How much RAM can my Macbook Pro hold MAX?

Question

How much RAM can my Macbook Pro hold MAX?

Can my Macbook Pro hold a MAX of 8GB or is it just 4GB? I'm getting different answers online and I'm a little annoyed at this point. My computer specs currently are:

15 inch Laptop
MacBook Pro 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM.

Got my computer in 2009.

At Crucial.com it says it can hold up to 8GB when I select my computer processor speed from their list, but I noticed it saying DDR3 (and I don't know what that means to be honest). Here's the link:
http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=7F3A5584A5CA7304
To the best of my knowledge I selected the correct computer, which I own, from their list.

Under "About This Mac", on my computer, it says DDR2 for the memory, on Crucial.com it says DDR3. As a result I'm confused and will that cause problems?

I'll be getting my RAM kit from Crucial.com, so do I buy the 4BG kit, because that's all my laptop can handle, or is it OK to get the 8GB kit, which says DDR3?

I do a lot of video and audio, so I would like to get my RAM up to 8 GB if it will.

Thanks

MacBook Pro 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, Using built in sound for now.

Posted on Jan 23, 2011 11:21 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 23, 2011 11:28 AM in response to timmytapeworm

I was under the impression it could hold 4Gb max but your core 2 duo is a few years newer than mine, maybe 8 is feasible. Check over at OWC, they have a very good reference system for all models and lots of info to help out.

Matt

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Answer 2

Jan 23, 2011 11:41 AM in response to Matt Leader

Hmmm. Thanx for the info. Seems like their list for MAX specs only go up to 2008 Macbook Pros, and I have a 2009, so I'm still confused. This is what their list says:

MacBook Pro MacBook Pro
Factory Supported OWC Tested & Certified

MacBook Pro 15" Late 2007
Apple 4.0GB Actual 6.0GB
MacBook Pro 17" Late 2007
Apple 4.0GB Actual 6.0GB
MacBook Pro 15" Early 2008
Apple 4.0GB Actual 6.0GB
MacBook Pro 17" Early 2008
Apple 4.0GB Actual 6.0GB
MacBook Pro 15" Late 2008 Unibody
Apple 4.0GB Actual 8.0GB
MacBook Pro 17" Late 2008
Apple 4.0GB Actual 6.0GB

So are they saying that it was only built to hold up to 4GB, but OWC says you can sneak in 6GB, cause they did lab tests on it? I appreciate the direction, but I'm still in the dark.

-Tim

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Answer 3

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Jan 23, 2011 1:13 PM in response to timmytapeworm

Apple supports up to 4GB of RAM in your machine, but it can actually use up to 6GB (one 2GB and one 4GB module). 8GB won't work. Your machine requires PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SDRAM. The RAM linked in your post is for a unibody MBP, but that's not what you have.

Go to this page:

http://www.crucial.com/mac/index.aspx

Click the blue button to download the RAM configurator, and run it on your MBP. It will identify the Crucial products that are right for your machine.

No MBP that uses DDR2 memory can use 8GB of it.

Message was edited by: eww

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Answer 4

Jan 23, 2011 5:03 PM in response to eww

Thanks for your input. I will do that. So I can go up to 6GB? I would like to do that. A 2GB plus a 4GB?

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Answer 5

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Jan 23, 2011 5:18 PM in response to timmytapeworm

Yes and yes.

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Answer 6

Jan 24, 2011 10:32 AM in response to eww

Thanks for all your help and the speedy response.
Very much appreciated!

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Answer 7

Jan 26, 2011 4:38 AM in response to eww

One more question friend....You've been so helpful 🙂

Will these two sticks work together on my machine?

2GB, 200-pin SODIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 memory module
http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=B54C51B4A5CA7304

along with a...

4GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 Memory Module
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-CT51264AC800-200-pin-SODIMM-PC2-6400/dp/B001RB21JE

So these two would add up to 6GB total. Now the ONLY DIFFERENCE that I see is the 2GB stick is PC2-5300(667Mhz)speed and the 4GB stick is PC2-6400(800Mhz)speed. I understand that my machine won't run at the 800Mhz speed that the PC2-6400 stick is designed for, cause my machine says 667 under the memory info. From what I read online, it's ok to put a higher Mhz stick in there, it will just cap at 667Mhz speed? But.......both sticks are DDR2, which is right for my computer, but will the 667 MHz with a 800 Mhz be a huge no-no to run together? At this point I think that is my main concern! If I can't do this, than I think I'll have to go with the 2x2GB kit for 4GB total, but I REALLY would like to run 6GB.

