have a mbp late 2011 2.2Ghz original config with 4G of ram 1333mhz , have upgraded ram to 8G of 1600mhz than upgraded with 16G of 1333mhz and find it much slower, should i return to previous config ?

Macs have a reputation of being very selective with RAM. You may have installed RAM that appears to have the correct specifications but still is not totally compatible.

The best sources for Mac compatible RAM are OWC and Crucial. OWC has tested 1600 MHz RAM with 2011 MBPs with success. Purchase the two 8 GB modules from them.

Ciao

Not being able to witness your results but based on your description, I would return it and purchase from OWC:

http://blog.macsales.com/14262-boost-2011-mbp-performance-with-1600mhz-ram

They, OWC, stand behind their products. If you search these forums, you find many endorsements for OWC from longtime community participants.

Ciao.

So I'm onboard w/ Ogelthorpe to go to OWC:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_133 3MHz_SDRAM

and I'm one of the ones who thoroughly endorse their products/customer service.

First what size is your MBP? If it's a 13" no problem, bigger check it out here:

Apple Recall:

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

I'm on an early 2011 MBP 13" that I bumped to 8 GB RAM and installed a 120 GB SSD. All parts coming from OWC. (3 day delivery from Woodstock, IL to Portland, OR BTW)

Photoshop CS 6 opens in 3.4 seconds. Last week I was working on a client's machine and saw the "spinning beach ball" . I realized I hadn't seen it on my machine in the 6 months since I installed the new RAM and SSD!

Check the two superior sources of upgrade RAM for specification

per the correct identification of Your computer vs part number spec.

Also, by serial number and model identifier, you can closely get the

correct and suitable RAM memory upgrade for your machine. The

serial number should get you closer to correct-spec upgrade parts.

Any mix and mis-match will affect the processor data flow speed.

Matching RAM by spec (not just capacity) is a must in dual-data

processing channels. You could get & use a free download app

for all specifications, MacTracker. From their site or App Store.

•MacTracker: http://mactracker.ca

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

cbb28 wrote:

Now what i would like to be able to understant is the : Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type)

How shoud one interpret this ??

I cannot answer that question with authority. Pose it to Intel.

I would say that the CPU is not the only governing factor determining how much RAM can be addressed. The OSX and the availability of compatible RAM modules also have to be taken into account. If I remember correctly, then and even now, 204 pin RAM modules were/are not available which are used in MBPs.

Ciao.

According to MacTracker specs for the MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)

identified by build information, and presumably by serial/model # match:

Introduced October 2011

Discontinued June 2012

Model Identifier MacBookPro8,2

Model Number A1286

EMC 2563

Order Number MD318LL/A (2.2 GHz) MD322LL/A (2.4 GHz)

Initial Price $1,799 (2.2 GHz), $2,199 (2.4 GHz)

Intel Core i7 (2675QM = 2.2GHz) "sandy bridge"

Maximum Memory 16 GB (Actual) 8 GB (Apple)

Memory Slots 2 - 204-pin PC-10600 (1333 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

Depending on graphic processor option in build model, specs vary:

Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6750M or 6770M and Intel HD Graphics 3000

Graphics Memory: 512 MB GDDR5 (6750M) or 1 GB GDDR5 (6770M) + 384 MB

(HD Graphics) DDR3 shared with main memory (Memory may vary depending on

graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 384 MB.)

{•MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011) specs supplied from http://mactracker.ca database•}

Though you may purchase & presumably fit faster 1600MHz RAM chips

into your model computer, they should not be expected to function any

faster than the 1333MHz speed due to other RAM bus considerations.

Mixing these two types would result in the default speed being slower

than expected. Matched pairs help dual-channel memory work w/ CPUs.

Example of recommended spec (see spec in product detail) RAM upgrade 16GB:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1333DDR3S16P/

Upgrade Memory - MacBook Pro 2011 models to 8GB, 12GB, 16GB - 1333MHz DDR3:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_133 3MHz_SDRAM

Kingston has been repeatedly an issue over decades with many different Macs

due to some problem, perhaps it was quality control over production, or some

other factor. I had computers fail terribly with their RAM, installed by an AASP.

