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mojohojo · May 20, 2009, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

What web sites are telling you that a MacBook running OS X will only report 3.3GB when maxed out with 4GB of RAM?

Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Black) Specs (Late 2006 - MA701LL/A) @ EveryMac.com
Understanding Intel Mac RAM - Mac Guides

Originally Posted by Simon

Unfortunately you have not read this thread.

Had you read the thread you would have known that your MB will show 4GB memory. You would have also known that it doesn't make any sense to install more than 3GB. And finally, you would have also learned that Corsair (in this case) is an expensive and hence not very good choice.

Note also that Xbench sucks. It has a long history of being wildly inaccurate. So any 'results' you obtained with it can be discarded. The fact that your MB takes longer to boot after the RAM installation is no surprise either.

I guess i missed that part about "showing" 4gb but not actually is.

Also understand that NOT EVERYONE is from America and that pricing differs around the world. In this case, Corsair WAS the cheapest option for me apart from generic RAM brands as well as fast local deliver rather than ordering brands like Crucial and waiting a week for it. Does Corsair RAMs have a history of bad products to be considered not good?

What do you mean it doesn't make sense to install more than 3gb? Other advice i have got, was it would be better to have matched pairs, like you have on your first post.

Originally Posted by Simon

A final word on matched DIMM pairs. It is true that memory bandwidth is increased by installing matched memory modules. Therefore, if you are interested in getting the maximum possible frame rate, you would probably want to install memory in matched pairs.

As well as these benchmarks which show that matched 4gb has improvements in most categories, whereas an umatched 3gb has some drops.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Memo...Apple_MacBook/

Why is it no surprise that my macbook takes longer to boot? what is the reason? also, what program do you suggest to better test RAM?

jortony · Jun 3, 2009, 03:44 PM

A million internets to you sir.

alwang17 · Jun 24, 2009, 09:42 PM

I purchased my white Macbook in July of 2008. I'm considering upgrading the RAM to 4GB. Does the white Macbook accept DDR3 or is it only DDR2 compatible?

Simon · Jun 25, 2009, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by alwang17

I purchased my white Macbook in July of 2008. I'm considering upgrading the RAM to 4GB. Does the white Macbook accept DDR3 or is it only DDR2 compatible?

It's right in the very first post. A 2008 white MB will require DDR2 SO-DIMMs.

MadManorScientist · Jul 12, 2009, 07:26 PM

Simon,

I've got a MacBook that I purchased on March of 2008. Its 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo which originally came with 2GB of RAM. However, recently I started encountering system performance problems, after taking it to the folks at the "genious bar" at a Mac store the guy suggested upgrading the RAM. He showed me the activity monitor and how I'm using all the RAM. I purchased 2 2GB PC2-5300 667 MHz chips and rushed home to pop them in. However, when I tried to boot, nothing...just black screen. After fiddling with it a bit I tried 1 older 1GB chip and a new 2GB chip. It works, but now I've only got 3GB (still an upgrade) but still have an unused 2GB chip.

Is this a limitation of the Macbook that I have?

Any suggestions?

Simon · Jul 13, 2009, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by MadManorScientist

I've got a MacBook that I purchased on March of 2008. Its 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo which originally came with 2GB of RAM. However, recently I started encountering system performance problems, after taking it to the folks at the "genious bar" at a Mac store the guy suggested upgrading the RAM. He showed me the activity monitor and how I'm using all the RAM. I purchased 2 2GB PC2-5300 667 MHz chips and rushed home to pop them in. However, when I tried to boot, nothing...just black screen. After fiddling with it a bit I tried 1 older 1GB chip and a new 2GB chip. It works, but now I've only got 3GB (still an upgrade) but still have an unused 2GB chip.

Is this a limitation of the Macbook that I have?

No, your MB supports 4GB perfectly fine as detailed in the very first post of this thread.

Sounds like there might be an issue with your new DIMMs. The type is correct though.

Are you sure you had inserted both 2GB DIMMs properly/firmly?
In combination with the old 1GB DIMM, did both 2GB DIMMs work properly?

Simon · 06:03 PM

<<This post refers to a deleted spam post.>>
There's also step by step instruction in the User Manual you get with every MacBook (Pro).

