16gb Ram MacBook Pro 6,1 2010?

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Level 1

9 points

16gb Ram MacBook Pro 6,1 2010?

I have a 2010 Macbook Pro 17" with the following specs:

Model Name:	MacBook Pro
Model Identifier:	MacBookPro6,1
Processor Name:	Intel Core i7
Processor Speed:	2.66 GHz

Right now, I am running a total of 8gb of ram, however, I really need to run 16gb. I have read in a lot of places that 8gb is the max but have also heard that some may have been able to get away with 16gb. Can anyone else confirm this? I am thinknig of doing a complete overhaul of my computer, including a larger HD, 16gb ram, Mavericks and newest Parallels. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Posted on Jun 13, 2013 9:10 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jun 13, 2013 9:12 PM in response to E30 BMW M3

Maximum Memory	8.0 GB
Memory Slots	2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

Contact OWC to find out if it can handle more.

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Answer 2

Aug 15, 2013 3:20 PM in response to E30 BMW M3

I have upgraded my 2010 13" MacBook Pro to 16 GB RAM (and a nice 1TB SSD 😍). The RAM I ordered from OWC and it works perfectly. I read that it has to be some special sort of RAM (don't know the details) and some people I know tried with normal Ebay-RAM, that didn't work at all. So OWC is definitively the place to check out. However, as far as I know, only the 13" MacBook Pro supports 16 GB RAM (unofficially) – the 15" and 17" MBPros only go up to 8 GB…

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Aug 15, 2013 3:42 PM in response to E30 BMW M3

What lemon-kun reports is unique to the 13" 2010 MBP, NOT the 17" 2010 MBP. I have the exact same 2010 MBP and 8 GB RAM is the maximum. If you install 16 GB, you do so at your own risk and may be just throwing your money away. If you do try it and it works, let me know.

A meaningful performance enhancement would be installing a SSD which would largely mitigate the need for 16 GB RAM. But there is the cost to consider.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

Aug 15, 2013 4:15 PM in response to E30 BMW M3

+1 for the SSD. This brings way more than 16 GB. The Crucial M500s are pretty reasonably priced, otherwise you should consider the Seagate Hybrid-Drives.

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Answer 5

nbar

Level 5

7,037 points

Aug 15, 2013 4:28 PM in response to E30 BMW M3

I run 16 GB on my 2011 MBP, and Apple says it officially supports max of 8 GB RAM. That being said, both crucial and owc have it listed as 16 GB. It runs fine. Use crucial to scan your system, and go by these specs. If they say it max=8 GB, don't go beyond.

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/MacOS.aspx

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