Infomation

What is a RAM disk, and why would I use one? 

 

You can set aside a portion of your computer's memory to function like a disk drive, called a RAM disk. With a RAM disk, you can save and retrieve files very quickly, but the files are stored only temporarily. This feature is not available on all models of the Macintosh.

Using a RAM disk is faster and conserves power because the computer uses less energy and time to access RAM than it does to access a hard disk or a floppy disk.

PowerBook users may want to use a RAM disk to maximize battery life. Commonly used files could be stored on the RAM disk, which requires less power to access than a hard disk drives. Also, accessing frequently used files from RAM allows the PowerBook to spin down the internal hard disk more often.

Memory assigned to a RAM disk is not available for opening programs, so keep this in mind when you select the size of your RAM disk. It should typically not be more than 25% to 50% of your available memory or other applications may not have enough RAM to function properly.


Processor

The processor (also called CPU, short for Central Processing Unit) is the brains of the computer. It is the most important component in determining how fast or 'snappy' the system will operate across applications both now and in the near future. The processor can be considered as an analogue to what an engine is to an automobile, for -- like the engine -- the processor can be fast, slow, power hungry or power efficient subject to the kind of work the computer is being considered for. It is important to round out what kind of things you will be doing on the system to best select a computer with a CPU most suitable to your needs.

Unlike other components of a notebook computer, the CPU is -- with rare exception -- a fixed component. This is in contrast to RAM and hard disk storage which can typically be upgraded. Therefore, another consideration is the fact that (important as the CPU is) the CPU you choose will be the same throughout the life of the system. This implies that as programs become more sophisticated, the computer's ability to handle such programs will be directly affected by the decision made at purchase all that time ago. This choice may mean the difference between a system that is useful for another year or two versus one that isn't -- much sooner. As a final consideration in choosing a CPU is the suggested or minimum requirements of either the programs that is planning on being run, or academic department recommendations as a guide as to the relative kind of performance required for a particular field of study.

Currently, the two largest manufacturers of CPUs in the world are Intel and AMD. The current performance and market leader at the time of this writing is Intel, which is the only processor available in all current Apple computers (Macbook, Macbook Pro, Mini, iMac etc.). Intel's most current crop of CPUs are the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 while AMD's top offering is the Phenom II. Though AMD is not the market leader, many of their products are found in high performance, budget-oriented notebook and custom desktop builds as well as low-cost enthusiast-oriented desktops. AMD's highest performance processors however, have not yet been available for mobile platforms as Intel's Core iX series are at the time of this writing.

Beneath we provide a chart which compares the relative differences in performance between competing product lines within Intel's and AMD's offerings. We also organize these by the following classes: high-end, mid-range and economy. It is important to note that these comparisons give a quick visual reference as to relative absolute performance across these three categories but does not necessarily indicate absolute rankings between the Intel and AMD products within those categories (for instance, the Core i7 is on the same row in as the Phenom II series but offers superior general performance). Further, the Core iX Mobile series only indicate relative performance for notebook-oriented platforms (they are the highest performance mobile CPUs to date); it is not useful to compare them to a desktop-class processors such as the Intel Core i7 or the Phenom II series.

Intel Core i7 As Intel's newest flagship processor, the i7 is a 64-bit processor offering either 2, 4, or 6 cores of the highest levels of performance available. The i7 combines Hyper Threading and Turbo Boost technologies for the most demanding and advanced of applications.

Intel Core i7 Mobile Intel's Core i7 Mobile features unparalleled performance on notebooks, incorporating significant power savings while implementing the same features as the non-mobile i7, Hyper Threading and Turbo Boost. The i7 Mobile is available on notebooks with 2 or 4 cores; currently the 4 core version offers higher performance in some respects but heat and battery life are concerns.

AMD Phenom II X6 AMD's Phenom II X6 represents the industry's first consumer class six-core processor. The X6 offers the highest levels of performance ideal for the most intensive of tasks - bolstered by AMD's new Turbo Core technology, the X6 is able to optimize performance in a variety of situations.

Intel Core i5 Based upon the same architecture as the i7, the i5 is also a 64-bit processor that features 2 or 4 cores at a similar class of performance of the i7 processor at a lower cost. The i5 features Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading technology but do not possess as much cache memory as the i7.

