Is RAM Proprietary

1. No.

2. Yes. Buy RAM from a vendor such as Crucial or OWC, and ensure that the vendor advertises compatibility with your Mac model; if they don't and it doesn't work, the vendor's not obligated to help.

(80972)

depending on which Macbook Pro you own.

2010 Macbook Pro - 8GB DDR3 1066MHz Max for the 15 Inch and 17 Inch - 16GB 1066MHz DDR3 for the 13 Inch Macbook Pro.

2011 Macbook Pro - 16GB DDR3 1333MHz Max

2012 Macbook Pro - 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Max

Use only Apple Tested/Certified RAM offered by Crucial - Corsair - Patriot Mac Series - Mushkin - G.Skill.

Do not purchase generic no name brand ram - issues will arise if you do so.

Typical prices for 16GB RAM (8GB X 2) = $125 to a high $170 depending where you shop.

Typical prices for 8GB RAM (8GB X2) = $49 to $65 dependin where you shop

Use these instead - This RAM it's only a dollar more than your non apple certified/tested G.Skill

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231299

Changing your RAM is a 5 - 10 minute job.

You'll need a #00 Phillips Screw Driver.

There are 10 Screws at the bottom of your Macbook Pro - 7 Short ones and 3 Long ones - just remember where they go when it's time to screw them back it.

Good luck

I have 16 GB of Crucial RAM in my 2011 MBP. No issues at all, but I did make sure I selected the one that was advertised as "correct" for my model/year of MBP.

Yes - once installed you'll see it right away when you click on about this Mac.

Actually, much easier than installing in some PC notebook and desktop where you have to get into the CMOS/BIOS.

This is a put it in and turn it on job.

I use these. Perfect results. Cost me $70 a year ago.

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

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/apple-macbook-pro-memory-upgrades/

Buy from a Vendor who says:

"It works in your MAC,

or your money Back."

OWC

Amazon.

(After visiting Corsair's site to get the correct part number)

Crucial.com lists it, but I bought the package of crucial RAM from a local Microcenter store ... I did match the item-number, though.

You may want to go with OWC if you are not *quite* as adevnturous as I, because OWC has late-night support hours where Crucial shuts down support phone lines during certain hours.

Mike Provi wrote:

Has anyone had experience replacing it themselves? Is it a difficult task? I've worked on PC rigs before, but never laptops, let alone Macbooks....

I've been upgrading RAM in my Macs and my friends' Macs for about 20 years. Since you've worked on PCs before, that means you're ahead of the game. It's gonna take you about 5 minutes...and 4 of those minutes will be spent unscrewing the case bottom and screwing it back on.

The trickiest part (and it is not really tricky) is getting the screws back in the case. I tighten the screws just a little in a "wheel" pattern ... tighten opposite screws , moving around the bottom case. Two or three times around tightening little bit at a time will prevent breaking the head off of one. But that is just about 2 minutes of time ... very little risk involved.