What memory type and brand is suitable for a RAM upgrade?

By installing RAM that is not specified by Apple for your MBP you run risks t hat your MBP will not work as designed. I am not aware of what the monetary differences are for you in this case but if I were in your position I would ask this question;

If I put in the non-specified RAM and there are problems am I willing to lose that money and then spend more for the RAM with the correct specifications.

You have an expensive notebook to begin with. Does it not at least deserve the proper RAM.

Ciao.

Corsair, Kingston, Crucial are reputable RAM manufacturers. OWC is a reseller that purports to sell even better RAM. All have RAM configurators on their pages that allow you to input your Mac's model and obtain a list of upgrade options guaranteed to fit and work properly.

Nowadays, there is no such thing as "standard laptop RAM", even in the PC world.

An important item tp keep in mind when you purchase new RAM is make certain that the specifications are strictly adhered to. For your MBP they are: 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM. This is also in your user manual.

Too often people deviate for price or perceived performance considerations and all too often they pay the consequences with poor or no performance.

Ciao.

Bimmer 7 Series says, "That will work...' which may very well be true but it may or may not work the way your MBP is designed to operate. Also it simply may NOT work! As stedman 1 has stated and I, increase your RAM according to the Apple specifications and thus you will get the performance that will meet your expectations.

If you review other posts on this issue, you come across many where the incorrect RAM has caused needless problems.

Ciao.

Clear the air:

My reasoning on stating that it would work is simple.

I always try to tell people to invest on better RAM than your standard cheaper version.

I own a late 08 Uni that started with 2GB of RAM. Upgraded it with 8GB of Kingston DD3 1333MHz Value RAM and it kept crashing. Tested each RAM on my Sony Vaio and it works fine.

Returned it and replaced it with 8GB DDR3 1333MHz Crucial RAM (cost a little more) and it works great. The RAM will register at 1333MHz when you click on About This MAC. Will it run at 1333MHz, no since the bus speed is at 1066MHz.

3 weeks ago, bought a brand new 13 Inch MB Pro and the first thing I did, upgraded it with Crucial DDR3 16GB 1333MHz RAM. Works perfectly.

Just my .02 Cents.

Cheers...

Bimmer, OG and stedman are speaking from a lot of experience other users have had on these discussions. Yes, faster ram MAY work in a machine as you have experienced. But, it may not, as you also experienced. During the past year or so, there have been a number of users on here complaining about this and that ram they bought, each module independently registered ok, but installed would not work. The ram was faster, so in theory better, than the Apple spec. So why didn't it work?

Other users, like your experience, came on and said they used faster ram than specified and it worked...but in some cases they added that at a later date they started having kernel panics indicative of faulty ram.

I am not discounting your experience, and approach to stick with quality ram, but just agreeing with OG and stedman that it is still sound advice to say stick to the Apple specs. And I would add the caveate, buy quality ram...Macs are notoreously sensitive to their ram.

I am sure we can discuss this topic all day...the subject keeps coming up every couple of months 🙂

Bimmer 7 Series, greetings; Your 13" MBP is working perfectly because you installed the correct RAM in it.

Regarding the 08 Uni (Uni-body I assume) where you have installed RAM with specifications that deviate from what Apple prescribes, you say it is working. It may very well be working the same way that RAM with the Apples specifications would, and then again it may not. What you provide is anecdotal evidence for your own particular situation. Unless one bench tests two Macs with the two different RAM configurations with the appropriate measurement equipment, no conclusive result can be claimed one way or another.

Since there have been those who have experienced disastrous results installing RAM with incorrect specifications, the prudent approach, as both stedman 1 and I have pointed out, is to adhere to Apple requirements. Not to do so introduces elements of needless risk.

Best of luck with your new MBP.

Ciao.

OG: No worries. Just didn't want to sound like I was giving OP's the wrong advice.

I do agree with yourself, Ralph Landry 1 and Stedman 1 as per your advice to other posters.

I was merely stating my own experience.

It's all good. Keep up the good work and helpful hints guys. ( i've followed some hints/advice from the 3 of you )

Cheers..

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Try these;

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=MacBook%20Pro%202.53GHz%20Inte l%20Core%20i5%20%2817-inch%20DDR3%29%20MC024LL%2FA&Cat=RAM

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/8566DDR3S8GP/

The OWC site also has videos to show you how to install. (It should also be described in the manual that came with your Mac)

If you're tempted to go for Kingston, do not use their ValueRam range - go for the premium ranges.

I believe OWC sells Samsung as one of their brands, and Samsung was the Apple supplied memory at least in the 2011 models like I have. the Crucial memory is not quite as expensive but still first quality and guaranteed for life.

Best bet is stick with the memory that matches the Apple specs. While Apple supports 8 GB the memory offered by Crucial and OWC that goes up to 16 GB is guaranteed to work...if it doesn't they have great return policies so feel secure dealing with them.

Question to ask yourself is, do you really NEED 16 GB? Take a look at Applications, Utilities, Activity Monitor while you have typical software open and working...do you see the memory being filled up, a lot of page ins and page outs? That can help guide you...if you don't overload the memory, then 16 GB will probably not make any difference in performance.

Safest approach? Speed-wise, stick to the Mac's hardware specs; if it says 1067, use 1067. Size-wise, use the max the Mac and your wallet can take, note that this will probably be bigger than what Apple says.

BTW, nobody has mentioned Corsair as a desirable brand, was under the impression that it is one of the premier brands. The 8GB upgrade I put in mine for $45+SH has worked flawlessly. Too bad the dollar parity is off the chart right now, cause I really yearn for a 16GB upgrade to improve my Fusion-ized VM's performance.

OWC don't make RAM, they're just resellers and relabelers who stick their sticker on and stick you with their comission. BTW, Ralph, I don't think the 2010 models can take the whole 16GB reliably. The 2011 models can.

OGELTHORPE wrote:

su Eminencia Courcoul, saludos amigo; You are aware that on general principle only 17" MBPs should have more than 8GB RAM installed?

Ciao.

So sorry, mi dinosaurico amigo, most sad that your pride and joy has just joined the pantheon of extinct things... 😝

Patrón Courcoul, saludos amigo; The only rational explanation is that you must have undue influence on Mr. Cook (probably in the form of compromising pictures) and directed him to discontinue the grandest of MBPs, just to annoy me. I shall now sit in a corner for three days and sulk.

Note the plethora of posts regarding the new MBPs where 90% of the questions posed can be answered by carefully reading the information on the Apple website.

My very best to you.

Ciao.