MacBook
13" MacBook Pro
15" MacBook Pro
17" MacBook Pro

kylef · 10:40 AM

Now that I have some cash available, I'm planning on upgrading the memory on my 13" 2.4GHz Unibody MacBook. I'm not much of a gamer, perhaps the odd bit of HL2 now and then at 1920x1080. I'm a little torn as to whether to get 4GB (2x2GB) or 6GB (1x4GB + 1x2GB). Advantages being more accessible memory; and possibly future proof if Apple support 8GB on original unibody MacBooks. Disadvantages being I have integrated graphics; would play a game now and then; and the lack of dual-channeling (although from reading the last paragraph this seems like a negligible issue).

Any advice, and is it technologically possible for Apple to release an update to allow original unibodys to have 8GB of RAM?

Edit: it seems the price differences over here do not justify buying 1x4GB. Looks like it'll be 2x2GB!

Simon · Jul 28, 2009, 11:35 AM

Yeah, I'd wait to get that 4 GB SO-DIMM. Once you see lots of page-outs with 4 GB you'll know it's time to get 6 GB. The page-outs will also mean that the benefits from having 6 GB unmatched will by far outweigh the dual-channel advantage of 4 GB.

In the meantime, 4 GB SO-DIMMs will come down in price.

Mic-B · Sep 10, 2009, 09:30 PM

hey guys, i know my model is a little old for this thread, but I've had a recent development and couldn't find anything with the forum search. i recently upgraded an ibook g3 from 256mb to 640mb (it has 128 onboard), but now i'm getting constant kernel panics. the computer will boot to the desktop, and run fine, but die within 5-10 minutes. does this mean that it's definitely a bad ram chip, or could there be other problems?

any thoughts?

sprale · Sep 17, 2009, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

MacBook with Core 2 Duo and Crestline chipset (Late 2007, Early 2008, Late 2008 white): 4GB / 6GB [/color]****

****) Although Apple's official limit is 4 GB, it has been reported that the Crestline MB(P) can support up to 6 GB of RAM (one 2GB and one 4GB SO-DIMM). Of course that means you lose dual-channel memory access, but you will be able to fully address and use all of those 6 GBs.

I have an Early 2008 MacBook, GMA X3100, 2.4GHz, 800MHz FSB. From the chart, it looks like 4Gb is easy, 6Gb may be possible. Anyone have similar experiences with upgrades to this specific model.

moofman · Sep 18, 2009, 03:01 AM

So this questions was sort of brought up, but I didn't see a definitive answer (I skimmed a bit, so apologies if there is one).

I've got the "use 3.3/see 4" model. I can save $10-20 and get 1 2GB and 1 1GB, but I'm wondering if it would it be worth the extra $15 bucks to get the matched pair of 2x2, even when it only recognizes 3.3GB. What I've read says that matched ram does make a difference, if marginal, but would my MacBook's ability to only address part of the 2nd DIMM (or is that even how RAM works?) negate the benefits of their being matched? Or would the benefit be so negligible that it's not worth the money anyway?

Simon · Sep 18, 2009, 03:06 AM

As explained in the very first post, apart from games (since you have shared video memory) the benefit will be marginal. Note also, on a Mac you'll be seeing 3.0 GB, not 3.3 GB. The entire last GB will be wasted.

You'd rather put those $15 into something that you'll actually notice. A faster HDD or an SSD for example. Or better yet, a new MB.

moofman · Sep 18, 2009, 03:13 AM

Thanks, Simon.

UncleDannie · Sep 18, 2009, 09:02 PM

I wish to thank all for this most interesting information. I have the original MacBook 13, so it's the old 2X1GB for me. Thanks for Simon for having the patience of Jobe. I only think he had to mention 20 times to read the first post. All others were just filling.

angela.adelle · Sep 25, 2009, 10:30 PM

Simon Wrote: " ****Both the unibody MB and MBP are specified by Apple to support up to 4 GB of RAM. The MB and MBP however have already been shown to accept, recognize, and use 6 GB of RAM (one 2 GB and one 4 GB SO-DIMM). It will boot and run with 8 GB (two 4 GB SO-DIMMs) too, but as of right now, it is not stable. It has been rumored that a future firmware update could change this."
--------------------------------------------------(sorry, I still don't know how to quote properly).

Simon, Stellar post! You get the "Contributor of the Day" Award for this post! I tip off my hat to you, Sir.

