Jupeeeeee

Q: MBP + a RAM kit that isn't supposed to be supported = ?

So, I bought an used MBP which has worked great and I'm happy with it, though I'd want to upgrade the RAM from 4gb to 16gb, although Apple says that you can only upgrade it to 8gb, but some of the community says that you can only add it to 8gb of RAM.

"4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1333MHz DDR3 memory; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 8GB" said in here: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) - Technical Specifications

By Apple themself.

Which am I supposed to listen to? Apple or the community of Apple? Or did I understand if incorrectly, and that it means that I can upgrade it to 8GB on each RAM slot? I need clarification.

Also, can I assume that I can upgrade or downgrade my HDD/SSD to how big ever I want, as long as the OS fits on it and the drive fits in the macbook? Like let's take a 3TB SSD for an example (not 100% sure if one exists, but let's assume), it fits in the macbook pro normally, I clean install El Capitan or whatever I have a backup of, it works normally? Right?

Or in a nutshell: Is there any restrictions for the storage drive, other than that it fits in the laptop and is big enough for the os?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), MacBookPro8,2

Posted on Apr 9, 2016 8:29 PM

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Q: MBP + a RAM kit that isn't supposed to be supported = ?

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  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Apr 9, 2016 8:56 PM in response to Jupeeeeee
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 9, 2016 8:56 PM in response to Jupeeeeee

    According to my technical information:

     

    Maximum Memory16 GB (Actual) 8 GB (Apple)
    Memory Slots2 - 204-pin PC-10600 (1333 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

     

    However, this means it should work for you, but there is no guarantee that it will work.

     

    Reliable vendors are: OWC, DataMem, and Crucial.

  • by Jupeeeeee,

    Jupeeeeee Jupeeeeee Apr 9, 2016 9:05 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 9, 2016 9:05 PM in response to theratter

    Thanks ratter Just wanted a clarification since you know, no motherboard can hold unlimited amount of RAM.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 9, 2016 10:13 PM in response to Jupeeeeee
    Level 5 (7,952 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 9, 2016 10:13 PM in response to Jupeeeeee

    Basically it means that when Apple introduced the Early 2011 MacBook Pro, 8 GB sticks weren't available. Apple doesn't update the specifications for older models after their introduction. Subsequently, others have found that 8 GB sticks, as they became available, are recognized and function.

     

    If you prefer to limit yourself to the 5 year old original specification, that's at your option.

    Screen Shot 2016-04-10 at 1.07.33 AM.jpg

     

    RAM source for OWC: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_133 3MHz_SDRAM

     

    SSDs for OWC: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro/2011

  • by Courcoul,Solvedanswer

    Courcoul Apr 9, 2016 11:03 PM in response to Jupeeeeee
    Level 6 (14,193 points)
    Apr 9, 2016 11:03 PM in response to Jupeeeeee

    Allow me to present the following evidence:

    mem.jpg

    running happily on these since Dec/2011:

    16GB1.jpg

  • by Jupeeeeee,

    Jupeeeeee Jupeeeeee Apr 9, 2016 11:34 PM in response to Courcoul
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 9, 2016 11:34 PM in response to Courcoul

    Thanks!
    You're awesome!

  • by DJPogoff,

    DJPogoff DJPogoff May 16, 2016 4:12 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (8 points)
    May 16, 2016 4:12 PM in response to theratter

    Hello.

     

    I just upgraded my late-2011 MBP, 2.8 GHz i78, from 8 to 16 GB RAM, using Corsair "Value RAM" (or however it reads).  It has worked perfectly from the first time I booted, despite recommendations to avoid Corsair and avoid "budget" RAM.

     

    I wonder why you say "However, this means it should work for you, but there is no guarantee that it will work."  Since the chipset supports 16 GB RAM, then there is just as much a guarantee that 16 GB will work as there is that 8 GB will work.  Why hedge when speaking about 16 GB upgrades as if it's questionable?

     

    My more important concern regards a conversation I had with an AppleCare support rep today.  He claimed that, while the machine will "see" 16 GB of RAM, it'll "use" only 8 GB.  I told him that there is no indication that the machine is using any less than what it "sees".  My question is this: what OS tool can I reference that will clearly show that the OS has 16 GB to use rather than only 8 GB to use when I have 16 GB installed, and that "About this Mac" displays 16 GB installed?  I'm quite willing and able to use Unix software to demonstrate this rather than relying only on OS X diagnostics.

