Adding mismatched RAM on MacBook Pro ?

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Level 1

15 points

Adding mismatched RAM on MacBook Pro ?

Hi,

I have a 2.0 Ghz MacBook Pro with the 512 MB Stock RAM that it came with.

I would like to add 1 Gig of Mac Compatible Corsair or other branded RAM.
Do I have to install matched RAM in this computer ?

Does it matter if the RAM I buy matches the brand of RAM already installed or if it is the same amount ? I am honestly really confused about this.

Ram prices are really low in Canada right now so I want to take advantage of this but at the same time, want to make sure that the $84.00 CDN that I am planning to spend on this extra 1 Gig will make a siginficant or at least noticable difference in my MBP performance.

Thank you for any recommendations or suggestions you may have.

Kallum

2.0 Ghz, 15" MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.7), 512 MB RAM

Posted on May 17, 2007 10:32 AM

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Answer 1

May 17, 2007 10:47 AM in response to KMoorehouse

KMoorehouse,

It should not make a difference. I have a Samsung stick in my MBP along with the stock 1gb. Another stick in my iMac C2D. It is simple to swap out, just refer to your manual or this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qozs6KZoarA

Good luck and enjoy!

N8

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Answer 2

May 17, 2007 11:38 AM in response to KMoorehouse

KMoorehouse,

It is not necessary to install RAM in "matching" pairs, but when you do so it allows your MBP's RAM bus to operate in "Dual-Channel" mode. This increases the bandwidth across the bus, making your MBP run faster.

Since RAM is so cheap right now, there really isn't much reason not to go with 2 GBs (2 X 1 GB). 1.5 GBs is all OS X needs to run very well, but going with 2 GBs will speed things up a bit because of the Dual-Channel operation.

Scott

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Answer 3

KMoorehouse Author

Level 1

15 points

May 17, 2007 12:59 PM in response to Scott Radloff

KMoorehouse,

It is not necessary to install RAM in "matching"
pairs, but when you do so it allows your MBP's RAM
bus to operate in "Dual-Channel" mode. This
increases the bandwidth across the bus, making your
MBP run faster.

Since RAM is so cheap right now, there really isn't
much reason not to go with 2 GBs (2 X 1 GB).
1.5 GBs is all OS X needs to run very well, but
going with 2 GBs will speed things up a bit because
of the Dual-Channel operation.

Scott

Hi Scott,

Thank you for your reply and help with this.
I am actually really pushing my budget just to buy the 1 Gig module so simply can't afford 2 gigs. I wish I could.

Will I notice a significant difference going from the 512MB to the 1.5 Gigs ? It seems that is what you are suggesting but just wanted to know.

The Corsair RAM for $84.00 CDN is the best deal I can find locally (I live in B.C, Canada).

I am just hoping that it will work okay. I have never had to buy RAM before. I had contemplated it last year but the RAM prices were really high then.

Kallum

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Answer 4

L0K13

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2007 1:19 PM in response to KMoorehouse

Scott was right. I understand your budget issue but how about Apple 1GB Module (1024MB-667MHz 1GB Module for Apple MacBook Pro 1.83GHz 15.4 (MA463LL) - OnLine MEMORYconfigurator for other models from Apple ...
Dealer Part M182291-799 Manuf Part Equivalent to MA346G/A

Price $45.99
free shipping

1-800-4MEMORY
Montgomeryville , PA
Lifetime warranty.
All memory fully tested before shipped More than 10 years in business Live tech support Full line of Memory, Notebook Hard drives, Batteries and AC adapters
🙂

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Answer 5

KMoorehouse Author

Level 1

15 points

May 17, 2007 1:40 PM in response to L0K13

Scott was right. I understand your budget issue but
how about Apple 1GB Module (1024MB-667MHz 1GB Module
for Apple MacBook Pro 1.83GHz 15.4 (MA463LL) - OnLine
MEMORYconfigurator for other models from Apple ...
Dealer Part M182291-799 Manuf Part Equivalent to
MA346G/A

Price $45.99
free shipping

1-800-4MEMORY
Montgomeryville , PA
Lifetime warranty.
All memory fully tested before shipped More than 10
years in business Live tech support Full line of
Memory, Notebook Hard drives, Batteries and AC
adapters
🙂

Hi,

I am in Canada so reluctant to buy from anywhere out of Canada due to customs/border charges to import.

Are saying though that this is actual Apple branded RAM or just Apple Compatible RAM ?

