1600mhz vs 1333mhz

Buy what is specified for your computer - 1333mhz. 1600mhz may or may not work. You won't see any speed increase because the bus will only run so fast.

If you install the 1600mhz you void your warranty. It's up to you.

Clinton

Upgrading to a non-spec'ed item will void your warranty. Apple does not sell 8 GB sticks of RAM for older MBP's.

Clinton

orah wrote:

Apple sells 2gb sticks of ram with 1600mhz for MacBook pros which are actual replacement parts at the bar.

Those are for the 2012 models. The 2011 specify 1333GHz.

Do as you will, though. It's not going to increase your performance.

Clinton

orah wrote:

Where exactly will i see the improvement in power from this 20% jump?

If the RAM even works, and there is a chance it won't, you won't see any improvement...as in none. I've never understood why users do this.

Despite what you say, all 2011 Macbook Pros are capable of running 1600mhz ram modules. I have been wondering the performance differences myself as all benchmarks I've seen are running 1333mhz. Guess I will find out today.

You will probably see no benefit in running 1600 vs 1333. I follow gaming and pc benchmarks quite a bit and the performance difference between the two is like 1% improvement in most applicationss. When you consider DDR3, especially in mobile platform the most important factor is voltage, not clock. One of the things I like the most about the new 2012 model is adoption of DDR3L SODIMMS which consume less power over time, 1.35 V vs 1.5 V, which I am sure improves battery life.

Also if I buy a ram upgrade I usually would get that from OWC http://macsales.com. You might save some money if you just buy a cheap higher density kit @1333. I am fairly certain RAM is considered user replaceable in the 2011 model but you can always ask or have apple put it in.

Also truly, if you want your system to be more responsive and you already have 4GB RAM or more in Lion, an SSD is the best thing you can do for it.

orah wrote:

hey everyone

quick and simple.

1600mhz memory vs 1333mhz memory on a 2.4ghz quadcore i7 on a 15" late 2011 MBP

Where exactly will i see the improvement in power from this 20% jump?

You won't really see any improvement in terms of speed.

Your system bus is locked at 1333MHz. The RAM you're planning on installing is 1600MHz, in which, your Macbook might recognize as 1600MHz but won't benefit from it because of your system bus.

If you do get it to work, the RAM will downclock to 1333MHz. There is another thread here in which the user decided to use the same type of RAM you're inquiring about and his Mackbook keeps on freezing after. Sad part is, he can't even return or exchange it.

If you want more speed, then get a 1333MHz RAM but with a lower CL (clock) rate. Your Macbook uses, CL9. You might be able to go as low as CL7 but that doesn't even assure you that it might work.

2011 MBPs do not have an FSB so it is controlled directly from the intel chip. There's been multiple screenshots showing their 2011 MBPs recognizing 1600mhz. If it recognizes it as 1600mhz, it should operate at that speed. But as for performance, from what I'm reading it's minimal.

I don't think you understand what I was saying. This is not a Front Side Bus issue.

The processor can support 1066/1333/1600MHz RAM.

The logicboard Apple installed is locked at 1333MHz.

I have an old macbook that specs out at 1066MHz. I have 8GB 1333MHz RAM installed. It works great, it shows that I have 1333MHz RAM installed.

But does it perform at 1333MHz? NO. Because of the logicboard. Not processor, Not front side bus. But the logicboard is locked at that speed.

You don't believe me? Try it and download a benchmark software and do a ram test with 1333MHz then do the same with 1600MHz. See if you see any difference.

I've been dealing and working on RAM modules way too long....Long enough to remember that the cost of 1MB of RAM was $40 and the highest RAM available at that time was 2MB max.

Oh yeah, FSB is in the processor. So if your processor in your Macbook is intel, the it does have front side bus.

Hmmm will definitely have to try that later tonight. From what I've been reading on other forums, people have been noticing a slight increase in performance although I don't know if it's actually performance increase or placebo effect.

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/879547

That's gotta say something.

I did a little bit of looking around. If you go to http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=macbook+pro+13 -inch+early+2011+i7+1600+64-bit and look at all the scores that have 8gb of ram, the memory performance scores all range around 5800-5850.

Now if you go to http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=macbook+pro+13 -inch+early+2011+i7+1600+64-bit and look at all the scores that have 8gb in them, the memory performance scores range from 6140-6250.

That in itself should show that there is indeed an increase in performance between 1333mhz and 1600mhz.

Here's my 32 bit score just in case you guys were wondering. http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/879937

FYI stay away from Geil ram. Lowered my score by 400 points when I installed it. Took it back out and installed factory 1600mhz ram modules.

So, guys I have kind of the opposite question:

I upgraded my late 2011 i7 2.4ghz quad core 17" mbp from 2x4GB ram to 2x8GB.

These are 1333mhz. Using this machine for video work.

Now considering getting a new base model 15" mbp 2x2GB Ram for DJ work.

(replacing a non unibody 15" penryn machine) The new models are 1600 mhz.

1. Would I be able to install the 2x4GB sticks 1330 mhz that came in my 17"

into the new 15" 1600mhz machine?

2. If so, would I see a substantial performance drop?

Considering doing this, then I could always buy 2x8GB, 1600mhz for the 15" later right?

Anyone with an insight please share your knowledge.

Thanks, Warp.

If you're going to get a 2012 model, go with the 1600MHz RAM and 1333MHz RAM for your 17" 2011 model. You may or may not have problems with 1600MHz RAM in your 17" model - it's like playing the lottery.

Clinton