Can I put one 8GB RAM stick in my 13" MBP?

I have a current gen 13" MBP that is able to take 8gb of ram. My question is, can I put one 8gb stick in my MBP? Or does it have to be two 4gb sticks?

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Mar 4, 2013 2:56 PM

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11 replies

Mar 4, 2013 3:04 PM in response to MilesTV

If you have a Mid 2012 MBP of any size screen, 13" or 15", Not a Retina model. you can put up to 16GBs of RAM in it. It is best to install RAM in pairs, 2x4GB, 2x8GB, but it may or may not run with only 1 8GB chip. You could also use one chip of what it came with and add 1 8GB chip. But like I said it is Best to use 2 chips of the same ammount and of course all the same other Specs.

Mar 4, 2013 3:07 PM in response to MilesTV

The Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13" can accept 2-8GB RAM modules for 16GB total, despite Apple saying it can only accept 8GB.


If you only want 8GB, then place 2-4GB RAM modules in, however I would just upgrade to 16GB (2 x 8GB) now and enjoy the benefit and only opening your machine once.


16GB is really sweet, allows one to open many apps at once, even other operating systems in virtual machines.


Windows in BootCamp or Virtual Machine?


Get your RAM at Crucial.com or at least use their online checker to make sure your getting the right specs.


OtherWorld computing has RAM/tools and also videos how to go about it without damaging your machine and violating your warranty/AppleCare.


Install/upgrade RAM or storage drive in Mac's

Mar 4, 2013 3:11 PM in response to Eric Ross

Eric that is incorrect. All MBPs since the early 2011 models can use 2x8GB SODIMMS. Apple only tested the early, Late 2011s with 2x4GB chips as there was no 8GB chips available at the time they did the testing. They have since not bothered to test the older models or the newer ones with more RAM then 8GBs, 2x4GB chips.


The Retina models can take 16GBs and they use the exact same Intel chipset as the standard MBPs use. So if the Retina can have 16GBs so can the others.

People on this forum and alll over the place have been installing 16GBs in newer MBPs for a couple of years now. If you go to the Crucial website and look up any Mac from early 2011 till now it lists the Max RAM as 16GBs.

Eric Ross wrote:


The max RAM for your computer is 8GB, it would be best to install 2 4GB modules.

Feb 9, 2014 2:19 AM in response to MilesTV

Hi there,


I have just placed one 8 GB chip in a MacBook pro 13" mid 2012 version and i have left one slot emty. This seems to be having a clear positive increase in effect. I have no failures or errors and I experiense noe hickups at all. I am planning to buy and insert another 8 GB chip at a later stage. So far this is working just fine for me.

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Can I put one 8GB RAM stick in my 13" MBP?

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