Which 8GB RAM upgrade chips for 2011 Macbook Pro?

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Which 8GB RAM upgrade chips for 2011 Macbook Pro?

I purchased my 2011 MBP with 4GBs of RAM because it seemed to me that I could eventually upgrade to 8GB for under $100. It's time to start shopping for the upgrade and I need your advice. These modules from Corsair, for example, seem to be ideal:

Corsair 8 GB DDR3 Laptop Memory Kit CMSO8GX3M2A1333C9

There are also several other options from Crucial, Kingston, and G.Skill, all in the $80-$90 range. I have the following question:

1. Which brand do you recommend?

2. Are there any compatibility issues with the brands I have mentioned?

3. Is it true that upgrading the RAM yourself doesn't void AppleCare warranty?

IMO, Corsair and Crucial make terrific RAM. I have used them in my Win PCs for years and have had no issues.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

2011 MacBook Pro 15, iMac, Mini, iPad 2, iPhone 4, Nano

Posted on Apr 30, 2011 5:02 AM

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Answer 1

psarquis Author

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Apr 30, 2011 5:07 AM in response to psarquis

Just to clarify, these are the specs of my 2011 MacBook Pro 15:

2.3 Ghz i7

4GB RAM

256GB SSD

Hi-res glossy monitor

AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB GDDR5

I think all 2011 MBPs use the same 1333 RAM, but just in case the specs matter. Thanks.

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Answer 2

May 1, 2011 4:33 AM in response to psarquis

I am getting these sticks

KINGSTON HYPERX 8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 NON-ECC CL9 SODIMM (KHX1600C9S3K2/8G)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104253

for my MB Pro 2011 15".

Read good stuff about them. They run at 1600 MHz, which OSX should recognize, and i7 will support it too.

This Corsair ram would work too, though it's only 1333 MHz.

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-DDR3-Laptop-Memory-CMSO8GX3M2A1333C9/dp/B002YUF8ZG /ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

If you buy the Kingston, be sure to NOT buy the XMP model - (model number ends with 8GX) buy the model that ends wth 8G. XMP is an Intel Memory Profile thing, that you'll need access to BIOS to utilize. (you can't on your mac 🙂)

Kingston should be the fastest though, with lowest CAS latency (in short, faster memory access times)

Enjoy 😉

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