price of ram difference!!

Question

price of ram difference!!

I'm looking to upgrade my Pro from 3 - 8Gb (at least), and have looked on Crucial's site who come recommended. But it's a mine field!...

A massive difference between this on eBay (£48.90 for 8GB): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UM142-8GB-4x2GB-PC2-5300F-FB-Server-ECC-RAM-DDR2-667MH z-2Rx4-240-Pin-Dell-HP-IBM-/281028814300?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_Memo ryRAM_JN&hash=item416e9f65dc

&

This on Crucial (£223.19 for 8GB): http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=1626055CA5CA7304

How on earth can the prices be so different, can anyone explain?? Or better still, what 'should' I be paying? (in GBP)

Thanks

Posted on Jan 15, 2013 8:19 AM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Jan 15, 2013 8:33 AM in response to my splitty is a 1962

Apple has heat sinks on RAM for one.

If you were in USA there are $35 kits of 2x2GB on Amazon.com

WHY do you insist though in another thread basically the same as you started earlier???

Makes more confusiing and woirk for anyone.

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Answer 2

Jan 15, 2013 8:34 AM in response to my splitty is a 1962

The RAM you install in a Mac Pro must meet Apple's specs for "3-dimensional" Heatsink and Apple-approved temperature sensor. Those modules for Dells have neither. IF they work at all, they will get too hot, run the fans at maximum, and drive you completely nuts.

Apple

Kingston

crucial

corsair

transcend

Google.co.uk shopping for "mac Pro" DDR2 RAM DIMM

http://www.macupgrades.co.uk/store/machine.php?name=mac-pro#ram

http://www.mrmemory.co.uk/memory-ram-upgrades/model/Apple~Mac+Pro~2008+%2D+2%2E8 GHz+4%2DCore+Intel+Xeon

http://www.offtek.co.uk/ram-memory-2/apple/apple-workstation-server-memory/mac-p ro-workstation-2.66ghz--(4-core)-(ma356ta-a,-ma356j-a)/mid76772

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Answer 3

Jan 15, 2013 9:04 AM in response to The hatter

The hatter wrote:

Apple has heat sinks on RAM for one.

If you were in USA there are $35 kits of 2x2GB on Amazon.com

WHY do you insist though in another thread basically the same as you started earlier???

Makes more confusiing and woirk for anyone.

Well you'd basically just given me a link to a shop in the US and I'm in the UK so just started another, after looking up the prices.

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Answer 4

Jan 15, 2013 9:49 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

How about this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8GB-4X2GB-MEMORY-RAM-FOR-APPLE-MAC-PRO-MA356LL-A-667-P C2-5300-FULLY-BUFFERED-/330755936112?pt=US_Memory_RAM_&hash=item4d02970f70

Still much cheaper, I know I'll have to wait 3 weeks ! 😟

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Answer 5

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Jan 15, 2013 10:29 AM in response to my splitty is a 1962

4GB DIMMs are what cost - and yes those are lower density than what you linked to before.

But... I would not, not based on the photo. Look at the photo of the DIMMs I linked to or on Crucial - or OWC Macsales.com ships UK and can be affordable. But Crucial and Kinston in UK are good safe reliable.

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Answer 6

Jan 15, 2013 11:30 AM in response to The hatter

How can you tell the density, and hence, the quality? I was told that any memory will work, now it appears only a select few...? It'a difficult for the consumer to make a choice with so much variety and so many contributing factors.

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Answer 7

Jan 15, 2013 11:46 AM in response to my splitty is a 1962

Quality is not the issue. "Works when you plug it in" is the issue.

You do not want to own (no returns) some really great, high quality memory... that does not work in your Mac.

Many Users respond to this dilemma by dealing only with Vendors that promise "It works in your Mac, or your money back!"

You pay a modest premium to get the assurance that the Vendor will get it right, and YOU don't have to spend a month developing expertise for a one-off purchase.

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Answer 8

Jan 15, 2013 2:04 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Do I have to keep to 8 or 16 or could I add say 3x 2GB to the existing 3 to make 9?

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Answer 9

Jan 15, 2013 3:52 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

Based on your Mac requiring FBDIMMs, it is probably a 2008 or older. DIMMS are installed in matched pairs in adjacent slots on the same riser, and not too far out of balance across the risers. If you fill all the slots, the speed increases slightly.

They come in 0.5, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and you need matched PAIRS.

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Answer 10

Jan 15, 2013 6:11 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yes, it's 2006 - so if I have 2x 1GB and 2x 512MB at the mo, if I'm aiming for 8GB, I should get 3x 2GB to make 9, that's 5x pairs, is that right?

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Answer 11

Jan 15, 2013 8:47 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

3 x 2G indicates to me that you will be installing 3 modules, each modules 2G in size.

Installing 3 of anything will give you a pair that work and a slot that will show as "empty".

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Answer 12

Jan 16, 2013 1:50 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Sorry, was late!! My mistake, meant 4x 2GB, so 2x pr 2's, 1xpr 1's, 1x pr 512's (last 2 as per current set up). Sp 6 slots used, 2 empty, total 11? Is 11 an ok figure though? Thought maybe it had to be 8 or 16, nothing inbetween or am I totally confused?

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Answer 13

Jan 16, 2013 2:01 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

...or can I get 2x4GB? But I have a feeling I was told 2GB mas per slot for a 06/07 MP?

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Answer 14

ruddyman

Level 1

0 points

Jan 16, 2013 3:54 AM in response to my splitty is a 1962

Go to the cruicial web site , Put specs in for your mac. It will offer you what you need . Cheap ( very ) And it works. massive difference in performance.

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Answer 15

Jan 16, 2013 4:01 AM in response to ruddyman

ruddyman wrote:

Go to the cruicial web site , Put specs in for your mac. It will offer you what you need . Cheap ( very ) And it works. massive difference in performance.

Just spoken to them – it does take 4Gb per slot, they've tested it and apparently Apple haven't which is why they cannot state it. But Crucial are much dearer in comparison – they quotyed me £65 per 2GB, and here is 8GB for half that - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8GB-APPLE-MAC-PRO-APPROVED-2X4GB-DDR2-667-FB-ECC-RAM-M EMORY-PC2-5300-NEW-/290611995443?pt=US_Memory_RAM_&hash=item43a9d32333

Looked up the brand as it wasn't one of the suggested makes by another person o this post but 95% of the reviews are all good – http://www.amazon.com/APPLE-MAC-PRO-BUFFERED-NEMIX/dp/B006E2Q64C/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb _t

I'm not into cutting corners to effect performance but when it appears to be like for like with a totally different price then who in their right mind would pay double?

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