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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > 2007 MacBook chipset identification/Max RAM inquiry

2007 MacBook chipset identification/Max RAM inquiry
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Nev
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Oct 27, 2011, 03:27 PM
 
I am not a mac person, but I am trying to buy a used MacBook for XCode purposes and I want to figure out how much RAM it can take. However, I am having trouble identifying the chipset in the MacBook.

The computer is listed as being a May, 2007 white MacBook with a 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

The RAM sticky in this thread states that the Calistoga chipset supports up to 3.3Gb of RAM, while the Crestline can support up to 4Gb (maybe 6Gb). Then it states that, "To find out which C2D MacBook you have you can check the FSB clock or the GPU: If you have a 667 MHz FSB and a GMA 950 you have a Calistoga C2D MB. If you have a 800 MHz FSB and a GMA X3100 you have a Crestline C2D MacBook."

However, the specs listed for the computer do not match either of these descriptions. For the GPU, it states
"Video
Graphic Processor: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100
Installed Video Memory: 64 MB,"
which would imply that it uses the Crestline chipset and can support 4Gb RAM. However, for the mobo FSB it states "Motherboard Bus Speed: 667 MHz," which would imply that it is a Calistoga board which only supports 3.3Gb of RAM.

I attempted to look up the exact computer to see the specs on everymac.com, but I was unable to find the correct model. Every listing for a white 2007 MacBook on that website said it had the GMA950 GPU, not the X3100. Additionally, the computer for sale says it has a 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (there is a picture of the "About this Mac" window) and that isn't listed as an available option for any 2007 MacBook. (Since the specs are automatically generated based on the date the seller enters, perhaps it is not actually a May 2007 MacBook? I don't know if macs are overclockable but it is definitely running at 2.4Ghz)

The RAM is definitely 667Mhz DDR2, as that is listed in the same picture from the actual computer screen as the processor speed. The hard drive was upgraded by the user and thus cannot be used for identification purposes. The computer is running Lion. Can anyone provide any assistance in identifying this MacBook?

To clarify: If the specs generated based on the May 2007 date are wrong, the only specs I know for certain are that it has a 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and it currently has 2 GB 667Mhz DDR2 SDRAM, because these are shown in the screenshot. However, the seller says he upgraded the RAM himself, and that it initially came with only 1Gb of RAM.
     
ghporter
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Oct 27, 2011, 09:26 PM
 
I recommend Wikipedia for this. Specifically the the MacBook Wiki.. There are 3 different Mid-2007 (May 15, 2007) MacBook models, and all of them can accept 3GB of RAM. They have two slots that take 667MHz PC2-5300 SO-DIMMs. There is a trade off to be made between memory access speeds with matched 2GB devices (with 1GB not accessible due to main board constraints) and lower cost but slower RAM performance with a is Nile 2GB and single 1GB device.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Nev  (op)
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Oct 27, 2011, 09:31 PM
 
I've looked at all the specs for the mid-2007 MacBooks, but none of them come with a 2.4Ghz processor, which is why I was confused. Are Macs overclockable/is it possible to have that processor in one of the 2007 MacBooks?
     
CharlesS
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Oct 27, 2011, 11:33 PM
 
There's no such MacBook, as far as I know. It could be a simple mistake on the seller's part, or the seller may be up to something fishy.

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
Waragainstsleep
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Oct 28, 2011, 05:01 AM
 
If you type the serial number into Apples online warranty checker it will tell you the exact official Apple model number.

https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
ibook_steve
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Oct 28, 2011, 01:23 PM
 
Also, Mactracker is your friend:

Mactracker - Get Info on any Mac

Steve
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CharlesS
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Oct 29, 2011, 03:56 AM
 
I prefer Everymac. Mactracker has had some inaccuracies in the past (although they may have been fixed by now).

Mac Specs, Prices, Answers, & Comparison @ EveryMac.com - Est. 1996

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
ghporter
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Oct 30, 2011, 10:49 AM
 
Aside from the question of whether the clock speed was properly communicated, did any mid-2007 MacBooks require different RAM from what the Wiki article listed?

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
CharlesS
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Oct 30, 2011, 02:11 PM
 
All the MacBooks made prior to the 2008 unibody model used 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2.

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
ghporter
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Oct 31, 2011, 07:08 AM
 
Thanks. I'm looking forward to the end of this story (I like seeing mysteries solved!), but I wanted to make sure that my own input had not been faulty.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Nev  (op)
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Oct 31, 2011, 12:34 PM
 
Hey there! I bit the bullet and bought the computer, and it turns out that (as I thought might be the case) the seller was incorrect about the make/model of the computer. System Information lists the model identifier as "MacBook4,1." This means I have the "MacBook with Core 2 Duo and Crestline chipset (Late 2007, Early 2008, Late 2008 white): 4GB / 6GB," and can install a maximum of 4Gb of RAM if I want to keep dual channel speeds, correct? It lists the bus as 800Mhz and the graphics as X3100 144Mb.

However I've run into another problem; I was going to put the serial number into apple's website just to confirm absolutely which model I had, but in system information the listing says: "Serial Number (system): Not Available." Does anyone know why the serial number wouldn't be listed or how I can find it?

Thanks again!
     
Waragainstsleep
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Oct 31, 2011, 12:58 PM
 
That means its had a replacement logic board from Apple and the engineer forgot to set the serial number to the board.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Nev  (op)
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Oct 31, 2011, 02:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep View Post
That means its had a replacement logic board from Apple and the engineer forgot to set the serial number to the board.
Okay, that is unfortunate. Is there any way to retroactively get a serial number by contacting apple or someone else? Will the missing serial number cause problems for me in the future?

Also, regarding the first question in my previous post, am I correct in assuming that I have the "MacBook with Core 2 Duo and Crestline chipset (Late 2007, Early 2008, Late 2008 white): 4GB / 6GB," and can install a maximum of 4Gb of RAM if I want to keep dual channel speeds?

Thanks for the quick reply!
     
ghporter
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Oct 31, 2011, 09:37 PM
 
Follow these instructions from Apple to find the human-readable serial number. You might need a magnifying glass...

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Nev  (op)
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Oct 31, 2011, 10:15 PM
 
Okay, thanks for the help. Apple identifies the computer as "MacBook (13-inch Early 2008)" so it should be able to take 4/6 Gb of RAM! Probably going to upgrade that fairly soon as it seems to be running out of RAM very easily with the current 2Gb which are installed.
     
Waragainstsleep
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Oct 31, 2011, 11:01 PM
 
Yes, 2GB is insufficient for most things these days. You can install 6GB if you like, 4GB might get a slight speed boost for the matched pairs as you mentioned, though if you are still running out, 6GB will be better.

As for getting a new serial number, you could get a genius appointment and ask them to do it for you, it requires a software utility to set the serial number. I guess you might find a torrent for it if you look hard enough too. The only reason it would cause you problems is that certain software packages will read the serial number as part of their anti-piracy features. Quark Express springs to mind as one example, I think there are a couple more well known packages and a few specialist ones too.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
   
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