How much RAM can I upgrade my Macbook to?

Rafilip wrote:

...

Ordered a Kingston 4GB RAM (KTA-MB1600S/4G) and only after did I read this post, but to my dismay, it will not load on my computer, the machine just beeps. About to order (Kingston 1066 MHz (PC3 8500) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM KTA- MB1066/4G) and want to see if it will work before I purchase.

You can use these Links to check which RAM is suitable for your Mac...

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/

If in the UK... Go to http://www.crucial.com

It is Important to get the Correct and Matching RAM

frederic1943 wrote:

To see which model you have go to the Apple in the upper left corner and select About This Mac, then click on More Info..

The model 5,2 (Early 2009, 2.0GHz Model Only) can use 6gb of 200 pin 667mhz PC2-5300 RAM The model 5,2 (Mid 2009, 2.13GHz Model Only) can use 6gb of 200 pin 800mhz PC2-6400 RAM

I have an early 2009, 2.0Ghz white Macbook. I've used a pair of Corsair 2GB 200 pin 800mhz PC2-6400 SO-DIMMs successfully for years, even though that's supposed to be appropriate only to the mid-2009 and later versions. My question now is, can I safely order a 4GB pc2-6400 to replace one of these? Does it matter which slot the larger stick is in? My bus speed shows as 1.07 GHz and both 2GB sticks are reported as 800mhz and OK.

I have the same early 2009 MacBook Pro 5,2 and got two 4GB sticks from Crucial that have worked no problem for over a year. Pretty cheap upgrade, too, for the great boost.

Other World Computing claims that, while 8GB can be installed, performance is seriously deteriorated if more than 6GB is accessed:

http://blog.macsales.com/3291-putting-a-rumor-to-rest-owc-supports-6gb-max-in-la te-2008-macbook-pro

Have you seen any evidence of this effect? You'd probably have to be performing some pretty ram-intensive work to have it crop up...

That article was written in 2009. A later article from 2011 http://blog.macsales.com/9102-secret-firmware-lets-late-08-macbooks-use-8gb says that was fixed,

Sadly, when you read the article to which you linked, they'rereally talking about the 5,1 version of the MacBook, not our 5,2. They still say the 5,2 Early 2009 nVidia MacBook can only successfully address 6GB. If you scroll to the bottom of the article, just before the 685 responses, there's a section labeled 'Update: Further Clarification' with a flow chart to determine whether you can address all 8GB. The key point here is this:

I regret to say, our model ID is 5,2 and not 5,1.

I've also got a macbook 4,1 (according to system info). According to user frederick 1943 (in the 1st page of the forum), model 4,1 es an early 2008 and can use 6gb of 200 pin 667mhz PC2-5300 RAM. Is this correct? Will 2x3GB memory sticks work in my macbook?

My target it to install Mavericks so it can run as smooth as posible and have no compatibilty issues (the apps). Aside from this, can I also upgrade to a SSD?

I apreciate any helpfull info.

There is no 3gb RAM stick, you will need one 2gb stick and one 4 gb stick.

OWC 667Mhz RAM http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/MacBook/DDR2/ - They offer Mac tested RAM at very good prices.

The model 4,1 can only run a maximum of 10.7 Lion. It's mainly the video card. The Models 2,1 through 4,1 have video cards with non-upgradeable 32bit drivers. The model 5,1 Late 2008 and newer have at least the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 64bit drivers. Mountain Lion and Mavericks require 64bit native drivers. Mountain Lion and Mavericks no longer support Intel's GMA 950 or GMA X3100 graphics processors.

While Lion used some 32 bit and a lot of 64 bit code, Mountain Lion and Mavericks are pure 64 bit, which excludes more systems than Lion did. It's not something you can add memory to, for example, as it involves the base architecture.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57470261-263/older-64-bit-macs-out-of-the-p icture-for-mountain-lion/?tag=mncol;txt

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57387846-263/will-your-mac-run-mountain-lio n/

frederic1943 wrote:

To see which model you have go to the Apple in the upper left corner and select About This Mac, then click on More Info. When System Profiler comes up check the Model Identifier and post it back here.

The model 1,1 (Early 2006) can use 2gb of 200 pin 667mhz PC2-5300 RAM The model 2,1 (Late 2006 & Mid 2007) can use 3gb of 200 pin 667mhz PC2-5300 RAM The model 3,1 (Late 2007) can use 6gb of 200 pin 667mhz PC2-5300 RAM The model 4,1 (Early 2008) can use 6gb of 200 pin 667mhz PC2-5300 RAM The model 5,1 (Late 2008, Aluminum Unibody) can use 8gb of 204 pin 1066mhz PC3-8500 RAM The model 5,2 (Early 2009, 2.0GHz Model Only) can use 6gb of 200 pin 667mhz PC2-5300 RAM The model 5,2 (Mid 2009, 2.13GHz Model Only) can use 6gb of 200 pin 800mhz PC2-6400 RAM The model 6,1 (Late 2009, White Unibody) can use 8gb of 204 pin 1066mhz PC3-8500 RAM The model 7,1 (Mid 2010, White Unibody) can use 8gb of 204 pin 1066mhz PC3-8500 RAM

This is very useful, but I noticed it doesn't agree with the specs given by apple at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1651#link1. For example, I'm looking to upgrade my macbook7,1 from the current 2GB. The apple page says maximum memory is 4GB, whereas your list says 8GB. Any reason why these disagree, or why I can disregard apple's "official" recommendations?

Apple only tests the MacBooks with the RAM that’s affordable at the time that they’re made. At that time 4gb RAM sticks were $400 apiece. Later as RAM sticks drop in price they don’t go back and retest them since selling RAM is not their main business. After all they’re no longer selling that model, they’re on to the next one. Third parties whose business is selling RAM can test to see if a Mac can run more RAM as prices drop to make the RAM affordable.

Hi,

I'm wondering how much RAM can I install on my MacBook Pro. It's a late 2008 model. When I go to this link

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1270?viewlocale=en_US#link4

It tells me I have 2 slots and maximum memory is 4 GB. Does this mean each slot is a max of 4 or both combined? I've been working under the assumption it is max of 4 for both but I really need to upgrade and am hoping for the best. Thanks.

Btw, a few more stats for my Mac:

Processor: 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Memory: 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

Graphics: NVIDEA GeForce 9600M GT 512 MB

Thanks again.

While Apple say 4 GB total, you can use 8GB

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3

Thanks andyBall_uk. I appreciate the confirmation. Cheers.

hi,

can i know how much RAM can i put

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 3 MB

Memory: 2 GB

Bus Speed: 800 MHz

Boot ROM Version: MBP41.00C1.B00

SMC Version (system): 1.27f3

Serial Number (system): W8*****YJZ

Hardware UUID: 999EA6A5-6C62-5933-B33C-DC2738AF7014

Sudden Motion Sensor:

State: Enabled

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i using OS x 10.9.2 now