Intel Core i5 Mobile The Intel Core i5 Mobile while also featuring Hyper Threading and Turbo Boost possesses a similar but lesser class of performance than the Core i7 Mobile with less cache and available in notebooks only with 2 cores. The i5 Mobile is a high performance processor with low energy requirements.

AMD Phenom II X4 AMD's latest generation of consumer class 4 core processors, the quad-core Phenom II X4 chips are designed to deliver performance ideal for all kinds of multimedia as well as in the most demanding of applications such as virtualization.

Intel Core i3 Derived from the same architecture as the higher end i5 and i7, the i3 is available strictly as a dual core processor. Though Hyper Threading is available, it does not feature TurboBoost. The Core i3 processor presents higher levels of performance than the Core 2 at a smaller cost.

Intel Core i3 Mobile The Intel Core i3 Mobile descends similarly from the i3, presenting a fast, 64-bit computing experience with the intelligent architecture of the i5 Mobile and i7 Mobile. The i3 Mobile features 2 cores and Hyper Threading but does not include Turbo Boost technology

AMD Phenom II X3 & X2 AMD's Phenom X3 and X2 processors boast 3 or 2 cores that offer excellent performance value; great for all around usage on a small budget all while utilizing AMD's latest architecture technology seen in the Phenom II X4 series

Intel Core 2 Quad The Core 2 Quad features 4 processing cores to optimize gaming, video, and image processing. Built on the same architecture as the Core 2 Duo, this processor excels on multi-tasking with performance hungry applications.

Intel Core 2 Extreme Available in both 2 and 4 core versions, distinguishing features of the Extreme series include higher bus speeds than the non-extreme versions, and an unlocked clock multiplier for further customization of your computing performance.

Intel Core 2 Duo Contains two processing cores to optimize gaming, video, and image processing. Laptops with this chip tend to be thinner and and more energy-efficient.

AMD Phenom I X3 & Phenom I X4 AMD's first generation of consumer class processors featuring quad and triple core performance found in desktop builds. Features 64-bit computing performance as well as AMD's HyperTransport bus technology.

Intel Pentium Dual Core Dual core processor based on the Core microarchitecture. A class beneath the Core 2 Duo and Core Duo of Intel's processor offerings, the Pentium Dual Core is available in current desktops and laptops.

AMD Turion II Ultra / AMD Turion II The Turion II and Turion II Ultra are AMD's mainstream mobile processor platform; they provide excellent all-around performance for multimedia such as high definition video. As these are often paired with AMD/ATI graphics, budget configurations containing these processors are also sufficient for basic 3D graphics and gaming.

Intel Core Duo / Intel Core Solo The Intel Core Duo and Core Solo are dual and single core processors based on the Core microarchitecture. The Core Duo and Core Solo offers modest performance for office and limited multimedia oriented tasks.

AMD Athlon II X2 The AMD Athlon II X2 is a 2 core desktop processor that is 80% faster than it's single core counterpart. Great for multitasking and multimedia consumption on a budget.

Intel Centrino/Centrino Duo A mobile-oriented processor based upon Pentium M or Core Duo architectures; the Centrino also integrates wireless networking technology allowing for smaller sized laptops. Offers slight performance boost over simply choosing a core duo and dell wireless card (which is typically less expensive.)

AMD Sempron The AMD Sempron is a budget class processor seen in low cost notebooks and desktops and are considered a class above netbook/nettop processors such as the Intel Atom or the AMD Neo platforms.

Intel Atom Primarily found in netbooks and nettops, this processor has been designed with price and power consumption in mind. As a result, it offers much less processing power than other current Intel alternatives. This processor is available in 1 or 2 cores, with the single core option being far more prevalent.

AMD Athlon Neo / Neo X2 The Athlon Neo and Neo X2 are single and dual core processors seen in ultra-mobile platforms such as netbook and nettops. They are featured with ATI integrated graphics for reasonable multimedia playback performance.

Intel Celeron Intel's economy model processor. It is the most basic, and thus the slowest. It has less cache than other Intel processors, so even if it has the same Ghz rating as another processor, it will be slower. We usually do not recommend this processor because it offers the least in terms of longevity.