     

    Thanks very much for any assistance.

     

    David

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 16, 2016 4:26 PM in response to DJPogoff
    Level 9 (52,353 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 16, 2016 4:26 PM in response to DJPogoff

    DJPogoff wrote:

     

     

    My more important concern regards a conversation I had with an AppleCare support rep today.  He claimed that, while the machine will "see" 16 GB of RAM, it'll "use" only 8 GB.  I told him that there is no indication that the machine is using any less than what it "sees".  My question is this: what OS tool can I reference that will clearly show that the OS has 16 GB to use rather than only 8 GB to use when I have 16 GB installed, and that "About this Mac" displays 16 GB installed?

    If you look at this exhibit produced by OWC technicians, note that performance is improved by the use of more than 8 GB RAM:
    Screen Shot 2016-05-16 at 7.19.02 PM.png

    Under the right circumstances additional RAM will not only bee 'seen' but also used.  You might also run your own tests and use Activity Monitor to see how much RAM is being used.  Obviously the need to use resource intensive applications will be necessary.

     

    Ciao.

  • by Jupeeeeee,

    Jupeeeeee Jupeeeeee May 16, 2016 4:35 PM in response to DJPogoff
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 16, 2016 4:35 PM in response to DJPogoff

    As said above, use Activity Monitor. Open as many programs as possible and look at the activity monitor, does it go over 8gb of memory used? If yes, then it's used. Congrats!

  • by DJPogoff,

    DJPogoff DJPogoff May 18, 2016 10:52 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (8 points)
    May 18, 2016 10:52 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    OGELTHORPE, thanks very much for your help.  I'll run a bunch of RAM-intensive applications and look at Activity Monitor.  Perhaps I need only look at Memory Used (further divided into App Memory, Wired Memory, and Compressed) at the bottom of the window.  In order to demonstrate that the amount of physical memory used is greater than 8 GB, is it sufficient to simply show that Memory Used is greater than 8 GB?  In other words, I don't want to have to debate with an Apple rep whether Memory Used is virtual memory or means something other than physical memory.

     

    I should also understand why Memory Used is further categorized into App Memory, Wired Memory, and Compressed, and what those three mean.  Can you help me understand the most relevant number to point to, and whether I need to add something to, or subtract something from, this number to arrive at what is, by definition, the amount of physical RAM being used?

     

    I have one more concern.  In your previous reply to me on 05/16, you wrote, "Under the right circumstances additional RAM will not only be 'seen' but also used."  Why do you qualify your statement with "Under the right circumstances..."?  I posed a similar question to theratter when he said, "it should work".  What baffles me is that, on the one hand we are all perfectly confident that the MBPs in question, by virtue of their design, support 16 GB RAM just as they support 8 GB RAM, while on the other hand, some of us are hedging by qualifying this claim.  Before I get too far ahead of myself, what circumstances were you referring to?

     

    Please understand that by no means do I intend to sound challenging or antagonistic.  I very much appreciate your tremendous contributions to these forums!  I only want to understand in as much detail as possible.  Thank-you very much.

     

    David

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 18, 2016 11:46 AM in response to DJPogoff
    Level 9 (52,353 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 18, 2016 11:46 AM in response to DJPogoff

    Here are Apple support articles regarding RAM for older and current OSX's:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201538

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201464

     

    Note that the OWC graphic that I posted tested RAM with 'older' OSX's.  With the change in RAM usage from Mavericks to present, the OSX tries to use as much RAM as it detects that may be available.  This makes additional RAM even more important in processing data. 

     

    The 'right circumstances' simply means using applications or a combination of applications that will require the OSX to use more than 8 GB RAM.  I am not hedging here.

     

    Understand that I am not an 'expert' on RAM.  I simply put my faith in those who are, OWC and Crucial.  They have the trained and knowledgeable personnel and I have no reason to believe that they would misrepresent or misinform their customers.  There are some who mention 'unpredictatble results' may occur exceeding Apple RAM specifications, but when pressed, there is silence regarding what those 'unpredictable results' might be.  It is best to ignore them.

     

    As far as theratter is concerned, I cannot speak for him and cannot comment on what he may have said since I don't know the context.

     

    There is nothing wrong in asking questions, be they simple, complex or hard.  My policy is to indicate if I am not 100% certain.  In the case of RAM for 2011 and 2012 MBPs, more than 8 GB RAM will be beneficial when the applications require it.

     

    Ciao.