Macbook Pro late 2008, and 1333mhz RAM module

Question

Level 1

8 points

Macbook Pro late 2008, and 1333mhz RAM module

Hi,

I have MacbookPro late 2008, and after I found this: http://blog.macsales.com/9102-secret-firmware-lets-late-08-macbooks-use-8gb
I want to update my RAM to 8GB (I have new firmware version).

My question is: Can I put 2x4GB DDR3 1333Mhz in my MacbookPro (I have 2x2GB DDR3 1066Mhz now)?
Question is about speed, not quantity (8GB), because it's proven that it's recognizable up to 8GB now.

MacbookPro late 2008, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 7, 2011 7:08 AM

Reply

Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,340 points

Mar 7, 2011 7:32 AM in response to Mladjan

My question is: Can I put 2x4GB DDR3 1333Mhz in my MacbookPro (I have 2x2GB DDR3 1066Mhz now)?

No it will not work, your computer might boot but it will very soon be plagued by Kernel Panics. Please ensure you install RAM that is specified for your machine.

Roger

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 7, 2011 7:48 AM in response to rkaufmann87

""""No it will not work, your computer might boot but it will very soon be plagued by Kernel Panics. Please ensure you install RAM that is specified for your machine.""""

Why should that be ? are there other differences or the ram speed is reason enough ? is that true for recent upgrades or has it always been so ?

Thanks

Reply

Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,340 points

Mar 7, 2011 9:03 AM in response to Paolo Selva

Why should that be ? are there other differences or the ram speed is reason enough ? is that true for recent upgrades or has it always been so ?

For at least 2 reasons, first Macs are extremely sensitive to the correct RAM being installed and second because your machine is specified for 1066 RAM.

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 9, 2011 9:40 PM in response to Mladjan

As long as it's the same type of RAM (DDR3), your logic board should recognize it. A higher frequency stick of RAM should just clock downwards to the specified frequency on the board or, if allowed, stay running at its original frequency.

I've been running 1333 DDR RAM in my late 2008 MBP with no problems for a year under the new boot ROM. You should have no troubles. Older logic boards, on the other hand, do experience kernel panics when there is mixed RAM. In my experiences, I've stuck to using matching and uniform sticks of RAM.

Enjoy your 8GB!

Reply

Answer 5

gskrilla

Level 1

0 points

Jun 23, 2011 7:03 PM in response to Community User

I just put in 8gb of Muskin 1333 DDR3 ram in my Late 2008 Macbook Unibody (Non Pro) and it recognized it, and runs perfect and freakin fast!

Reply

Answer 6

jabofh

Level 1

0 points

Jul 31, 2011 11:41 AM in response to Community User

I've recently decided to upgrade my Late 2008 MBP 5,1 to 8Gb as well...

Would you mind telling me if yours shows rniing at 1333MHz or whether they're down-clocked to 1066MHz.

Reply

Answer 7

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jul 31, 2011 1:11 PM in response to Mladjan

In principle it works, the 1333MHz Ram will be downclocked to 1067MHz.

But In practice it is an extremely "sensitive" situation.

I advise to use ONLY exact spec RAM. Of a reputable maker (OCZ; Crucial; Corsair; Kingston KTA, NOT Kingston ValueRam). Ram is too cheap to take any risk.

Reply

Answer 8

jabofh

Level 1

0 points

Aug 9, 2011 10:48 AM in response to Lexiepex

I had bought a 4Gig module from OWC about a year ago (since conventional wisdom was that it could only handle 6Gig reliably) so I settled for a 4Gig Kingston KTA 1333MHz (Best I could get hold of in this neck of the woods) as a second module.

So far the two have been playing together very nicely (in fact, I now see *less* freezing than before; but that may be Lion more than the RAM). I will admit to being rather happy with the upgrade.

Now if only I could afford a SSD...

Reply

Answer 9

wKingdom

Level 1

0 points

Oct 26, 2011 10:48 AM in response to Mladjan

I upgraded today.

macbook 5.1 (unibody, late 2008, not pro) 2ghz intel.

i bought 2x 4gb kingston ddr3 1333mhz without knowing it could be an issue.

read this discussion and was worried by rkaufmans post.

tried it anyway and it worked.

so far so good.

Reply

Answer 10

Oct 28, 2011 6:07 PM in response to wKingdom

I bought some g-skill 2x4gb 1333 mhz ram for my unibody late '08. Works well so far, macbook is recognizing it as 1333, not 1066. Not sure whether thats reality, but no problems yet. I'm just happy it accepted the ram, not really worried about whether it's running 1066 or 1333.

Running a bit faster than the 2gb (patriot) and 1gb (stock memory) sticks I had inside before. I think there is really something to making sure you buy the SAME EXACT sticks if you go with two.

Next stop ssd...

Reply

Answer 11

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Oct 29, 2011 12:28 AM in response to gordian89

gordian89, ofcourse it is recognized as 1333, because it is 1333. It is not displayed at what speed it is running. It runs at board speed (1066).

Reply

Answer 12

Dec 19, 2011 11:14 PM in response to Lexiepex

no many sense buy an expensive 1333 ghz ram when it will be running at 1066.. thanks!

Reply

Answer 13

rpknick

Level 1

0 points

Dec 20, 2011 1:27 AM in response to Community User

@datniceguy

@gskrilla

@jabofh

@wKingdom?

@gordian89

Thanks guys. I too am I on the path for the DDR3 1333Mhz ram upgrade in my Late 08 15" MBP.

Can one or all of you that has successfully switched from DDR3 1067Mhz to the 1333Mhz RAM clarify a couple points for me please? Sorry to ask but I'd like to make sure I'm on the same page before I do it.

a) Were any of you already upgraded to Lion? If not, have any of you done the Lion upgrade yet?

b) Are you still operating your MBP without any related issues?

c) And lastly, were you already on the correct Boot ROM Version? Or???

My Config:

Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz

L2 Cache: 6 MB

Memory: 4 GB

Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

Boot ROM Version: MBP51.007E.B05

Please let me know. I would appreciate the help. Crucial RAM arrives in 48 hours and I want to be prepared.

Thanks in advance.

Reply

Answer 14

nule

Level 1

0 points

Apr 5, 2012 10:43 AM in response to Mladjan

If you're in the same "family" of RAM, e.g. DDR3 versus DDR2, there's no reason using a faster speed would hurt anything. They're specifically designed to be backwards compatible within families and if a system can't use a given speed it'll just use a slower one.

To say that Macs are especially sensitive to memory speeds is silly.

Reply

Answer 15

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Apr 5, 2012 11:06 AM in response to rpknick

There is no one who has "successfully" switched from 1067 to 1333. There are some where it did not (yet) lead to problems. It has nothing to do with the OS. It will not run faster than 1067 if that's what your bus is. But some brands RAM will be able to be downclocked more easily than others. When it comes to problems it will cause kernel panics eventually if not immediately. If you expect a shipment from Crucial, talk to them, certainly they will accept that you return it unopened and will agree to send you the correct spec.

Reply