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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > Strange Macbook mismatch

Strange Macbook mismatch
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vexborg
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Aug 20, 2008, 05:05 PM
 
Ok, I've gotten hold of a Macbook 2.0GHz - so far so good...

What is strange about this one, is that the graphics part is the Intel GMA950, it accepted 4GB of memory with out any problems (it sees it all), 80GB HDD and a Core 2 Duo CPU.

But as far as I can read online, the 2.0GHz Macbook with the GMA950 can only be upgraded to 3GB?

At the bottom of the case, it says "Model No. A1181". According to the previous owner of this Macbook, he got as new in octobber 2007. And according to Apple, it's a Macbook 13" Mid 2007 model. So it should have a Santa Rosa chipset with the intel GMA X3100 - but it doesn't... Why?

Can anybody somehow ID this model for me?
The gene pool needs cleaning - I'll be the chlorine.
     
bpl323
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Aug 20, 2008, 05:25 PM
 
I thought all the Macbooks took 4GB.
     
mduell
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Aug 20, 2008, 07:19 PM
 
MacBook A1181 was sold from May 16, 2006 to November 8, 2006 and has the Calistoga chipset. Calistoga includes GMA950 and supports 3GB RAM when used with a Core 2 Duo CPU (2GB with a Core Duo/Solo CPU); you can put 4GB in and it will show up in About This Mac, but you can only really use 3GB as Activity Monitor will show.

Sound like he's "confused" about when he bought it or was shipped a year old model instead of a new one.
     
Simon
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Aug 21, 2008, 03:15 AM
 
As detailed in this thread if you have a GMA950 all you can make use of is 3 GB RAM. You can install 4 GB and the MB will "see" them, but you can't make use of the last GB due to a limitation of this Intel chipset.

As Apple said, this is clearly a "Mid 2007" MacBook. This series had a Calistoga chipset and a GMA950. The "Late 2007" MacBook had a Crestline chipset and the X3100.

The "Late 2007" series wasn't released till November, so it's quite evident he got a "Mid 2007" model when he bought it in October. From what I can see everything ads up.
     
vexborg  (op)
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Aug 21, 2008, 05:06 AM
 
Cool, thanks for your help.

At least that's sorted out... Oh well, it's a quite ok little machine, so I'm happy with it, good enough for my needs.
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vexborg  (op)
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Aug 21, 2008, 10:41 AM
 
Originally Posted by mduell View Post
MacBook A1181 was sold from May 16, 2006 to November 8, 2006 and has the Calistoga chipset. Calistoga includes GMA950 and supports 3GB RAM when used with a Core 2 Duo CPU (2GB with a Core Duo/Solo CPU); you can put 4GB in and it will show up in About This Mac, but you can only really use 3GB as Activity Monitor will show.
Ok, just came home from work and started the Macbook up, looked in Activity Monitor, and there it also shows a total memory of 4,00 GB - what is going on here?
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Simon
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Aug 21, 2008, 11:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by vexborg View Post
Ok, just came home from work and started the Macbook up, looked in Activity Monitor, and there it also shows a total memory of 4,00 GB - what is going on here?
Of course it shows 4 GB RAM. That is what's installed and that is what a Calistoga Mac will display.

But if you go and check the amount of actually addressed RAM you will notice that you never reach more than 3 GB.

Addressed RAM = Used RAM + Free RAM

Used RAM = Wired + Active + Inactive

It is all explained in the thread I linked to above.
     
vexborg  (op)
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Aug 21, 2008, 02:38 PM
 
Damn! I'm just a dope
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mduell
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Aug 21, 2008, 06:52 PM
 
I need to pay more attention when posting... the dates for the A1181 revision correspond to the original Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo. Sounds like you have an old bottom case (perhaps it was replaced?) on the Mid 2007 MacBook.
     
Simon
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Aug 22, 2008, 02:46 AM
 
Yeah. The OP mentioned it's a bottom case label. It's a label used for parts and that part could have come from anything (replacement case). The model number Apple uses to specify the type of MB (what used to be the gestaltID) is different from that (model number MB061LL/A and model identifier MacBook2,1 in this case).

The C2D at 2.0 GHz, the 80 GB HDD, the GMA950 - it all fits the low-end Mid 2007 MB perfectly. The buying date matches that as well.
     
   
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