Author Topic: MacBook Supports 3 GB of RAM (Read 3288 times)

kelly · « **on:** May 18, 2007, 07:17:23 AM »

Lose small advantage of paired RAM, but it works.

http://www.lowendmac.com/mail/07/0516.html#7

http://www.lowendmac.com/mail/07/0516.html

chriskleeman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2007, 10:22:34 AM »

Ooops...

I didn't realize that Apple recommended paired memory for the MacBooks... I picked up a 512 Mb DIMM from OWC that is an Apple pull, cheap for $20, figured I'd install it in my daughter's new MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo machine, she's already got a 1 GB stick in there, should I not install it, and get a 1 GB instead?

And if I do, does it have to come from Apple? I mean how matched does it need to be?

Thanks,

Chris K

kelly · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2007, 09:57:09 AM »

This article is about macBooks. It was thought that 2 GB was the max RAM. Not so.

swhitset · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2007, 11:10:48 AM »

The Macbook Pro also prefers matched sticks, but I actually doubt you will notice much if you install that 512 stick. If she is using ram intensive applications like photoshop, the added benefit of the extra half gig should outweigh any performance lost by not having matched sticks. In fact, by having a single 1 gig stick in there instead of a pair of 512's you are already lacking the slight benefit you could have realized with a matched pair.

I currently have two 1 gig sticks in my Macbook Pro, but I used to have a single 1 gig stick. When I added the second, I did not really notice anything until I started up parallels. having the extra ram allowed me to run both OS X and XP with virtually no performance loss. When I tried this with one gig, I would get a lot of lag.

Steve

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2007, 11:38:14 AM »

QUOTE

Do I have to buy from Apple?

Nope, just make sure the specs are the same. The vendor should be able to prove that to you.

Actually, the Core 2 Duo mini's, Books and iMacs that have two chip slots could have two 2 GB chips installed. Apple says using two 2GB chips will actually make a slower machine. And the hardware will only recognize up to 3 GBs, thus, wasting money for the 'lost' memory. Something that often happens to me because of my memory losses.

Mrious_be · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2007, 11:43:30 AM »

Omg... this is soooo interesting

I'm still on the lookout for a new MacBook, and it might happen within a few months so this information is really good to know.

Might be turning in the Ram for such a 3Gb kit and maybe turn in the harddrive for a faster drive (didn't checked if they are available though).

chriskleeman · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2007, 12:38:34 PM »

Well, I've done some digging since my first post and this is what I've found out so far:

The issue of matching RAM for the MacBook Pro is relevant to machines equipped with the Intel Video Chipset.

More on that Here

Later models, like the one I just bought are equipped with ATI or NVIDIA Video chipsets, and are basically not affected by the mirroring of memory, so more is more

I've been scouring the net for more articles, but the one above from OWC seems to sum it up pretty well.

Best,

Chris K

kelly · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2007, 01:20:53 PM »

Follow Up: 3GB in Macbook via OWC

http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/300310

Mrious_be · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2007, 02:01:04 PM »

QUOTE(chriskleeman @ May 19 2007, 06:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The issue of matching RAM for the MacBook Pro is relevant to machines equipped with the Intel Video Chipset.

Wait... wait... I thought none of the MacBook Pros (ever) had Intel Video Chipsets onboard?

QUOTE(kelly @ May 19 2007, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/300310

The link points out in their forum, therefor you have to be registered and when not... you get a deadend and "no permission" message like I did

kelly · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2007, 02:55:51 PM »

I didn't know that M_B.

It's a good Forum to Register to, if only to read. IMO.

It was made by the owners of OWC.

swhitset · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2007, 04:49:11 PM »

No Macbook Pro ever had the Intel onboard graphics chip... They all have had the ATI Mobility X1600. All Macbooks have always had the intel GMA 950 onboard graphics. Apple has always recommended adding ram in matched pairs for both platforms, however, it has always been thought that this was even more important on the Macbooks because of the video system sharing ram with the rest of the system. Recent tests have shown that this may not be that big of a deal.

Steve

chriskleeman · « **Reply #11 on:** May 20, 2007, 12:03:48 AM »

Thanks Steve for that clarification... I have been navigating this a bit in the dark... Trying to understand the Intel macs is a bit different than the old Power PC...

Chris K

swhitset · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2007, 09:11:23 AM »

QUOTE(chriskleeman @ May 20 2007, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Steve for that clarification... I have been navigating this a bit in the dark... Trying to understand the Intel macs is a bit different than the old Power PC...

Chris K

No problem... also, IAW ABD above... I bought my second stick from crucial.

Steve

krissel · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2007, 02:06:00 AM »

QUOTE(Mrious_be @ May 19 2007, 03:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(kelly @ May 19 2007, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/300310

The link points out in their forum, therefor you have to be registered and when not... you get a deadend and "no permission" message like I did

You have to register to post but I had no trouble reading the thread and I'm not a member.

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Author Topic: MacBook Supports 3 GB of RAM (Read 3288 times)