Be sure the computer you have is verified as a Late 2011 MacBook Pro

and specs include the display size as part of the configuration information.

You could use an online lookup by serial number to verify the build model:

https://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

Dump that bargain headache brand and go with quality. Then, if the computer

still seems slow, consider an OWC SSD; and follow exact instructions to install.

To perform routine and systematic backups to external enclosed storage drives,

and remove old files you created from the computer's drive, can help it greatly.

Do not hold your breath regarding Intel -- and the Apple implementation of CPUs

since there likely is some details they will not reveal; however similar the specs

may be, between some generic Intel core application and one Apple had chosen.

Similar spec hardware is only part of the difference in performance in the machine.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

K Shaffer wrote:

Though you may purchase & presumably fit faster 1600MHz RAM chips

into your model computer, they should not be expected to function any

faster than the 1333MHz speed due to other RAM bus considerations.

Mixing these two types would result in the default speed being slower

than expected. Matched pairs help dual-channel memory work w/ CPUs.

Example of recommended spec (see spec in product detail) RAM upgrade 16GB:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1333DDR3S16P/

Upgrade Memory - MacBook Pro 2011 models to 8GB, 12GB, 16GB - 1333MHz DDR3:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_133 3MHz_SDRAM

Let me muddy the waters. OWC has published that in 2011 model MBPs, 1600MHz RAM will work and result in a modest performance increase.

http://blog.macsales.com/14262-boost-2011-mbp-performance-with-1600mhz-ram

Ciao.

Yes, that is understandable; a backward compatibility had been

in existence with other versions of Mac and faster rated RAM...

In some models that had a suggested Firmware Update, they

could see and use higher capacities of RAM, with some gain.

At least it isn't going on a limb to suggest this would not be a

bottleneck to function, if both RAM chips were of same spec.

And of high enough quality to not be flaky while in operation

running Mac OS X of a current system in modern hardware.

Since the safe rated original spec is still available, stable without

question (if quality product were used, not bargain scratch junk)

that is what my reference was directed to. OWC has a discount

for spring, for those looking that direction. Or a correct match from

Crucial.com could also foot the bill, so to speak.

Anyway, the basis of stability and performance is in using quality parts.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Hi cbb28,

I have an identical late 2011 MacBook Pro as you do (2.2GHz i7 processor (2675QM), 15"). I purchased my Mac customized with 8GB 1333MHz of RAM (purchased at MacMall.com) and am wondering how your 16GB 1600MHz RAM has treated you so far. I'm planning to go with either Crucial or OWC RAM instead of Kingston, but would you say that you have seen a significant improvement upgrading from your previous 8GB 1600MHz of RAM to 16GB 1600MHz? Also, what is your clock latency (CL) for your RAM? Do you know if there would be any difference using 9CL vs 11CL RAM with my MacBook Pro? On http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?model=440&sort=pop&type=Memory I do not see any RAM selections for 16GB 1600MHz RAM that support 9CL and was wondering if I should just stick with the 11CL (I know that http://blog.macsales.com/14262-boost-2011-mbp-performance-with-1600mhz-ram says there is a 2% increase overall with 1600MHz, but wouldn't 11CL 1600MHz technically be slower compared to 9CL 1333MHz). Thanks!

Yes, you want the slowest CL response time as possible but no it's not going to make that much of a difference, not like it used to; A google search turned up a gentleman who test his iMac with both cl9 and cl11 RAM, and with geekbench saw a repeatable increase in the CL9 RAM posting 1-2.6% faster than the CL11 RAM. So all else being the same, for example a 8GB SO-DIMM 12800 1600MHz CL9 chip, than yes the CL9 will be like ( lets be generous ) 3% faster than a 8GB SO-DIMM 12800 1600MHz CL11. Very few people notice anything less than 10% faster in my experience, and 3% is almost a statistical error. It's the speeds the ram is running at; its so fast already, latency isn't as noticeable.

TLDR: I don't think it's the kind of difference I'd buy new memory chips for, but if you're buying them anyway, try to get the lowest CL # at your RAM's rated speed, but don't lower the speed of the RAM your buying to get a higher CL #.