Memory for my 2x3 Ghz Dual-Core Intel Xeon

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Memory for my 2x3 Ghz Dual-Core Intel Xeon

Earlier this year I bought a refurbished Quad 3 Ghz Mac Pro Model number FA765LL/A.

It came with 2 GB of RAM installed as (4x 512MB) I'm of the school of thought that it's best to buy the largest size chips to be in a better position to max out the ram. I realize the RAM for this system is to be installed in pairs. I have 4 slots available. At the time the manual was written the largest 667 Mhz chips were 2GB and so the manual implies a max of 16 GB. I just ran a scan on Crucial's website and it correctly identified my system and my current RAM configuration. However it lists the max as 32GB as opposed to the 16GB implied in my manual. The difference of course is that Crucial is including the 4GB chips. I would like to buy 4 GB chips rather than 2 GB chips but don't want to buy RAM that won't work either.

Is this on the same lines as the Hard drive capacity originally being 3 TB because at that time the largest drives were 750 GB.

I hope this is the case and I can use 4GB chips in my Mac PRO they meet the required specs.

Thanks,
Mike

Mac Pro Quad 3 Ghz Xenon, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on May 26, 2008 11:14 AM

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Answer 1

bdmarsha

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2,580 points

May 26, 2008 11:41 AM in response to Indiana_Mike

Mike,

According to MacTracker <http://www.mactracker.ca>, all of the Mac Pro models can use 32 GB of RAM. You should be fine; buy 800MHz modules if you may move them to a newer Mac Pro in the future.

bd

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Answer 2

Indiana_Mike Author

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May 26, 2008 2:30 PM in response to bdmarsha

Sounds good, so I can even use the new 800 Mhz RAM? I'll probably stick with the 667 if it's cheaper because I typically go a long time before getting new macs. The one I replaced with the Quad 3Ghz was a Dual 800 G4 that is 7 years old.

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Answer 3

Indiana_Mike Author

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May 31, 2008 5:05 AM in response to Indiana_Mike

Follow up question

2GB current memory.
Riser 1: Slot 1 512MB, Slot 2 512MB, Slot 3, empty, Slot 4 empty
Riser 2: Slot 1 512MB, Slot 2 512MB, Slot 3, empty, Slot 4 empty

I'm looking at adding 2 4GB chips to bring my total ram to 10 GB. From what I can tell I'm thinking my setup should be

Riser 1: Slot 1 4GB, Slot 2 512MB, Slot 3, 512MB, Slot 4 empty
Riser 2: Slot 1 4GB, Slot 2 512MB, Slot 3, 512MB, Slot 4 empty

Am I thinking right?

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Answer 4

bdmarsha

Level 4

2,580 points

May 31, 2008 11:10 AM in response to Indiana_Mike

I don't know the answer off-hand, but you should be able to find it in the manual. If you do not have the manual for your Mac Pro, it is probably available at <http://www.apple.com/support/manuals/macpro/>.

bd

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Answer 5

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

May 31, 2008 12:46 PM in response to Indiana_Mike

Memory is paired on same Riser.

A1 and A2, A3 and A4, not across Risers as you showed.
Same for B Riser.

I would avoid the higher cost of 4GB chips, and if you do, I would be more careful who/where you purchase.

Start with 4 x 2GB and leave what you have for 10GB.
8 x 2GB would give you 16GB and probably similar price.
- 16GB for more 'extreme' heavy graphics editing perhaps.

You can't have different size DIMMs in A1 and A2, nor have memory in A3 and none in A4.

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Answer 6

Jun 30, 2008 12:40 AM in response to bdmarsha

Just to straight this out - you say EVERY MacPro (I have the "Original" 8-Core 3.0GHz with 1.33GHz Bus Clock - MacPro 2.1) can use the new 800MHz RAM (instead of the 667MHz) up to 32GB (instead of the 16GB limit Apple calls out for this machine)...?

Or do I get you wrong on that?

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Answer 7

Jun 30, 2008 4:29 AM in response to Matthias Wahl

You can use the faster memory, but it will run at the slower speed.

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Answer 8

Jun 30, 2008 4:31 AM in response to Indiana_Mike

This memory configuration chart should help you.

http://homepage.mac.com/tribe3/.pictures/MemConfig.jpg

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Answer 9

Jun 30, 2008 3:37 PM in response to Keith Parobek

Well that's fine with me... in fact that the modules have the same price, it could not "harm" the performance of my system at least... 😉

Talking about the 16/32GB barrier... The file you posted shows a maximum of 16GB (for my machine) using eight 2GB modules. To go higher I would have to use 4GB modules (up to 32GB). Is that also possible with my system, or could it just handle a maximum of 16GB ...?

Message was edited by: Matthias Wahl

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Answer 10

The hatter

Level 9

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Jun 30, 2008 3:42 PM in response to Matthias Wahl

There weren't 4GB modules to test with, but once there were, it was confirmed - though cost early on was even worse than it is now.

It wasn't until about March '07 that prices and cooler FBDIMMs became available.

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Answer 11

Jun 30, 2008 5:02 PM in response to The hatter

Thanks a lot for this information...!

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Answer 12

bdmarsha

Level 4

2,580 points

Jun 30, 2008 7:45 PM in response to Matthias Wahl

That is correct, at least according to MacTracker.

bd

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