Can my late 2008 macbook Pro use 8GB?

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Can my late 2008 macbook Pro use 8GB?

Hi all,

I've done some searching on this but Im a mac Nubie and gotten completely confused

I've currently got a macbook pro which currently has 4Gb ram and I want to know if it can be upgraded to 8Gb.

My mac is the one desribed here http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/stats/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2 .6-17-early-2008-penryn-specs.html

Mode A1621, Boot Rom MB41.00C1.B03

I've read a number of postings which indicate 4GB is the official supported amount by Apple, 6Gb will work (unofficially) and this posting http://www.macrumors.com/2011/03/07/secret-firmware-update-unlocks-support-for-8 -gb-ram-on-late-2008-notebooks/ indicates some late 2008s can be upgraded to 8gb after a EFI update.. however mine comes up as a MacBook pro 4,1 not 5.1 (shame).

So

- Am I on the latest EFI/Boot Rom? Can I simply install the latest and it will

- Can this machine with the latest boot rom/snow lepoard run to 8Gb ram?

Many thanks,

I think the answer is 6GB but I just wanted to check with the experts

Angelo

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 29, 2012 2:08 AM

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Answer 1

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wjosten

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Mar 29, 2012 2:16 AM in response to asantaga

6GB's max.

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Answer 2

asantaga Author

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Mar 29, 2012 2:27 AM in response to wjosten

Many thanks, I got excited when I read the 8gb article.. shame..

Am i running the latest EFI?

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Answer 3

wjosten

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Mar 29, 2012 2:30 AM in response to asantaga

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237

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Answer 4

X423424X

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Mar 29, 2012 2:33 AM in response to asantaga

According to the ram sold for your machine by OWC, 6GB is the max you can stuff in there. If it could be more you can be sure they would list.

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Answer 5

asantaga Author

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Mar 29, 2012 2:41 AM in response to wjosten

Hi wjosten

I checked http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237 earlier (before my original post), but the EFI field is blank...

Also there is no 17-inch late 2008 just an early 2008

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)

MacBookPro4,1

1.28f3 (SMC 1.4)

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Answer 6

wjosten

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Mar 29, 2012 2:44 AM in response to asantaga

That means there are no updates for your computer. Whatever your computer shipped with is it.

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Answer 7

asantaga Author

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Mar 29, 2012 2:55 AM in response to wjosten

Ah ok.. thanks

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Answer 8

wjosten

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Mar 29, 2012 2:57 AM in response to asantaga

You're welcome.

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Answer 9

asantaga Author

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Mar 29, 2012 3:33 AM in response to wjosten

Hi Wjosten,

A friend of mine just posted me this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro#cite_note-EFI_Firmware_Update_Required- 27

Using the serial# on my mac , Apple reports this as a LATE 2008, looking at the table, the specs (graphcs card, bus, cpu ) matches the "late 2008" column perfectly, EXCEPT the model Identifier.. macbook pro 4,1 vs 5,1

Where does one get the (e.g. MB766*/A) from on the computer?

Also could it be that it has the wrong EFI installed? causing it to report the wrong macbook pro version?

happy to send you via email, pm or whatever the serial#

Angelo

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Answer 10

wjosten

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Mar 29, 2012 3:40 AM in response to asantaga

asantaga wrote:

Also could it be that it has the wrong EFI installed? causing it to report the wrong macbook pro version?

Nope. If such were true, your computer most likely wouldn't even boot.

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Answer 11

asantaga Author

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Mar 29, 2012 3:45 AM in response to wjosten

ok and where do i get the model# from? ie the MBxxx

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Answer 12

wjosten

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Mar 29, 2012 3:52 AM in response to asantaga

http://www.everymac.com/

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Answer 13

asantaga Author

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Mar 29, 2012 3:56 AM in response to wjosten

yup there it is..

Intro Date:	February 26, 2008*	Disc Date:	January 6, 2009
Order No:	BTO/CTO	Model No:	A1261 (EMC 2199)
Subfamily:	Early 2008	Model ID:	MacBookPro4,1
Std. RAM:	2 GB, 4 GB*	Std. VRAM:	512 MB
Std. HD:	250, 320 GB* (5400 RPM)	Std. Optical:	8X DL "SuperDrive"

Looks like Apple have it down wrong in the their system (as Late 2008) and the wikipedia article is potentially wrong..

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Answer 14

EP13

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Jun 13, 2012 12:59 PM in response to asantaga

I have the MBP5,1 late 2008 & had no problem going from 4 GB to 8 GB RAM.

I did it after reading this article: http://blog.macsales.com/9102-secret-firmware-lets-late-08-macbooks-use-8gb

Why don't you give OWC a call?!

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