BGnR
16GB here!!

[Fritz]

didn't think I'd need as much as 5G for my rather pedestrian purposes, but what the heck.
another $250 ain't so bad.

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote Fritz]didn't think I'd need as much as 5G for my rather pedestrian purposes, but what the heck.
another $250 ain't so bad.
May I ask you something Fritz?
Don't take this as a slam, please!
Why buy a "MacPro" if your purposes are "Pedestrian"?
Why not an iMac, or mini?

BGnR

[Fritz]

heh, heh, heh. no slam.
me likey "real" desktop and for the occasional use of ProTools HD at home.
For $500 difference at the time I bought this baby, wtf?
I bought my mom an iMac Intel and it's nice, but the limitations for me are int drives and the general serviceability of.

[jdc]

id go with the larger chips too

i used to think that same way fritz, but i replaced 4 towers -- 2 dual G5s and 2 dual G4s -- with iMacs

3 20" 2.4s and a 24" 2.4, loaded them up with 4 gigs ram and i should be fine for a good long time -- applecare was cheap so i dont even worry about "service" anymore

all running dual monitors, even better -- and no fan noise or heat or floor space gone =)

storage wasnt a real issue, since they all have FW 800 now -- i spent a little extra on FW 800 cases, but speed is stellar

i can build my own 1TB drive for about $300 with a dual bay case

and pre built drive prices just keep dropping, saw 1 TB FW 800 WD mybook drive for $300ish, pretty good deal

[MacArtist]

Fritz,

The OS loves RAM. The more physical RAM you throw at it; the better it runs.

4 gigs of RAM (2 x 2 gig DIMMS) is $230 at OWC.

There's a good chance you won't need any more than that (coupled with the 2 x 512 megs you already have).

I ran my Dual 2.0 G5 with 4.5 gigs of RAM. I am planning on running twice that amount in my Mac Pro.

I know the Intel iMacs are very capable machines. I like being able to add multiple internal drives and add a newer video card down the road. I tend to keep my desktop machines for several years. In fact, the only reason I bought a Mac Pro was 1) I have several customers with Intel powered Macs and 2) I had a PC only project and couldn't see running 2 separate boxes.

Buy as much RAM as your budget allows. It's the cheapest, most bang for your buck upgrade you can give your computer.