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freakboy2 · Jul 1, 2003, 03:14 PM

OMG.. They want 250$ to upgrade from 2x256 to 2x512..

This is one reason why apple is called overpriced. Give me a break.

according to sharky a 256 meg 3200 (ddr400) module goes for 34$ and a 512 goes for 64$...

um. can i buy my mac with NO ram in it? going from 256 to 512 should cost about 60$(30 dollar increase x2). Apple chares a 200% markup?!

Extrapolate outward to determine the RAPAGE they charge to add more ram to your machine. Of course, the 1 gig chips are really expensive.

fb2

Axo1ot1 · Jul 1, 2003, 03:25 PM

All the major manufacturers do it. Apple is actually better than most. For example, I've seen Dell's page try to convince people to get two 256 MB sticks of RAM instead of one 512 stick by indicating that its better to have more sticks....

Either way, people that pay for apple memory fall into 2 categories: they are incredibly lazy or they are incredibly stupid.

tooki · Jul 1, 2003, 03:27 PM

And this surprises you why? Apple's been charging 2-4x market price for RAM for years.

tooki

freakboy2 · Jul 1, 2003, 03:35 PM

yeah i remembered their markups before not being so completely ludicrous. And dell's prices are more like 1/4 of the markup that apple is proposing.

A lot of pc manufacturers (gateway, ?) dont' charge much above street prices for the ram.

I just thought apple had figured this out already. HONEST!

Maybe I'm remembering when they charged 2x markup and now it's 4x.

fb2

scottiB · Jul 1, 2003, 03:43 PM

Crucial charges $94 for 512MB, though it can be had cheaper.

Where Apple's in the ballpark is in SATA drives: a second 250GB is around $400. Unfortunately, you can't just add a second 250GB drive without upgrading the first one to 250GB (and you can't add just 160 at all).

RealMac · Jul 1, 2003, 03:53 PM

Some people who are blinded into thinking 'apple ram' is somehow superior might say you're trolling. i am not one of those people and to believe such a thing would be just be blind faith.

You can't buy a mac with no ram in it. You also can't buy a 1.8GHz mac with less than 512mb of ram.

I could be wrong, but I think memory on these machines needs to be added in pairs also, something else to factor in.

It's not just ram either, the prices on those Logitech speakers are about $50 less at the Dell store and I found them for about $80 less through some companies that showed up on froogle.

RealMac · Jul 1, 2003, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by scottiB:
Crucial charges $94 for 512MB, though it can be had cheaper.

Where Apple's in the ballpark is in SATA drives: a second 250GB is around $400. Unfortunately, you can't just add a second 250GB drive without upgrading the first one to 250GB (and you can't add just 160 at all).

I ordered my 1.8 with the 160GB drive and will likely be adding another one for backup purposes in the not too distant future. Having the option for an additional 160 for slightly above cost would be nice. Even a 30% markup would be enouraging for people ordering these machines. Not having much inbetween a single 160, a single 250 and two 250s seems like a bad move.

Powaqqatsi · Jul 1, 2003, 04:11 PM

Originally posted by RealMac:
I could be wrong, but I think memory on these machines needs to be added in pairs also, something else to factor in.

You are wrong

scottiB · Jul 1, 2003, 04:14 PM

Memory on the G5 needs to be installed in pairs (2x whatever). Or am I not understanding why you're saying s/he's incorrect?

Nebrie · Jul 1, 2003, 07:48 PM

I think we should just continue to let Apple charge insane prices for their ram. Anyone dumb enough to buy it is just subsidizing the cost of our computers.

tooki · Jul 2, 2003, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
You are wrong

No, it's you who is wrong.

Look at the tech specs for the G5 -- they clearly state that RAM must be installed in pairs.

