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2GB and Mavericks - works, but...
#1
... very slow for my workflow.

I thought I'd post as Apple made claims that Mavericks had improved memory management and implied that it would have the biggest benefits on machines with low RAM.

I've been using a loaner MBP, a nice 2009 unibody. It's an excellent machine in general.

However, it came with 2GB RAM and the stock, 5400rpm 250GB drive.

I've swapped in a 750GB hybrid drive to get my data onto it, and have been using for the last couple days.

Honestly, it's barely usable for me. Even after 'training' the hybrid. I've tried keeping the minimum programs open - Mail, a word processor (word or Pages), and a browser.

I had already ordered 8GB RAM from our sponsor, and it arrived promptly (alas but with defective sticks; replacement is heading my way).

During that time, I had to re-seat the stock Apple RAM, and - amazingly - I realized this machine actually has 4 GB RAM. I was very excited to see how it would feel going from 2 to 4GB.

Rebooted, and it was immediately faster (even at boot up). It's quite usable now, tho I cannot wait to receive working 8GB RAM and my on-order SSD to see how much better. My guess it I'll get this to be in a state that is very close in practice to my in-repair MBPR.

I'm surprised, as I just rebuilt an original Intel iMac with 2GB RAM, SSD and 10.6. That machine was usable and absolutely faster than this MBP with 2GB RAM/HD and Mavericks. Mavericks may be better than 10.7 or 10.8, but it sure seems to me to be a totally hog compared to SL.
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#2
sekker wrote:
I thought I'd post as Apple made claims that Mavericks had improved memory management and implied that it would have the biggest benefits on machines with low RAM.

Heh. Maybe their version of "low RAM" differs from yours?
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#3
bazookaman wrote:
[quote=sekker]
I thought I'd post as Apple made claims that Mavericks had improved memory management and implied that it would have the biggest benefits on machines with low RAM.

Heh. Maybe their version of "low RAM" differs from yours?
Could be!

I was using the fact that Apple still has Macs under warranty that shipped with 2GB of non-expandable RAM for machines eligible for Mavericks to be my definition of 'low'...
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#4
I wonder if you aren't getting proper performance from your hybrid drive. My MacBook Air (SSB, no hybrid) has only 2GB and runs quite acceptably on Lion...so if Mavericks improves on memory management, that shouldn't be the issue.
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#5
I'm sure a streamlined machine will run much better under 2GB. But that really doesn't include my workflow needs.
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#6
With Mavericks my 2GB/64GB C2D 11" MBA no longer runs with a deficit of memory as reported by Free Memory. Now it runs as if there were an additional 500MB of RAM.
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#7
500 MB?
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#8
JEBB wrote:
With Mavericks my 2GB/64GB C2D 11" MBA no longer runs with a deficit of memory as reported by Free Memory. Now it runs as if there were an additional 500MB of RAM.

I'm sure you don't load that baby up like I do.

I'm sure 2GB is enough if you are only running a single program or so.
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