ethereality

Q: Can my Mid2010 MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo use 16 GB RAM? Why does Apple say maximum 8 GB?

According to this StackExchange and the Mactracker app, my computer can support 16 GB RAM. If so, why does Apple state the maximum as 8 GB? Do you have a mid-2010 computer like mine upgraded to 16 GB using the latest Mac OS?

 

My problem is that the two 8 GB RAM chips I got from Newegg didn't 'click' when I tried inserting them (contrary to the instructions), and when trying to boot I got one beep together with the sleep light that repeated after some seconds, apparently indicating no RAM installed.

 

So it seems to me either I didn't push it in far enough (unlikely because I don't think it could be pushed in any farther), the chips don't work (I tried my best to frequently touch metal to avoid electrostatic discharge and avoid touching anything other than the sides with the semicircular notches), or the computer isn't recognizing them.

 

Does it matter that the sticker on this Newegg RAM and the sticker on my factory-installed Apple RAM are on opposite sides? Does the brand matter? Should I be concerned that there seems to be some sort of residue (as you might see when a sticker is removed) on a small part of the bottom left 'block' on the underside of each Newegg RAM chip? (This residue, together with the sticker being on the opposite side, makes me wonder whether a sticker was removed with a new one placed on it, as if this is used RAM being sold as new.) Is there any significance to the final number, '1066 MHz 151031', '1066 MHz 150930' on these Newegg RAM 'Warranty Void If Removed' stickers, or is it only for the factory (or seller) to identify the chip?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), 2.4GHzIntelCore2Duo;4GB 1067MHzDDR3

Posted on Mar 25, 2016 12:07 PM

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Q: Can my Mid2010 MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo use 16 GB RAM? Why does Apple say maximum 8 GB?

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  • by ethereality,

    ethereality ethereality Mar 25, 2016 12:33 PM in response to ethereality
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Notebooks
    Mar 25, 2016 12:33 PM in response to ethereality

    I am attaching photographs showing the residue on the back of the Newegg RAM.

    DSC_0543-8.jpgDSC_0544-8.jpg

     

    Do you think this residue is responsible for the MacBook Pro reporting that there is no RAM installed? Is it evidence that the seller removed a sticker?

  • by dwb,Helpful

    dwb dwb May 8, 2016 12:26 AM in response to ethereality
    Level 7 (24,162 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 12:26 AM in response to ethereality

    According to OWC the model below supports 16GB.

    • MacBook Pro 13.3" 2.4GHz (Model ID: 7,1 only) Supports 16.0GB

     

    To see if yours is model 7,1 select About this Mac from the Apple menu and select System report. Look in the second line of the right window pane.

     

    I’ve found the Mac to be very finicky about RAM and to the end I buy from 2 sources: Crucial and macsales.com because they’ve never let me down. Other sources have.

  • by Csound1,Helpful

    Csound1 Csound1 May 8, 2016 12:30 AM in response to ethereality
    Level 9 (50,417 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 12:30 AM in response to ethereality

    Buy your RAM from OWC or Crucial

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Mar 25, 2016 3:00 PM in response to ethereality
    Level 7 (27,387 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 25, 2016 3:00 PM in response to ethereality

    Apple does not update its computer specs after initial publication.

     

    If at the time of testing there were, for instance no, 8GB chips available to test with (I do not believe anybody was making 8GB chips in 2010), Apple would have tested with all chips available at the time and not updated specs when larger chips became available.

     

    i.e a at the time with no way to have 8GB chips installed, the maximum possible RAM would be 8GB. 4GB x 2.

     

    As to your beeping issues, i would seem the RAM you bought is not exactly correct for your Mac, or as you say, is not correctly seated in the slots.


    If you are sure the RAM cannot be pushed in any farther, then try to install the old RAM back in place.  

     

    I agree with Csound1, OWC and Crucial are excellent sources of RAM for Macs.

  • by my ginger,

    my ginger my ginger Mar 25, 2016 3:03 PM in response to ethereality
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Mar 25, 2016 3:03 PM in response to ethereality

    You have ether got the wrong memory or you did not install it correctly.  They only go in one way. If your model identifier is 7,1 it supports 16 GB of memory.If not it is only 8GB. The memory is PC8500 DDR3 1066MHZ.  http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Mar 25, 2016 4:05 PM in response to ethereality
    Level 9 (52,313 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 25, 2016 4:05 PM in response to ethereality

    When you have the RAM installed, what does it say in About This Mac?  Specifically the number of GB and the frequency.

     

    Ciao.

  • by ethereality,

    ethereality ethereality May 8, 2016 12:38 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 12:38 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Well, as I said earlier, with the RAM I bought installed, it wouldn't startup. It's reporting the original 4 GB is installed now.

     

    I do have the 7,1 model (thank God) and I've found a ~$100 kit from OWC. Newegg has ~$10 cheaper options, but as discussed in this thread, my last purchase was unsuccessful, and apparently cost me $11+time after returning it. Do you agree OWC is offering a good deal?

  • by Leopardus,

    Leopardus Leopardus May 8, 2016 12:38 AM in response to ethereality
    Level 4 (1,122 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 12:38 AM in response to ethereality

    It is a fair deal. The test of the pudding always lies in the eating. And here you have RAM that has been tested and proven to work. Take the RAM from OWC.

     

    Leo

  • by ethereality,

    ethereality ethereality May 8, 2016 12:49 AM in response to Leopardus
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 12:49 AM in response to Leopardus

    (Is one only allowed to mark two replies as helpful?)

     

    Thanks. I am concerned about "taxes and duties" not included in the estimate: I have no idea what those might be shipping to Japan. Do you know? (That website suggests to me 1.8-5% of the computer item's cost.)

     

    I will check at Yamada Denki (local electronics store) -- better for the environment to buy locally, right? -- and buy from OWC if it seems better (e.g. 30 day refund vs no refund (Japanese normally don't do refunds, apparently), or if 'taxes and duties' are not a problem).

  • by Leopardus,

    Leopardus Leopardus May 8, 2016 1:04 AM in response to ethereality
    Level 4 (1,122 points)
    Desktops
    May 8, 2016 1:04 AM in response to ethereality

    Just important to solve your requirement, the marking is not paramount. Could be a solution to try Amazon too to see if they don't have some. The refund and guarantee should be one of the determining factors. Thus, if it was me, I would order it. Take note that I live in Europe at present, not in the US.

     

    Leo

  • by ethereality,

    ethereality ethereality May 8, 2016 1:06 AM in response to Leopardus
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Notebooks
    May 8, 2016 1:06 AM in response to Leopardus

    Do you mean the price is not the most important issue, or that the residue (shown in the photographs above) likely had no effect on the chips' functionality?