[Ted L. Nancy]

I want to get an 8GB upgrade for my Mac Pro. Newegg seems to list memory in two different places.. one for desktop memory generally and one for Mac memory (links below). Is there a difference here? The "Mac" memory is more expensive..

Mac:

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Memory,Mac Memory,For Apple Mac Pro System,DDR2 800 (PC2 6400),8GB (2 x 4GB)

Desktop:

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Memory,Desktop Memory,DDR2 800 (PC2 6400),8GB (2 x 4GB)

[Simon]

I would never pay more to buy from their "Mac" section. Just make sure you get the right kind of DIMM and you'll be fine.

That said, note that the reason the Mac RAM you're looking at is more expensive is because it's FB ECC RAM. That's not the same type you linked to before. Make sure you get the right stuff and make sure you're not comparing apples to oranges. Unless you have the latest MP you need FB DIMMs preferably with heat spreaders. And those are more expensive than regular non-ECC desktop DIMMs.

I couldn't find your type of memory in their server section (and their desktop section doesn't have FB IIRC) so probably you're best off buying the stuff in their Mac section.

[Ted L. Nancy]

So will this goody work? Looks like good deal with rebate. (I have 2x2.8 Xeon with 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM)

Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model 996762 - Desktop Memory

[Simon]

No, it's not FB and it's not ECC. That's the reason it looks like a 'good deal' compared to the stuff from the Mac section.

[Simon]

Here's the stuff I found that should work.

Newegg.com - Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) ECC Fully Buffered Dual Channel Kit Memory For Apple Mac Pro Model KTA-MP800K2/8G
Newegg.com - Crucial 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 FB-DIMM ECC Fully Buffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Server Memory Model CT51272AF80E - Server Memory
Newegg.com - iRam 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) ECC Fully Buffered Dual Channel Kit Memory For Apple Model IR8GMP8K
Newegg.com - Kingston ValueRAM 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR2 FB-DIMM ECC Fully Buffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Server Memory Model KVR800D2D4F5K2/8G - Server Memory
Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) ECC Fully Buffered Dual Channel Kit Memory For Apple Mac Pro Model 976609A
Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 FB-DIMM ECC Fully Buffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Server Memory Model CM72FB4096-800 - Server Memory
Newegg.com - Kingston 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 FB-DIMM ECC Fully Buffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Server Memory Model KVR800D2Q8F5/4G - Server Memory
Newegg.com - Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) ECC Fully Buffered Dual Channel Kit Memory For Apple Mac Pro Model KTA-MP800K2/4GR
Newegg.com - Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR2 FB-DIMM ECC Fully Buffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Server Memory Model CT2KIT51272AF80E - Server Memory
Newegg.com - iRam 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) ECC Fully Buffered Dual Channel Kit Memory For Apple Mac Pro Model IR4GMP800K
Newegg.com - Kingston 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 FB-DIMM ECC Fully Buffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Server Memory Model KVR800D2D4F5/4G - Server Memory

[Ted L. Nancy]

Is buffered necessary? I thought buffered meant slower. (Apologies, but I will need to be walked through this since I am a novice when it comes to RAM.)

Is ECC also necessary?

I appreciate all the links, by the way. I'll probably be ordering the Mushkin with rebate and discount.

[Simon]

FB is necessary. It's an entirely different type of RAM (think serial communication vs. parallel).

ECC is necessary since you already have ECC and you can't mix. Actually with the older MPs IIRC you actually need ECC. The newer MP runs on non-ECC as long as you don't mix.

There are no shortcuts here. Believe me. If there had been a way to save a chunk you would have read about it already. Bottom line is the type of RAM your MP needs is expensive. It always has been actually. One of the disadvantages of FB DIMMs. Another is latency.

[Ted L. Nancy]

Ok, gotcha. Thanks again for all the help!

[mduell]

The important difference is the modules in the Mac section have the jumbo heatsinks that the low-airflow Mac Pro case needs.