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Author Topic: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?  (Read 5343 times)

Hening Bettermann

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How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« on: September 19, 2010, 07:13:23 pm »

Hi!

I am getting all confused about memory for my Mac, an early 2008 4-core 2.66 GHz Nehalem, model ID 4,1

First off, this model does not seem to exist. I can not find it at neither OWC nor Crucial.

Second, I think I recall that this processor needs RAM in triplets (of pairs), but now I can not retrieve the info at diglloyds site. My memory says that 3*x GB performed better than 4*x.

I have earlier upgraded to 6 GB (3x2x1GB, I think).
Now I need more - but how much?
The 2 of my apps which probably could benefit from more RAM are PhotoLine (my successor for Photoshop) and Helicon Focus. Both are 64 bit. Retouching in Helicon takes 5.85 GB, and looks like it would like more if there was.
I do stills, no video, file size around 500 MB and growing.
So what would you suggest - 12 GB or 24? assuming that the triplet theory holds. Otherwise, 16 or 32?

Thank you for your input! - Hening.

Hening Bettermann

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2010, 06:42:54 pm »

My own (biological, not the Mac's) memory failed me: it's an early 200*9*, which makes it identifiable on the OWC site. Sorry for the confusion. For this model, diglloyd recommends 3x4 or 3x8 GB of RAM. (so there seems to be something to the triplet theory). It seems to appear from the OWC site that one can add a single 8 GB module if needed. I have ordered 3x8 for a start.

Good light! Hening.

ErikKaffehr

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2010, 09:53:04 pm »

Hi,

I have the same model with 16 GByte memory from OWC. may be best to mail them for advice. They seem to be very helpful.

Best regards
Erik


Hi!

I am getting all confused about memory for my Mac, an early 2008 4-core 2.66 GHz Nehalem, model ID 4,1

First off, this model does not seem to exist. I can not find it at neither OWC nor Crucial.

Second, I think I recall that this processor needs RAM in triplets (of pairs), but now I can not retrieve the info at diglloyds site. My memory says that 3*x GB performed better than 4*x.

I have earlier upgraded to 6 GB (3x2x1GB, I think).
Now I need more - but how much?
The 2 of my apps which probably could benefit from more RAM are PhotoLine (my successor for Photoshop) and Helicon Focus. Both are 64 bit. Retouching in Helicon takes 5.85 GB, and looks like it would like more if there was.
I do stills, no video, file size around 500 MB and growing.
So what would you suggest - 12 GB or 24? assuming that the triplet theory holds. Otherwise, 16 or 32?

Thank you for your input! - Hening.
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Hening Bettermann

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2010, 06:38:25 am »

Thank you, Erik. I have ordered 3x8 GB from OWC.

tived

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2010, 09:47:19 pm »

Ouch, ordering 3x8GB for a machine this old?

Surely there would have been a cheaper and better way to do this?

ohh well, live and learn - let us know how it goes

Henrik

A Dane Down Under
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Hening Bettermann

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2010, 04:38:22 am »

> Ouch, ordering 3x8GB for a machine this old?

Old? I feel like I have just bought it...

> Surely there would have been a cheaper and better way to do this?

Please specify. Better still, do it in Time Machine before I bought.

> ohh well, live and learn - let us know how it goes

I will not be able to compare with a newer machine. And mon ikke I will see some improvement over the same machine with 3x2 GB?

(To non-Danes: "mon ikke" here means something like "wouldn't it be likely that".)

> A Dane Down Under

Are you sure your head is doing well hanging upside down?

(To non-Danes: A little rough humor is a hallmark of our countrymen).

 ;D Hening.

tived

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2010, 05:38:33 am »

Tak for kaffe Hening  ;D

Maybe I was being a bit harsh, in saying its an old machine, but as far as I know you have 6 or 8 slots in your mac, right?
are you thinking of going to 48GB later?

I am sitting with a vintage, 2005 PC with some minor upgrades, but I can only go to 16GB currently 8GB, and yes its old (old but not out!)

anyway the replacement is on its way in a few weeks time, with I hope initially 48GB to start with (6x 8GB) depending on funding :-)

Henrik

PS: Hening er du i Dannevang ? Jeg er selv i Perth, West Australien. Snart halv dansker
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Hening Bettermann

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2010, 10:02:10 am »

Hi Henrik,

I am not insulted on behalf of my Mac, it's just a matter of getting away as cheap as reasonably possible. There are 4 slots in the machine, but the processor favors RAM in triplets, so 3x8 is the optimum-limit. Buying a new Mac at the same time might have been smart, but certainly not cheaper - because it won't come with 48 gigs RAM installed!

No I'm in Oslo, Norway, not Dannevang - is that a place for expat Danes down under?

Kind regards - Hening

tived

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2010, 08:27:49 pm »

4 slots in a workstation!  ::)

man, they really take you on a ride, is this a dual processor macpro?

or is it 4 slots remaining free?

Hening you have lost me here (it must be the danish in me  ;D)

Henrik
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Hening Bettermann

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2010, 12:09:13 pm »

It's 4 slots total. I'm not sure about the number of processors, it's called quad-core, but I think this means 4 cores (whatever that means) in 1 processor. Anyway, I think with a little more RAM it will keep me happy for a while.

Best regards from beautiful Norway - Hening.

ErikKaffehr

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2010, 02:54:58 pm »

Hi,

In all probability a single CPU quad core. Single CPU-s have 4 slots and dual CPU-s have 2x4. Each processor has three memory controllers, so optimum is three memory banks on each processor. There are also hexa-cores meaning either 6 or 12 cores depending on number of processing units.

BR
Erik


4 slots in a workstation!  ::)

man, they really take you on a ride, is this a dual processor macpro?

or is it 4 slots remaining free?

Hening you have lost me here (it must be the danish in me  ;D)

Henrik
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tived

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #11 on: October 06, 2010, 06:57:54 pm »

thanks Erik and Hening,

thanks makes sense, but if there are only 4 memory slots its dual channel memory and not triple, so you would need pairs of memory, otherwise you would have had 3 or 6 dimm slots per cpu.

Henrik

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Hening Bettermann

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2010, 08:58:45 pm »

Thank you Erik.

> Each processor has three memory controllers, so optimum is three memory banks on each processor.

So this is the basis of the triplet concept.

@ Henrik:
> otherwise you would have had 3 or 6 dimm slots per cpu.

This would be reasonable, but Apple just hasn't cared. The 4th slot is just redundant. It doesn't hurt though.

Good light - Hening.

tived

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Re: How much RAM for my Mac Pro?
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2010, 09:05:16 pm »

Selv tak! :-)

let us know how you go and if and how much difference it makes to your day to day image making.

Henrik  ;D

Thank you Erik.

> Each processor has three memory controllers, so optimum is three memory banks on each processor.

So this is the basis of the triplet concept.

@ Henrik:
> otherwise you would have had 3 or 6 dimm slots per cpu.

This would be reasonable, but Apple just hasn't cared. The 4th slot is just redundant. It doesn't hurt though.

Good light - Hening.

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