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Level 1

24 points

MacBook 5,1: RAM upgrade to 6GB

I currently use KINGSTON KTA-MB1066K2/4G 4GB KIT with no problem.
After a chat with macsales they insist and agree that after their tests macbooks 5,1 can have RAm up to 6GB.
I was wondering If anyone knows what will happen If I use one 2GB from KINGSTON KTA-MB1066/2G 2GB MODULE.

Thanks very much for your time.

MacBook 13.3'' Unibody (5.1), Mac OS X (10.6.4), 4GB RAM (KINGSTON KTA-MB1066K2/4G 4GB KIT), 500GB Seagate 7200 HD

Posted on Nov 10, 2010 6:27 AM

Best reply

a brody

Level 10

83,239 points

Posted on Nov 10, 2010 7:03 AM

Your Mac only has two RAM slots. That means you'll have to find a 4 GB module to go along with your 2 GB module to upgrade to 6 GB. The Kingston 4 GB Kit as I Google it shows it is i two individual 2 GB modules.

View in context

49 replies

Dec 11, 2010 11:14 AM in response to jacwuhan

You might be surprised. Safari is something of a memory hog - run it for a a few days and it eats up a lot of memory. When I run VMWare Fusion, I have to close every other application to avoid swapping too much memory and bogging down the entire system. It's not difficult these days to use more than 4GB of RAM. If you do any video editing, more RAM is always better.

SpilioG Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 20, 2010 4:00 AM in response to Larry Fransson

Update (as promised): MacBook 5,1, late 2008, unibody works like a charm with 6Gb of ram.
I replace one of the KINGSTON KTA-MB1066K2/4G 4GB KIT
with KINGSTON KVR1066D3S7/4G VALUE RAM SO-DIMM 4GB PC3-8500.
Tested with Rember app.
So, if you want to upgrade RAM on this kind/type of MacBook you can but only up to 6GB.
Happy holidays to all

Dec 22, 2010 12:42 AM in response to SpilioG

Yes,

I have been running 6GB in my machine since new in January 2008.

I only ordered 4GB, but the dealer made a mistake and installed 6GB instead (Don't worry I paid for it and back then it was worth a bit).

Works like a charm, have never had any issues, great when editing video etc.

4GB is definitely enough for most users I agree, but if you work with photos and video on any sort of regular basis, it well worth it.

Dec 24, 2010 10:53 AM in response to mnemonicj

RAM got here about a week ago and everything is fenomenal. I've been running at least two virtual machines, dreamweaver and photoshop seamlessly. This upgraded is really not recommended to users with little demand though.

msmezher

Level 1

0 points

Jan 26, 2011 11:09 PM in response to SpilioG

Actually, due to one of the more recent firmware updates for Snow Leopard (READ: Not Leopard) the MacBook5,1 (NON-PRO) Late 2008 Aluminum Unibody can handle 8GB of memory. I just installed a 2x4GB kit from Crucial and it works like a charm. I've also seen a bunch of other forums where the latest posts seem to indicate that this is true.

Bozz_2006

Level 3

505 points

Jan 28, 2011 6:36 AM in response to Jay Bullock

Would you be willing to provide a link or two for discussions indicating 8GB is possible in the 5,1 aluminum macbook?

Feb 4, 2011 4:13 PM in response to Bozz_2006

Upgraded to 8gigs specifically after looking for threads addressing the 8gigs in the Macbook Alu. I'm running 8gigs from Crucial 100% fine. No hiccups of any sort. The computer is actually now much more seamless and has a greater ability to multitask with not having to wait for any beachballs.

I personally think if you've updated the system properly, you should be able to run 8 no problem. I'm a little annoyed at the amount of scare some other users are handing out, it is just a little to exaggerated honestly.

Run 8gigs, that way you are pairing the amounts and everything rather than a 2gig and 4gig configuration for 6gigs. Plus 8gigs is roughly the same in terms of money with the 6gigs. Well worth the money.

Mar 11, 2011 10:14 AM in response to SpilioG

My MacBook Pro 5,1 (late 2008) with 8GB as 2x4GB Samsung DDR3-1067 (EFI and SMC updated to the latest versions)...