I think that the quotation above is going to be my case pretty soon after I buy my new MBP this week. I want to get up to 8GB and I will install it myself on my new machine since it's much cheaper. But please help me understand your post further: are you saying that the 8GBs that come with the machine is still not stable? Or are you saying that if I buy after-market the 8GB RAM options out there are still not stable? Please clarify for me. Also, what brand of RAM would you recommend that I buy? From what I read the Newegg is the best place for RAM, or one of the best? Sure don't want to shoot myself on the foot! -Thank you!-

Simon · 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by angela.adelle

Simon, Stellar post! You get the "Contributor of the Day" Award for this post! I tip off my hat to you, Sir.

Thanks.

I think that the quotation above is going to be my case pretty soon after I buy my new MBP this week. I want to get up to 8GB and I will install it myself on my new machine since it's much cheaper. But please help me understand your post further: are you saying that the 8GBs that come with the machine is still not stable? Or are you saying that if I buy after-market the 8GB RAM options out there are still not stable? Please clarify for me. Also, what brand of RAM would you recommend that I buy? From what I read the Newegg is the best place for RAM, or one of the best? Sure don't want to shoot myself on the foot! -Thank you!-

That comment pertains to the original 15" UB models. With the current models Apple even offers an 8GB BTO upgrades themselves. You can definitely buy and use 8GB of RAM on a current MBP. No problem as long as it's the right type.

Apple's 8GB RAM BTO price is very high. You can save a lot of money if you look elsewhere.

I like Newegg. If you want brand name RAM (like Crucial) you can get that there too. 2x4GB DDR3 $500 shipped

Modorange · Nov 4, 2009, 05:57 PM

Hello Simon, and the nnforums membership: I am a newbie but I have a Macbook Pro 2.4 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo Penrynn I think.. Anyway I read through this topic, and think it is great that it is a stickie.

Back in July I upgraded from 2 GB Ram to 4 GB ram, got a great deal at OWC. They advertise a lifetime warranty.

Then a few days ago I get a beeping sound when I turn the computer on. Grey screen and beeping, indicating either poorly-seated or bad RAM. So I pulled it out and put it back in. Still beeps. Then I searched the house and found the old (1GB per card) RAM and pulled one out then the other. I isolated the beeping sound to one of the 2 newer OWC 2GB RAM cards. Then I called OWC and they sent me a return authorization number and an email detailing the process of returning the RAM along with a link to Apple support showing the "RAM burning in" process. I tried reformatting the RAM and still got the error from the one card so I'm pretty sure it is defective.

On the phone call, the CSA suggested I return both RAM cards because some people prefer a "matched pair." Is this necessary? I have searched and that's when I found this forum and this excellent RAM upgrade topic. However as I understand it, a matched pair of RAM memory simply indicates the same-type RAM with the same amount of memory in each card. Is this correct? If so, there should be no need to send back the "good" RAM card, and I can just send the one bad one and have them send me a new replacement.

Is there any advantage to sending both back? I'm wondering.. They say "a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush." If there is no advantage I'll just send them the one faulty card. Is there a possibility that other card had a factor in causing the one to malfunction? Exactly what means "matched pair?"Thanks for responding.. And apologies if I have somehow mistakenly placed this question on the wrong topic--I'll gladly put it into a new topic if necessary.

Simon · Nov 5, 2009, 12:47 AM

In terms of performance matched means the same type of RAM, not the same make. So if you keep one, you have to make sure the new one matches the old one in terms of its specifications (which it probably will). OTOH if they offer to exchange both for free, you might as well take them up on the offer. That way you are sure to get a matched pair that should work fine.

Modorange · Nov 5, 2009, 03:34 AM

OK thanks. I was just concerned that I was turning back in a good RAM card, still suspicious that they'll send me the replacements as RAM has gone up in price lately. I know they still offer this RAM with the same order number(s).

Simon · Nov 5, 2009, 03:39 AM

If it's the exact same part/order number you should be fine. You'll be as matched as can be.

ghporter · Nov 5, 2009, 08:08 AM

The days of carefully "matched" parts, with special tests being done to make sure the parts were as identical as possible are long gone. Current RAM devices are rated at the lowest performance of their batch, so that means they're almost all better than rated-which makes for easier matching. Just like Simon points out, if the units are the same part number, they're "matched" more than well enough.