Shew.... :P

Thanks again!

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Answer 8

Jan 26, 2011 4:51 AM in response to timmytapeworm

If the ram module that is 6400 speed is backwards compatible it will revert to the lower clock speed. Honestly it is better for your machine to have the same speed for the ram. So most likely it will work just like you said it will just use the slower of the speeds. As far as the 6GB I am not sure about that, the 2009 years were when they went from ddr2 to ddr3 and I know the ddr3 computers go up to 8GB and when we pull up the specs for computers it usually says just 4GB max. But if people have successfully put 6 in then go for it.

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Answer 9

Jan 26, 2011 5:08 AM in response to Alex_miksa

Thanks for the response. Can you tell me something...Under "About This Mac" for the memory is says 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, which is the info for what I have installed right now. But do you know where I can see what my computer is actually capable of handling? Or does it even tell you that info? This is what my memory catagory says:

Memory Slots:

ECC: Disabled

BANK 0/DIMM0:

Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0xCE00000000000000
Part Number: 0x4D342037305432393533455A332D43453620
Serial Number: 0x755B364A

BANK 1/DIMM1:

Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0xCE00000000000000
Part Number: 0x4D342037305432393533455A332D43453620
Serial Number: 0x755B3649

The speed (667 MHz) is what the memory stick is only right, not what my machine can handle. Sorry, I'm a noob, but I want to understand what I'm reading.

thanx

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Answer 10

Jan 26, 2011 5:31 AM in response to timmytapeworm

I have to be careful but I cannot give my work email out but if you email me at madesorgo@gmail.com with your serial number of your computer... I can look up the specs for you on your computer and gives you an exact answer... i just dont have access to that info from home... shhhhhhh if you know what i mean :P ive said too much

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Answer 11

Jan 26, 2011 5:32 AM in response to Alex_miksa

otherwise was it purchased early 2009, mid 2009, late 2009? i can check in the database without the SN but im under the impression from my experience its a max of 4gb

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Answer 12

Jan 26, 2011 5:36 AM in response to timmytapeworm

OK...I just went with the 2x2GB kit = 4GB from Crucial. Even though "lab tests" were done, according to OWC, that a total of 6GB has worked on my machine model. Crucial said that if I mixed the 2GB plus the 4GB would void the warranty on my purchase because Apple doesn't technically support that for my machine. Safety first as they say! So, I'll have to settle for a max of 4GB. I'm just greedy I guess and I don't know enough about computers to attempt a gamble like that.

Thank you all for the helpful info, I learned something...

Good day.

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Answer 13

Jan 26, 2011 5:43 AM in response to Alex_miksa

Oh Thanks Alex, I really appreciate that! It my machine is technically 4GB max, but I was excited about the fact of having 6GB, based off the OWC lab tests that they do. I just got off the phone with Crucial and went with the 4GB kit, which I KNOW will work with my computer. I'll just get a new machine in 4 years or so probably. **** computers as soon as you buy them they are obsolete 🙂

You've been very helpful and Thanx

Peace brother.

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Answer 14

Jan 26, 2011 5:49 AM in response to timmytapeworm

The machine I own only supports 4GB MAX according to Apple specifications . So I'm going to stick to that to avoid any headaches, incompatibility issues and returned purchases.

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Answer 15

Jan 26, 2011 5:56 AM in response to timmytapeworm

NP man, anytime! Eh I love my job so much I do it at home in my spare time lol. It's a tough call It might work but honestly the difference I've noticed even from 4 - 8 gb on my MBP 13" is very minimal because i don't do any photo editing or anything that really requires a lot of ram. OS X is designed so well it will even run way better than any PC with 2 gb let alone 4 heh. Yeah save up, there are going to be some bad *** computer coming out for sure I bet!

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