NewHusker

Q: DDR3L in standard DDR3 slot?

Hello all, this is my first post... so please take it easy on this newbie please :-)

 

I have a Late 2008 straight MacBook ( not a Pro nor an Air ).  It currently has 2 GB of RAM and I am going to upgrade it to 4 GB.  The memory modules that I received today from Crucial state that the sticks are DDR3L.  Will this memory work in my 1.5V 2008 MacBook?  I have found answers from early 2014 in the forums, but I am guessing that in the past 2 years DDR3L memory may be manufactured differently and is no longer backward compatible.  What do you guys think?  Will it work in my MacBook?

 

Thank you everyone!!

MacBook, El Capitan OS

Posted on Jun 9, 2016 2:09 PM

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Q: DDR3L in standard DDR3 slot?

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  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jun 9, 2016 2:32 PM in response to NewHusker
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 9, 2016 2:32 PM in response to NewHusker

    They will if you have a model that uses them. Only the Aluminum Late-2008 MB uses DDR3. The ones sent to you should work, but the normal 1.5 volt modules are the same as what were installed. Furthermore, I would upgrade it to 8 GBs instead of 4. You can see product at OWC.

  • by NewHusker,

    NewHusker NewHusker Jun 9, 2016 3:15 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 9, 2016 3:15 PM in response to theratter

    The MacBook is the Aluminum Late-2008. I have already upgraded the HDD to a 240GB SSD. I was unaware that it could be upgraded to an 8 GB RAM system.  The original RAM will be DDR3, yes, but the upgrade kit I received is DDR3L - just to clarify my original post.  Thank you very much for the link to OWC!!

  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jun 9, 2016 3:49 PM in response to NewHusker
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 9, 2016 3:49 PM in response to NewHusker

    Here's the info from OWC and Everyman.com:

     

    Maximum Memory8.0 GB (Actual) 4.0 GB (Apple)
    Memory Slots2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

     

    This info was from before the DDR3L memory appeared. It is a lower voltage version intended to reduce the power consumed by the memory and run a little cooler. However. the model you have was originally designed to use the 1.5 volt memory of that time. I do not know if the lower voltage modules will be affected by the higher voltage or if they simply adapt to it. You should ask Crucial before popping their product into your computer. I know that 1.5 volt memory like that will still work at the lower voltage.

  • by NewHusker,

    NewHusker NewHusker Jun 9, 2016 4:52 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 9, 2016 4:52 PM in response to theratter

    I will contact Crucial. Thank you very much for the OWC and Everyman sites!!

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jun 10, 2016 6:16 AM in response to NewHusker
    Level 9 (52,101 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 10, 2016 6:16 AM in response to NewHusker

    The 1.35v RAM will be compatible.

     

    Ciao.