LSowell

Q: Yet another dreary RAM ques. about configuring a 5,1

Currently my Mac Pro is running 4 GB in each of its 8 slots, however upon startup it appears one has gone bad, going from 32 to 28 GB RAM.

 

I do alot of heavy 3D editing in Photoshop along with After Effects and Premiere Pro. Machine is a little slow on the renders when I've got multiple apps running. I've been mulling around the idea of a RAM upgrade... but not cannot afford to go with a bunch of 8's... so before I go order another 4GB (or extra for a backup) from MacMemory, I am wondering if 8's and 4's can be mixed? What do you guys think?

Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.7.5), Quad-Core 2.4 GHz DDR3 1066 - 32GB

Posted on Apr 8, 2013 4:37 PM

Close

Q: Yet another dreary RAM ques. about configuring a 5,1

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by The hatter,Helpful

    The hatter The hatter Apr 8, 2013 4:48 PM in response to LSowell
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Apr 8, 2013 4:48 PM in response to LSowell

    Some can be mixed. OWC was selling two types of  8's in the past.

    I don't know the details of what to ask but MacMemory should ask them first.

     

    When you do get some serious $$ then an SSD scratch or for system on PCIe card - the Sonnet Tempo Pro 6G with room for two SSDs, is one way to do either.

     

    visit http://www.macperformanceguide.com

  • by LSowell,

    LSowell LSowell Apr 8, 2013 5:55 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 8, 2013 5:55 PM in response to The hatter

    Hi Hatter,

     

    Will contact them and ask then.

     

    I thought the Tempo Pro 6G wouldn't boot OSX? Anyway, I just had to give a bunch of owed tax money to Uncle Sam over the weekend, so serious $$ is a no-go for me. I'm just trying to get by with what I have and hang onto my cash these days.  :-(

     

    I just have a pair of Samsung 540Pro SSDs that I write to, those will have to tide me over until I win the lottery or some long-lost relative remembers me in a will or something.

     

    Thanks hatter, appreciate your thoughts and help.

  • by FatMac>MacPro,

    FatMac>MacPro FatMac>MacPro Apr 8, 2013 8:02 PM in response to LSowell
    Level 5 (4,850 points)
    Apr 8, 2013 8:02 PM in response to LSowell

    LSowell wrote:

     

    ...I am wondering if 8's and 4's can be mixed? What do you guys think?

    To expand on what The hatter said about mixing, with the 8 GB DIMMs, these http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1333D3ECC8GB/ can be mixed but these http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/1333D3MPE8GB/ can't. The difference is that the latter is registered (buffered) and is identified by the "R" in ECC-R. However, both are Data Rate = 1333MHz whereas yours is Data Rate = 1066MHz. I can't find the registered equivalent at that speed on OWC's website. Since it sounds like you're considering buying 8 GB DIMMs rather than matching any you already have, go with the non-registered DIMMs with the option to return them if they aren't compatible with what you already have.

  • by LSowell,

    LSowell LSowell Apr 9, 2013 6:48 AM in response to FatMac>MacPro
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 9, 2013 6:48 AM in response to FatMac>MacPro

    More useful information, thanks so much FatMac. I originally bought the DIMMs at Ramjet, and wrote them about mixing...

     

    Yours and hatter's responses do tell me that different sizes can be mixed, just depends on whether they are buffered or not apparently.

     

    Thanks for your reply, will report back in when I get an answer from them.

  • by FatMac>MacPro,

    FatMac>MacPro FatMac>MacPro Apr 9, 2013 6:58 AM in response to LSowell
    Level 5 (4,850 points)
    Apr 9, 2013 6:58 AM in response to LSowell

    LSowell wrote:

     

    ...Yours and hatter's responses do tell me that different sizes can be mixed, just depends on whether they are buffered or not apparently...

    If you install different sized DIMMs and where you place them isn't ideal, the Memory Slot Utility should automatically pop up and recommend an improved configuration. That utility is in /System/Library/Core Services. This http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4433 may prove helpful too.  

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Apr 9, 2013 7:54 AM in response to FatMac>MacPro
    Level 9 (61,140 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 9, 2013 7:54 AM in response to FatMac>MacPro

    At least in 10.6, its saved configuration is stored in /Library/Preferences/com.apple.PCIE.plist

     

    If the preferences of that file are not set correctly, it can be difficult to dismiss the "Modules are installed in the corrrect slots" message from an Admin account.

     

    Permissions of Owner root or <main_Admin_account>; and Group Wheel or Admin are likley correct, but I cannot say with absolute certainty.

  • by FatMac>MacPro,

    FatMac>MacPro FatMac>MacPro Apr 9, 2013 9:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 5 (4,850 points)
    Apr 9, 2013 9:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

     

    ...If the preferences of that file are not set correctly, it can be difficult to dismiss the "Modules are installed in the corrrect slots" message from an Admin account...

    It is a pain to keep having to dismiss that message and something of a pain to fix it via root if root is not commonly used. Fortunately, I have to enable root in a Mac OS virtual machine in VMware Fusion in order to shrink the VM size, so it's become routine.