8GB of 1067Mhz or 4GB of 1333?

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Level 4

1,403 points

8GB of 1067Mhz or 4GB of 1333?

Just got the new MacBook Pro. I'm in a place where I can't purchase new RAM at the moment, but I do have some 4GB chips of the 1067Mhz RAM. The laptop came with 2x2GB 1333Hz RAM.

So the question is, would 4GB of 1333Mhz of RAM (stock) be better or 8GB of 1067Mhz?

iMac i5 (late 2009), (2) MBP 2.53Ghz (late 2008), MBP i7 Quad (early 2011), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 24, 2011 10:12 AM

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Answer 1

Showney

Level 1

5 points

Feb 24, 2011 10:53 AM in response to Taylor M

In my opinion, no - 8GB of 1067 Mhz would be better. The only advantage to using the 1333 Mhz would be if you wanted to overclock your processor more.

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Answer 2

Taylor M Author

Level 4

1,403 points

Feb 24, 2011 11:11 AM in response to Showney

I don't really know the mechanics of overclocking, so I don't know the relationship of the speed of the RAM to the processor, but it makes sense I guess. The new MBP processor is a quad core. Not sure if that makes a difference, but that machine is definitely going to be able to take advantage of the RAM.

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Answer 3

Feb 27, 2011 7:40 AM in response to Taylor M

I had the same question. I just bought a 13-inch MackBook Pro i5 and wanted to use 8GB (2x4GB) PC3-8500 (1067MHz) RAM from my previous MacBook Pro. Will you please post your results if you decide to use the RAM? Thanks!

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Answer 4

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Feb 27, 2011 7:46 AM in response to Taylor M

The correct RAM for your machine is 1333MHz. If you install slower RAM, it may slow the machine down, and during high speed memory-intensive operations the machine may become unstable or suffer kernel panics. Use the right RAM for your MBP.

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Answer 5

Apr 9, 2011 4:24 PM in response to eww

I would like to know either if it's ok or not. Are you saying that because you know and you tested or just because you think? The Intel Sandy bridge supports perfectly 1600.1333 and 1067mhz ram, so it's not problem surely about crash or freeze or whatever.
I guess i will put my 8gb 1067mhz ramm because i'm sure there is not difference (that you can see) between 1333 and 1067 ramm.

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Answer 6

May 15, 2011 1:04 AM in response to Taylor M

Hey, did you try it?

I was thinking of the same thing and wanted to hear from someone who did.

Please let me know.

Thanks 🙂

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Answer 7

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

May 15, 2011 10:34 AM in response to radzinzki

Suit yourself, but it's just plain foolhardy to install below-spec RAM in a computer that can take full advantage of the speed of the RAM that is specified for it.

If you go ahead anyway, and later on you have any troubles that you decide to come back and post about, please don't waste anyone's time here by forgetting to mention at the outset that your machine has the wrong RAM in it.

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