MBP 13" Late 2011 Max RAM

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MBP 13" Late 2011 Max RAM

Apple states that MBP 13", late 2011, CoreI7 2 cores, max RAM is 8 GB... I'm running 16 GB, how can be that?

I have never had a problem, a reboot, nor any app behaving weired... I even run 12 GB RAM virtual machines with Oracle Virtual Box...

So, how Apple can restrict users from upgrading memory in a super HW like a MBP?

I'll be the first one upgrading to 32 GB RAM when 16 GB modules reach the street...

Any ideas?

Thank you

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), Late 2011, i7, Intel 600GB SSD

Posted on Jul 21, 2012 3:03 PM

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Answer 1

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Kappy

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Jul 21, 2012 3:06 PM in response to mikepre

Apple doesn't restrict RAM. They merely certify.

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Answer 2

mikepre Author

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Jul 21, 2012 3:17 PM in response to Kappy

Thank you, you're right... they do not restrict, but disencourage users from upgrading their machines to the state they want...

I do not think Apple testing labs have a lack of resources nor lack of time to do more testings...

Don't get me wrong, I'm an Apple fan, but if they know that 16 GB RAM works fine, why not update web server pages?

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Answer 3

Jul 21, 2012 3:22 PM in response to mikepre

There are a few of us here running 16GB of RAM in our late 2011 Macbooks. I have both 13 and 15 inch which is running with not issues.

Apple is very conservative when they spec out their systems to be in the safe side. That is probably what they tested in on since 8GB modules weren't too popular and were expensive at that time.

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Answer 4

mikepre Author

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Jul 21, 2012 3:28 PM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

You're probably right...but I would rather buy a MBP already tested to run 16 GB Ram (today) or 32 GB Ram (tomorrow) [no matter they test with a limited number or brands], rather than having to take the risk by myself...

Thank you

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Answer 5

wjosten

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Jul 21, 2012 3:30 PM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

Actually, there were no 8GB modules available when Apple first released these machines, and Apple does not go back & retest.

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Answer 6

mikepre Author

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Jul 21, 2012 3:53 PM in response to wjosten

16 GB RAM upgrades (2x8 GB) for MBP were already available in March 2011 (from OWC, who actually made them available March 9, 2011). So chances are that late 2011 models already had 16 GB RAM upgrades available when they hit the market... anyway, thank you all for your valuable answers...

Michael

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Answer 7

wjosten

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Jul 21, 2012 3:59 PM in response to mikepre

Yep, but these models were released in Feb. of 2011 & there were no 8GB modules available at that time.

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Answer 8

mikepre Author

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Jul 21, 2012 4:06 PM in response to wjosten

nop... Late 2011 were released Oct 24, 2011...that's the one I own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro

Regards

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Answer 9

Jan 4, 2013 4:27 AM in response to mikepre

Hey Mike, did you do the upgrade to 16gb? How did it go?

Thanks,

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Answer 10

mikepre Author

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Jan 4, 2013 4:45 PM in response to marcinkus

Sure, as my first post states, I'm running 16 GB RAM DDR3 and an Intel 600 GB SSD disk... it rocks... using Oracle VirtualBox I'm even able to run 12 GB RAM Virtual Machines with Windows Server, Linux, Solaris, etc. The machine is absolutely stable.. it's like carrying a portable server 🙂

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