Will PC-5300 RAM work in a PowerBook G4 DL?

Only PC-4200 will work with the October 2005 PowerBook Models (save for the 12-inch).

The PC-5300 is only for MacBook and MacBook Pro models.

Now that I have a 1.67GHz 15-inch DLSD model, and have been doing research, people have said (even in these forums) that the PC5300 modules are backwards compatible and work with this particular machine.

Even though the official one is PC4200.

Question is, which ones work. Like if someone pulled RAM out of a MacBook or MacBook Pro and whether that could be installed in your PowerBook. (Our Powerbooks!).

Hi,

And Yes!!! If you have the 17" PB Model A1139 (M9970LL/A) you can use the DDR2-PC2-5300-667 SODIMM in it... I was given this one from the Apple Store as they did not have the 4200 type there. (It was half the cost too)

It is faster but reverts to the PB Buzz Speed. It's in mine and working fine.

It only replaces the 4200 type... not the 2700-333 type in the EARLIER PB's. The PC..... and the PC2..... are different styles and cannot be crossed, the little groove is a 'tad' off where it should be.

I do not know if this works in the later 15" PB, but if it takes the 4200 type, it should. Check in the "System Profiler" to make sure what type you have in your machine and working before you do.

A note here, and yes Pismo, I can take this 5300 out and use it in a new MacBook... if and when I get it... Apple is planning ahead on this one... Thank You Apple!

Hey Bohemian, we meet again. (Insert Western theme song on deserted town street). Heh heh.

I actually said can you take out a 5300 from a MacBook or MacBook Pro and put that into a PowerBook G4 DLSD (15-inch or 17-inch).

I'm sure you would/could since Apple gave you one for your 17-inch PowerBook. But I'm wondering if an actual "system pull" would work.

The reason I ask, and didn't ask directly but inferred it, is because I was thinking of replacing the RAM in my new 1.67GHz because it had "generic" RAM in it. (I didn't put in there, it came with the purchase). The company is MacRamDirect and I've never heard of them until I saw those modules.

(You remember that... opened up the RAM doors).

While there are no problems with it, it passes the AHT diagnosis, and System Profiler recognizes it, I'm just one of those who likes to have OEM stuff. (And follow my own recommendations as well as others, about the RAM thing).

Main reason is that I found a great deal on this 5300 RAM, $15 for a "stick" of 1GB that are Apple OEM modules which have been pulled from MacBook and MacBook Pro machines. I won't say where I got it until I do get it (so that I don't lose out on the deal... but they have a couple more). But want to know if it works, before I do.

Oh the irony. I told the original poster that you couldn't. Now I'm asking the same question they are. "Will PC-5300 RAM work in a PowerBook G4 DLSD?" Since, I now have one and at the time I answered them, didn't.

=)

Pismo,

Knew I'd see you around here again....

And YES!!! The Ram Memory the guy at the Apple Store gave me (after cross referencing with mine) was for the MacBook/MacBook Pro... which he had 'Plenty' of, and it's from Apple themselves. I know it works on my M9970LL/A 17"... and it should work on the M9969LL/A 15" (Both Last ones before the MacBook came out (maybe they were making some changes already to the MotherBoards before it actually came out ?!?!?!) These would both sport the 1.67 chip.

If it works one direction, why not the other...? The Ram is from Apple, whether it's on the rack or in the MacBook...?

You are welcome to 'experiment' at will tho... Have Fun!.

See you around...

Question is, how much did it cost?

$15 for a 1GB module, where I found it (not on eBay or Craigslist, but a reputable dealer).

Hmm... makes you wonder if we could feasibly swap an Intel processor in these machines. That would be a trip.

Of course, that's just wishful thinking. =)

...makes you wonder if we could feasibly swap an Intel processor in these machines.

Not a chance.

Hi,

Pismo, This one was $59, instead of the 100+ for the 4200... From Apple.
For $15, if you have a money back return if it does not work... you found a heck of a bargin.

And yes, I too was thinking about the MotherBoard and Chip... depends? The FIRST MacBook Pro had a speed of 1.67... then went to 1.83, and this is the speed of the FIRST MacBook also. Like in the PowerBook and Pro line of MacBooks, a cross-over took place.

So MAYBE, just Maybe, possibly, could be, is it worth a guess (educated, of course)? Perhaps down the road a kit will be available for doing just that... and only contain the main Intel Chip. How "Curious" are you Pismo? As much as me? I'm sure of it...