Memory
128-bit data paths for up to 6.4-GBps memory throughput
-1.6GHz model
--256MB of PC2700 (333MHz) DDR SDRAM
--Four DIMM slots supporting up to 4GB of main memory
-1.8GHz systems and 2Ghz systems
--512MB of PC3200 (400MHz) DDR SDRAM
--Eight DIMM slots supporting up to 8GB of main memory

Support for the following DIMMs (in pairs):
-128MB DIMMs (64-bit-wide, 128- or 256-Mbit)
-256MB DIMMs (64-bit-wide, 128- or 256-Mbit)
-512MB DIMMs (64-bit-wide, 256-Mbit)
-1GB DIMMs (64-bit-wide, 256-Mbit)

tooki

DeathMan · Jul 2, 2003, 01:20 AM

What? Apple doesn't sell generic ram at rock-bottom, bargain-basement discount prices anymore? When did this happen?

jessejlt · Jul 2, 2003, 02:57 AM

Since the 1.8 comes with 512 of PC3200, that means it comes with 2 x 256. Crucial has 2 x 256 PC3200 for 100 bones, pretty damn good.
jesse ;-)

The Placid Casual · Jul 2, 2003, 05:47 AM

I had a laugh as when I ordered my Dual 2Ghz on the Applestore UK, out of curiosity, I specced up 8Gig of RAM...

It came to �2400! The machine will only cost me �2100...

I settled for 2Gig in the end... from Crucial.

Peace,

Marc

(Weird though, You can't get 1 Gig sticks for the G5 yet from any of the independent sellers...

)

slider · Jul 2, 2003, 05:53 AM

I always love posting this when the ram discussion comes up.

1) Thou can never have too much ram.
2) Thou shalt never buy ram from Apple.

This has always been so. Fortunately there is ram seeker and most if not all the sellers there guarantee their ram. I remember when some of the ram stopped working in the PowerMacs after a firmware update, most of the vendors replaced that ram with ram that did. With the difference in ram prices it is very easy to occasionally be inconvenienced; being such a huge difference.

acadian · Jul 2, 2003, 09:10 AM

The rationale I got from an Apple store rep with regard to their RAM prices;

"Well, of course it's over priced...because nobody buys it! If more people would start buying RAM from Apple, the prices would slowly begin to drop..."

Hahahahah....lololololol..... Yeah...that's right...it's the fault of the discerning consumer that Apple bloats it's RAM prices.... If more people would politely throw their money away, we would all be better off in the long run...

Cipher13 · Jul 2, 2003, 09:29 AM

Re. installing in pairs... I'm not sure that it's *necessary*.

In order to run in dual channel mode, yes, it is; but I'm not sure that the motherboard has to be running dual channel mode... unless Apple has decided to make this the case.

The A7N8X can run in dual channel mode, or not in dual channel mode, for example.

Thinine · Jul 2, 2003, 10:05 AM

Installing RAM in pairs is 100% required. Call the Apple Store if you still aren't sure.

As for Apple's RAM prices, the only reason I would pay for them is not to have memory modules I don't want in the machine. That and you never know if third party RAM will work in your machine. At least you know Apple's works.

euphras · Jul 2, 2003, 10:21 AM

Quote:
"That and you never know if third party RAM will work in your machine. At least you know Apple's works."

Get some quality sticks from Infineon, Kingston et al. and you�ll be sure it works. Buying RAM at Apple = throwing money in the waste bucket. It was always the like.

benb · Jul 3, 2003, 11:05 AM

Originally posted by slider:
I always love posting this when the ram discussion comes up.

1) Thou can never have too much ram.
2) Thou shalt never buy ram from Apple.

1 exception. When I bought my TiBook from Apple they had the Double your RAM for $40 thing goin on. That was a good deal. I do agree though, their RAM prices are through the roof.

bighill · Jul 3, 2003, 11:17 AM

The Apple store will match any online price you show them. When I bought my powerbook, I got a 512mb stick for $89. at the NYC store. I also got powerbook applecare for $299. just by showing them that smalldog had these prices online. I had no idea they did that.

CIA · Jul 3, 2003, 12:11 PM

DING! We have a winner. Apple caliber RAM and 3rd party prices. Can anyone second this with another confirmation?