What is the max RAM Leopard will handle?

I see the RAM in the MBP17" 2.4Ghz 800MHz FSB is 2G @667MHz. Does MBP use the FSB to the fullest when the RAM is firing at 667? What is the max RAM Leopard will be able to use fully--3G or 4G? and will all of this RAM be available for use?

I read on MacWorld that RAM a few steps behind the chips, so we should expect full capabilities of the chip with current RAM Hz.

Is this true?

Thanks

S

 

About the FSB and RAM question: the CPU speed is quad clocked, so it's really 200MHz, while the RAM is doubled ( Double Data Rate) in DDR, so it's really 333MHz. Thus DDR2 667MHz RAM is plenty to take full advantage of the 800MHz CPU FSB speed.

 

"What is the max RAM Leopard will be able to use fully"

more than your laptop can support.
2^64 = max ram leopard should be able to support

 

wuzertheloser, thanks for the reply. I am not sure if I understnds what you are saying. Could you explain, please?

Thanks
S

 

It will easily handle 4gb+ RAM. It's a 64-bit operating system.

 

2^32 = 4,294,967,296 bits of data a 32-bit system can support
2^64 = 1.84467441 × 10^19 bits of data a 64_bit system can support

this is to my understanding of operating systems. That's why in 32-bit systems, you might not see all 4GB being utilized.

since Leopard is a 64-bit operating system, it can support up to 2^64 bits of data. however, i believe the santa rosa chipset can only support up to 4GB of RAM. 2^64 > 4,000,000,000 bits hence "more than your laptop can support"

 

Are all the apps in OS X made for 64-bit, or if 32-bit, will the apps run through a virtualized system when running on a 4G RAM? --much like XP does. I am just interested. I am sure it is an overkill to go 4G.

 

Unlike Windows, which has separate 32 and 64 bits versions, Leopard can run both. In fact, some parts of Tiger are already 64bit. The problem with XP if you go with 4GB is that it can only address 3GB of physical RAM; this does not happen either in Tiger or Leopard. So if one does need memory intensive apps (and I say memory is never enough) 4GB indeed helps.

 

i agree....having more memory always helps. i read an article once where if you were doing intensive but non-graphical processing, the bottleneck would be the RAM first not the CPU.

 

i am glad u brought this up; i do a lot of database and statistical simulations so that's why I asked this question; for number crunching (non-graphical processing) one requires a large FSB and good RAM to go with it, so I have been told.

What is attracting me is the iMac 24" 2.8Ghz extreme with 4G RAM. What do you think of this for non-graphical computing?? Is this an over-kill?

 

I actually find the 24-inch screen too large . Its too much for me to constantly look at. Too many points of focus lol.

I'd say you won't need such a power machine...yeah, its over-kill.

 

So, Sam, would the MBP 17" be adequate for the work I do? Can the RAM be upgraded to 4G? Where to get new RAM? I do not see it on the Apple web-store? 3rd party vendor?

 

yes, the MBP 17" should be more than enough for the work you do. The RAM can be upgraded to 4gigs. I think it uses the same RAM as any other notebook since it uses the Santa Rosa chipset. Check the hot RAM deals thread.

 

I'd say a 17-inch screen is large enough, especially with the option to go to 1920x1200 resolution if you want.

Yes, the MBP can support up to 4 GB RAM. Apple RAM is expensive, so don't get RAM from Apple. Look at Newegg's Mac Memory page: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=551&name=Mac-Memory