8 GB RAM works in Macbook 5,2 Early 2009

Hi jesse,

You seem very knowlegable in this type of field of questions. I am looking for some answers. I just got a 2009 mac 5,2 with only 2GB. I am trying to upgrade to more GB and want to know if I can go from 2GM to 8GB. I know you made an upgrade but was it going from 2GB to 8GB? I am looking for your opinion. If you say yes, i can go from 2 to 8 then I will go ahead and go with that route. Please get abck to me asap!

-kodie

Hi kodie,

My name isn't jesse, but my reply might help you.

I just put 1x Crucial 4GB Single DDR2 667MHz PC2-5300 CL5 SODIMM 200-Pin (part number CT51264AC667) in my MacBook 2GHz model 5,2 (early 2009). It cames standard with 2GB, but I successfully upgrade it to 5GB. I hesitate to max it to 8GB because no major retailer suggest it, only 6GB (4+2) is suggested.

See that page : http://silverpanther.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/macbook-2009-8gb/

It works as long as you have the right firmware/boot ROM, 8GB will work. But there are issue regarding performance.

Other reference (OWC) : http://blog.macsales.com/9102-secret-firmware-lets-late-08-macbooks-use-8gb

I can also confirm that the 8GB of RAM upgrade works in the Macbook 5,2.

I purchased a SAMSUNG 8GB (4GBx2) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 800(PC2-6400) pack for about $120 off eBay, and it works fine with the Macbook reading 4GB of RAM in each of the two slots, and saying 8GB is being used.

To the user who mentioned their fan is running a little louder now since the upgrade, I'm experiencing the same thing too. It's not a “problem” for me though, since I'd rather trade more memory for a slightly louder laptop.

thanks for the report.

Are you running Mavericks or any particular firmware?

Since mavericks manages memory differently from previous OS filling the ram completly to use it as cache, did you notice slow down or any issue related to filling up the ram as reported from other users?

could you post the firmware number of your macbook?

Maurizio

I would like to update this post, if there is still anybody interested,

I managed to upgrade to 8gb using two 4gb modules komputerbay sodimm ddr2 667mhz

running on mavericks latest release and last efi avaible.

I must note that I could not boot using hynix module and I must think they were not compatible with the logic board.

Computer is running stable, I must check running times since i upgraded to sandisk ssd and new battery and getting around 4h wireless surfing

I advice these module since they are generally cheaper (100e for 2 4gb module) and showed better compatibility than others

Have you upgraded to Yosemite? I prematurely and foolishly upgraded and am dealing with the black screen issue that many other have experienced, and am wondering if another reason for the black screen and slowdowns is because I am only running with 4gb of RAM. But now I'm scared to throw another factor in the mix, specially if there's risk of my logic board not being happy with 8gb of RAM.

MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009), 5,2

2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Hello everybody,

just in case anyone else is interested in this upgrade, I have just installed 8GB @800MHz Hynix RAM in my Macbook 5,2 Early 2009.

First tests starting.

For more info, check my post.

Cheers!

Wonder what the performance is like if you install El Capitan with this much RAM, because I just purchased this machine and running El Capitan with 2GB of RAM(a bit laggy) and will be upgrading to 4GB this weekend.

Upgrade to 6Gb if you can. El capitan likes a lot of ram and 6 is max in a 5,2.

Thanks Jesseeeeee!

Until today I was able to upgrade my old MacBook 5,2 to 8gb running on 10.11.6 So happy! Thank you very much!!!