Patriot RAM...okay?

I use a plug like the one in the graphic below. It give me access to ground with an alligator clip to the ground clip on the bottom. I use a cable with alligator clips at both ends. This has ground my Mac for me very reliably.

They make grounding straps that you can attach to your wrist and a attach the other end to good ground.

Having said, have I ever used one? No. I usually just make sure my Mac is grounded and then touch the metal of the Mac prior to picking up the RAM cards. So far it has worked for me.

One more sentence to add to Allan Eckert's advice. Once you have touched metal inside your Mac to remove any stray static charges, DO NOT get up until you have finished.

If you must, you need to re-do the static discharging (of yourself) on the metal inside your Mac all over again before touching anything else.

Grounding wriststraps are best. I have never had an issue when I touch a lamp or other grounded appliance, and putting the MBP on a wooden surface. Avoid carpets, touch only the silicon card edges of the SODIMMs and not the contact pins.

Be prepared for odd behavior, even if we cannot guarantee it will act oddly. Good luck.

Mine like that uses a replacement three-prong plug from the hardware store. After making sure the hot and neutral lugs inside were insulated, I just attached a braided wire about six feet long to the ground lug (only). I made a slipknot in the far end and place it around my wrist when opening MacBooks.

They also make flimsy "disposable" ones. Some Vendors used to pack one in the box with your order, but nowadays this business is so cutthroat, they can't even afford even that little touch.

Just wanted to add that the Crucial and OWC RAM were an additional $60 which I couldn't afford.

Hopefully it will be ok; as already mentioned, I would not consider getting RAM anywhere but OWC or Crucial (with OWC being my preferred vendor). Macs are not only finicky, they are also expensive and I would not risk subjecting the machine to RAM which may not be specifically made for and tested in a Mac. And, I hope your vendor offers a lifetime warranty and a generous return policy, just in case.

babowa wrote:

Just wanted to add that the Crucial and OWC RAM were an additional $60 which I couldn't afford.

Hopefully it will be ok; as already mentioned, I would not consider getting RAM anywhere but OWC or Crucial (with OWC being my preferred vendor). Macs are not only finicky, they are also expensive and I would not risk subjecting the machine to RAM which may not be specifically made for and tested in a Mac. And, I hope your vendor offers a lifetime warranty and a generous return policy, just in case.

Agreed. Some things you cannot afford to *not* do. Save more and wait until you can buy the best. We can hope for the best.

Return the RAM that is not Crucial and not OWC. Kernel panic is when some hardware drops out, such as the HD cable going offline briefly, or the GPU chip losing connection due to hardware errors. RAM that is not fully compatible can just "stop" briefly or have bits that just become unavailable for a second.

Not at the moment; as long as you do not hear beeps at boot up (or it won't boot up) or experience kernel panics, it should be fine.

Never heard of it before.

I always use RAM from either Crucial or MacSales. Which ever one is cheaper the time that I am ordering the RAM. I have never had a problem with RAM from either of them.

Macs get twitchy with slightly-incompatible RAM (kernel panics, random shutdowns, etc). My Crucial never failed me.

I have known of Mac users with PNY who had unreliable Mac after installing it.