Ram upgrade Macbook 5,2 early 2009 detecting only half of each slot of memory

Hi everybody,

I'm glad to share that finally, I managed to install successfully 8GB @ 800MHz RAM in my Macbook 5,2 Early 2009 (2x4GB Hynix models).

I'll be testing from now, specially the 6 to 8GB issue stated in Macsales, but everything seems to work smooth now and I definitely feel the upgrade working with heavy-duty RAM programs like Photoshop. Apparently, nothing weird happened when I start using that range of memory, but I need to do more tests.

Special thanks to all the kind people that helped me without arrogance, with true support and good advices.

Oh, wait, nobody here.

I hope this helps someone else.

Cheers!

Hi Mike,

thanks for your answer. But I kind of disagree...

First, you can fin here in Apple Forums more people working flawlessly with 8GB @800Mhz (any case, I tried with one stick at a time with same result)

Secondly, I think my MB should drop some kind of error, not just recognizing half of the RAM at a correct frequency.

But, above all, I have just tried a different brand stick, same specs (4GB, PC2-6400, 800MHz) and...it works.

Flawless. 4GB @ 800MHz. And I can combine with my old one at it will display 6GB @ 667MHz. So, perfect.

Can anybody explain that?
Model not working:

Model Working:

Hi @stedman1,

Thanks for your answer!
The thing is it didn't work properly alone either. When I plugged in just one stick, it worked apparently fine but recognize only 2 of 4 GB.
Bottom line here is...why Kingston no and Hynix yes?

8 GB RAM works in Macbook 5,2 Early 2009

OK, thank you both. I'd really appreciate if you read my posts before answering. Really.
Stedman1: I am just testing things here, I know my MB specs.

Mike: thanks for the links, I had already read it.

So, instead of focusing on how bad I am doing things, has any of you any idea of:

1) Why my supposed-not-capabale MB is recognizing 800MHz and booting and working fine?

2) Why the Kingston sticks aren't working properly and the Hynix ones are? (tested under same conditions).

Thank you

So I'm the one not listening...OK.
1) I have already told that on my last test, mixing 667MHz and 800MHz sticks resulted the expected way for me: a total memory of 6GB operating at 667MHz.

And, I'm telling you again; I've tried separately the 4GB @ 800MHz sticks and they were recognized properly at 800Mhz.

Oh, and BTW...all the tools I used to check that memory stated the same, included AHT (not only System Profile inside the OS).

Here there are Nvidia chipset specs. Interesting it works at 800Mhz, isn't it?

2) Nice to get some new info from you. I have been using Kingston for years without a problem, maybe just lucky.

P.S. Just in case you (or someone else) wanna read more testimonials of people having success...Here and here

I am not having success, indeed...

Yet.

But I am progressing. As I told you earlier, my attempt to plug in a 4GB PC2-6400s stick was successful. Don't worry, the moment I get another one and both of them are working properly I'll let you know 😉

Cheers.