Another question: Can I get a 2 Gig Ram module and use it in one slot to be read as 2 Gig? Then with 2 slots, can I get another and have 4 Gig Ram in the 1.67 computer? (which said max of 2 Gig). Will the PB chip be able to do this? Or is it only the Intel? Will either read 4 Gig? Or would both stop at 2 Gig because of some built-in chip limit?

Happy Researching...

Pismo and Bo: You two have hijacked this thread, gone off topic, and turned it into your own private chat room. Remember the original poster? Did either of you ever answer dorin's question, or have you just posted a lot of random musings that will only serve to confuse him/her?

eww,

Sorry.

Yes, I answered it with my first post on this thread. And then continued to verify it on the rest.

I have not forgotten the original intent of the question first posted... have just taken it a bit further.

Thanks for the reminder.

Bo

Well, unless you haven't been reading carefully, you will see that:

1) I answered a long time ago, the original poster's thread by saying, no, you have to use PC-4200 RAM as was designed for the 15-inch Double-Layer SD

2) Because I learned afterwards that people have been using PC-5300 RAM and have found no problems, I followed up by updating

3) Also, because I now own a 15-inch Double-Layer SD, I have the same question as the original poster because I am planning to buy some new RAM

4) The updated postings by Bohemian and I are related to this thread

5) The original poster has not responded back since then, so we have provided follow-ups

Makes me wonder sometimes. You are very blunt, and sometimes, rude I hate to say, which is confusing. Unlike those of us who use these forums to help each other and take time to put our hearts into the process, I don't know where you are coming from at times, such as your posting here.

Have a great day.

Ah, that is true! The 1.67GHz never came out and was bumped to 1.83GHz. I remember reading about that, I believe. People who pre-ordered the former were automatically upgraded to the 1.83GHz.

I just Google searched the entry to refresh my memory (no pun intended) and found this:
[http://www.designedinca.com/macs/macbook_pro/jan2006/1670-15>

You may have something there. Not necessarily that we can soup up the high-res PowerBooks, but the design process leading up to the MacBook Pros.

Great thinking! Thinking different, ha ha! =)

I've read that too. In fact, here on these forums I believe. Someone asked about that. Getting the 2GB module, since those weren't available when the PowerBook 1.67GHz came out. I've read it is feasible (though I don't know if anyone tried it, because they didn't want to buy it and find it not work), but at that point, you can only put one 2GB module in and any other module, from 256 to 2GB wouldn't work since the maximum is 2GB for the machine.

P.S. (I asked a similar question a few years ago with the PowerMac G4 Dual, if it could have four 1GB modules to max out at 4GB, even though the PowerMac maxes out at 2GB. The idea comes from, where else? The Pismo, which was officially supported a 512MB--or was it 768MB?--maximum, but people found it could take 1GB later down the road, with no hacking or alterations necessary).

I believe there would be a bottleneck with the buzz speed on the motherboard... as the MacBook has a 667 frontline buzz while the PowerBook has the 333 buzz. The Intel chip may need the faster one to achieve the speeds Apple wanted from it, and that is maybe why the 1.67 MacBook was not shipped and changed to the 1.83. So Apple was trying this before they put it out. Some of the parts on the 'old' PowerBook 1.67 motherboard would work (but not all), and the 'Memory' did once the speed was increased to match the frontline buzz. This is maybe why it is "backward" compatible.

Remember, things are modified/improved from what they are to something better/faster... this has been going on since the first Apple II - Apple IIe - till now. So it takes looking at something for what it is and tweaking it to something more then it was. The 'Progression' thing! Are we ever satisfied? Temporarily Yes, long term...? The seed has sprouted and the tree is branching out...

Enjoy

That's why I'd like to tweak this 1.67GHz PowerBook because it's the last one ever made and they're not going to bring it back. Short of changing the MacBook Pro name back to PowerBook. You know, Daystar used to have a processor upgrade, G4, for these Aluminum PowerBooks. (I even recommended it to people who asked if they can upgrade their PowerBooks, like turning an original 12-inch PowerBook at 867MHz to a 1.92GHz screamer!). I was leaning heavily toward it and when I finally get around to trying it? Gone. Discontinued.

Okay, let's end the discussion so we don't go off topic (because now we are, but not prior to this).

P.S. On topic, the tech support team says "I have not heard of this being done" and directed me to the PC-4200 RAM. So, for $15 a module (the PC-5300), I will take a chance. $30 for 2GB of RAM? Not bad, right? And if doesn't work, I can sell it to you, I mean, put it on eBay for resale (but higher, ha ha). Plus it's Apple OEM, so it's not like a Kingston Value RAM deal or something cheap for cheap.

Deal!