The Unofficial 6GB RAM in 2009 MacBook White?

Question

The Unofficial 6GB RAM in 2009 MacBook White?

I'm wondering if anyone has tried the unofficial 6GB of RAM in the 2009 MacBook White 2.0GHz.

It officially supports 4GB RAM. Previous MacBooks that officially support 4GB have been found to actually work with 6GB.

But I'm wondering if Apple may have blocked this for the latest model. They do seem to be actively blocking 6GB in the 2009 mini as it can really only take 4GB, while using (nearly) identical hardware to the Late 2008 MacBook Aluminum (also officially 4GB, but actually can take 6GB).

I don't quite trust info from RAM sellers as everybody seems to be confused about the existence of this model -- thinking the plastic MacBooks have all been replaced by the aluminum ones...

Posted on May 8, 2009 5:50 PM

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Answer 1

May 9, 2009 9:40 AM in response to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxy

i haven't tried myself, but i wouldn't recommend trying at all. the amount of maximum RAM specified is what people should stick to. if there is to much, the system might not be able to handle it.
besides, you'll be able to get more out of your RAM and other components of the computer when Apple makes the debut of Snow Leopard sometime this year.
hope that helps!
-MacDarling55

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Answer 2

May 9, 2009 9:54 AM in response to MacDarling55

hope that helps

Didn't help : )

Apple under-spec'ing RAM capability for marketing purposes is a well-known phenomenon.

http://www.barefeats.com/mbpp11.html

Has anyone tried the 6GB in the 2009 model?

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Answer 3

y_p_w

Level 6

17,762 points

May 9, 2009 10:00 AM in response to MacDarling55

MacDarling55 wrote:
i haven't tried myself, but i wouldn't recommend trying at all. the amount of maximum RAM specified is what people should stick to. if there is to much, the system might not be able to handle it.

The operating system can definitely handle it. There are OSX machines running way more than 4 GB out there. Everymac is reporting that 6 GB works.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/stats/macbook-core-2-duo-2.0-white -13-early-2009-nvidia-specs.html

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Answer 4

May 9, 2009 10:12 AM in response to y_p_w

y.p.w. is right in general -- but I think MacDarling meant here that the "(hardware) system might not be able to handle it".

We should point out that in general MacDarling's concept isn't wrong -- you shouldn't go sticking too much RAM in a machine *on your own*. But for some machines, if other people have done serious testing and found higher RAM does work, then it's fairly safe to try.

It is still a "hack" though. In a small form-factor enclosure like most of the Macs today there could be an issue with heat. There might also be an issue with power supply. For example it might work fine... until you trying plugging in the maximum number of bus-powered firewire drives. So at your own risk.

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Answer 5

y_p_w

Level 6

17,762 points

May 9, 2009 12:16 PM in response to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxy

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxy wrote:
y.p.w. is right in general -- but I think MacDarling meant here that the "(hardware) system might not be able to handle it".

We should point out that in general MacDarling's concept isn't wrong -- you shouldn't go sticking too much RAM in a machine *on your own*. But for some machines, if other people have done serious testing and found higher RAM does work, then it's fairly safe to try.

It's been tried out before and shown to work. The main reason why more people don't use 6GB is the sky high cost of the 4GB modules.

It is still a "hack" though. In a small form-factor enclosure like most of the Macs today there could be an issue with heat. There might also be an issue with power supply. For example it might work fine... until you trying plugging in the maximum number of bus-powered firewire drives. So at your own risk.

I wouldn't worry about DRAM overheating or using too much power. It's only marginally more for a 4GB module compared to a 2GB module. You could really minimize power consumption with 2 GB modules, but that's not practical.

http://download.micron.com/pdf/datasheets/modules/ddr2/HTS16C256_512x64H.pdf

I'd think more memory could be helpful if it relieves page in/out accesses.

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Answer 6

May 9, 2009 12:55 PM in response to y_p_w

It's been tried out before and shown to work. The main reason why more people don't use 6GB is the sky high cost of the 4GB modules.

You're preaching to the choir.

6GB has been tested and found to work *in later-2007, and 2008 MacBooks*.

I'm trying to find confirmation someone has done this in the *2009 MacBook*.

But in general don't stick more memory than approved in just any Mac, without knowing someone has tested it and it actually works.

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Answer 7

May 21, 2009 9:15 PM in response to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxy

Anyone tried it yet? Prices are coming down! OWC (macsales.com) claims it will work and has a full refund policy!

One of you other penguins needs to jump in the water and see if there's a walrus there before this penguin buys a MacBook over a mini just for the supposed 6GB : )

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