Memory PC5300 vs PC5400

Strange as it may seem, it appears that particular salesperson is correct. You can find the short answer at http://howtofixcomputers.com/bb/sutra886478.html and if you're into technical specifications (and this is a gnarly one), get it from the horse's mouth at http://www.jedec.org/download/search/JESD79-2B.pdf (which is linked from the previously mentioned Web page).

Randall Schulz

iMac 20" Core Duo; MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.5)

They are different so they can't have the same specs any more than a 3.25L engine and a 3.30L engine would.

Now it's possible, but not guaranteed that PC25400 RAM would adapt to a PC5300 system (def won't work the other way). However, I would not want to be the one to try it out on my $2K laptop. I have put PC2700 RAM in an iBook requiring PC2100 RAM before but that was before Mac got truly picky on the type of RAM they'll take.

So my advice is buy the proper RAM. PC5400 RAM is going to cost you more anyway (you need So-DIMMs, not the regular sticks) so there is no good reason to it.

I think the upshot is that it's a distinction without a difference. The variation in timing parameters is so tiny as to be relevant only when some other adjacent circuits are already on the hairy edge of their tolerances.

If you're the play-it-safe sort, then by all means stick to published specs. If you're the rough-and-ready, like-to-take-your-chances or cut-any-corner type (and you all won't be working for me), then go ahead and try the PC5300. The odds are it will work. But as with so much of life, no guarantees…


Randall Schulz

iMac 20" Core Duo; MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.5)

it was funny I was at the apple store the other day and the person helping actaully told me the ram in my computer was pc5400 and that if I didn't want to pay $200 for another gig of ram I should just get some of that and use it. I'm not sure if he was serious or just confused. (I got my MBP around 5 days ago)

MacBook Pro 15.4 Mac OS X (10.4.6) IntelCoreDuo 2.16Ghz

Generic PC53/5400 Laptop RAM.
I paid $75 for the extra Gig in my MB at Fry's.

Don't even remember brand.
Think about it, it's now not more than generic PC hardware.