Best regards,
Michael

Reasoner

Level 1

0 points

Mar 14, 2011 12:22 AM in response to SpilioG

but the question is I keep asking is that will my macbook use the 8GB? It might SEE 8GB but if it wont use 8GB, then whats the use?

Lets give an example, since I am also a windows user. Windows sees 4GB but it says (usable 2.75GB)

I just got myself 4GB and I'm thinking of returning it and getting 2GB x 2 if it's not being utilised at all.

I do run memory hogging programmes, Logic Pro, Garage Band, Virtual Box, heavy Java programs, Photoshop CS5.

Snow Leopard 10.6.6

Yeah I know I should get a macbook pro... but I'll stick to this for a while 🙂

Mitso

Level 1

10 points

Mar 23, 2011 12:57 AM in response to Reasoner

Update: MacBook 5,1, late 2008, unibody

Been using 5Gb of RAM since about a month with no problems. Tested with Rember. Works a lot better now.

I kept one of the original modules (1gb) and added this one: KINGSTON KVR1066D3S7/4G VALUE RAM SO-DIMM 4GB PC3-8500.

For what I do, 5 is more than enough.

jkml63

Level 1

0 points

Apr 20, 2011 5:50 PM in response to Mitso

Hello,

I have been reading the posts and just joined up to say thanks to everyone.

I have a late 2008 Mac Book 5.1 that had 2 ghz of ram. I read that you could possible boost it up to 6 or 8 ghz, which is more than the Apple recommended. I am a Minister and I use a large bible study program called Logos 4 that includes over 1211 books. You can imagine how long it took to search through some information, or books. Even so, the 2ghz worked pretty well if I was patient. However, I thought I would attempt to add some memory after reading some of your posts. I bought a 4GB MemoryPower, DDR3-1333 stick of ram, took out a 1gb from my computer and added the 4gb which gave me 5gb. I fired up my computer and Logos 4 and still can't stop smiling. It's a laptop on steroids. It searches the 1211 books, illustrations and pictures almost instantly.

Thanks a million for your forum. I may or may not change out the remaining 1gb stick for a 2gb or 4gb, but I'm happy enough at this point. Be Blessed.

D1337

Level 1

20 points

Apr 22, 2011 12:32 PM in response to jkml63

I am running 8GB in my MacBook with no problems. It never uses the swap file on the hard drive now. I can literally have hundreds of files open with absolutely no slow down.

I bought a kit from OWC that 4GBx2. Couldn't have been easier and I couldn't be any happier with the upgrade. Looks like I will get at least another two years from a notebook I have already had for two years.

jkml63

Level 1

0 points

Apr 23, 2011 8:45 AM in response to D1337

Thanks,

The next time I'm in the store I'll get the other 4gb and install it since it looks like things will only improve. I may increase the size of the hard drive as well.

Jun 6, 2011 4:11 AM in response to jkml63

Thanks to previous posts on this thread and a few other forums.

Adding this in case it's helpful to others.

Yesterday I purchased 8GB DDR3 1066 Ram (2x4GB) from Strontium for my MacBook 5.1 2.0ghz running OSX 10.6.6.

Easy install from the previous 2GB my MacBook came with. Plugged the new RAM in, put the lid back on and switched on the MacBook, everything is fine 8GB ram recognized. Literally plug and Play.

Everything works really well, Aperture 3 is now running like a dream.

tThanks again to all those who took the time to post.

Jun 6, 2011 8:22 PM in response to Reasoner

To answer your question about whether 8gigs will be used or not depends on you. I have maxed out the 8gigs and I monitor my Acitivity Monitor quite frequently. An example of where I have had all 8gigs come into play was when my system had OSX running with Windows 7 in VMware Fusion running 3 or so programs, not light ones either, and over in OSX I ran Photoshop CS5 with a RAW image and 10+ tabs in Google Chrome. My computer fluctuated around 6-8gigs of ram usage through out the entire time.

MacBook 5,1: RAM upgrade to 6GB