Kallum

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Answer 6

KMoorehouse Author

Level 1

15 points

May 17, 2007 1:42 PM in response to KMoorehouse

Scott was right. I understand your budget issue

but

how about Apple 1GB Module (1024MB-667MHz 1GB

Module

for Apple MacBook Pro 1.83GHz 15.4 (MA463LL) -

OnLine

One other thing - this is not a 2.0 Ghz MBP.
Do you actually work for this company ?

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Answer 7

L0K13

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2007 1:48 PM in response to KMoorehouse

It is an apple compatible product. I have used them for years and returned RAM that went bad (only once) with zero issues. I am the IT director at work and use them for RAM there as well.
How much would you estimate the tarrif would be to have this shipped FedEx?
I would alway use matching RAM in any case. If you need to get another 512 it would handle most things faster than mismatching with a different size simply because of the dual channel support it would enable.

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Answer 8

May 17, 2007 2:01 PM in response to KMoorehouse

KMoorehouse,

First, I'll tell you that all of the Macbook Pros use the same memory: 667MHz DDR2 SODIMMs. And, had I not noticed that you are in Canada, I would have recommended RAM from the same place tat the other poster did. In fact, I will provide two links:

For a 1 GB module

For a 2 GB "kit" (2 X 1 GB)

I purchase all of my RAM from this company, and I have been doing so for several years. I have never had a RAM-related problem, and they provide very good service.

I realize that there may be difficulties for you, being in Canada, and I do not know what those difficulties might be. If you can order from them with no problems, it might be worth it. Give them a call to find out what the ramifications would be ordering from Canada.

Going to 1.5 GBs will provide a world of difference for your MBP, if that is all you can afford. 512 MBs is simply not enough even for just OS X; add an application or two to the mix, and your MBP's performance will be really poor. Even going to 1 GB by adding a second 512 MB DIMM would provide significant benefits, and it would additionally enable Dual-Channel mode. I think that the additional benefit of having 1.5 GBs will be greater, however.

Scott

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Answer 9

KMoorehouse Author

Level 1

15 points

May 17, 2007 2:10 PM in response to L0K13

It is an apple compatible product. I have used them
for years and returned RAM that went bad (only once)
with zero issues. I am the IT director at work and
use them for RAM there as well.
How much would you estimate the tarrif would be to
have this shipped FedEx?

We have to deal with heavy taxes and tarrifs when importing items shipped via courier from the States. I do not know how much it would be for this item though.

I would alway use matching RAM in any case. If you
need to get another 512 it would handle most things
faster than mismatching with a different size simply
because of the dual channel support it would enable.

There is no point in my buying just another 512 MB module. It just won't be a worthwhile upgrade.

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Answer 10

L0K13

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2007 2:41 PM in response to KMoorehouse

-There is no point in my buying just another 512 MB module. It just won't be a worthwhile upgrade...

I agree if you are doing RAM intensive tasks. If not, this is a much cheaper alternative.

In my own buying I always buy the least amount of RAM possible from Apple initially with the system. Then upgrade to the largest possible dual channel configuration via RAM I purchase separately.

In other words, it is possible to go to 3 gig with my iMacs and Macbook Pros - but I choose not to do so because of the lack of dual channel support. I dont understand why Apple chose not to use a logic board which will support two 2gig chips. They are asking a premium for the RAM anyway so why not at least support dual channel in the most expensive configuration?

My firm is an adveritsing agency and we typically top off the RAM here because of graphic needs. However in your case, if you cant afford the 2gig option Scott and I recommended I would have to disagree with you on the 1.5gig option you are exploring. There is a big difference in size vs. speed. I could have 6 gig of PC133 and still be slower than a dual channel setup with 2 gig of 667mHz RAM.
In this case it would be a waste of money to mismatch a 1.5 gig setup. If you dont wish to buy another 512 I can understand that, but I think I would save a few extra bucks till the 2 gig was possible.

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Answer 11

L0K13

Level 1

0 points

May 17, 2007 2:43 PM in response to KMoorehouse

-There is no point in my buying just another 512 MB module. It just won't be a worthwhile upgrade...

I agree if you are doing RAM intensive tasks. If not, this is a much cheaper alternative.

In my own buying I always buy the least amount of RAM possible from Apple initially with the system. Then upgrade to the largest possible dual channel configuration via RAM I purchase separately.

In other words, it is possible to go to 3 gig with my iMacs and Macbook Pros - but I choose not to do so because of the lack of dual channel support. I dont understand why Apple chose not to use a logic board which will support two 2gig chips. They are asking a premium for the RAM anyway so why not at least support dual channel in the most expensive configuration?

My firm is an adveritsing agency and we typically top off the RAM here because of graphic needs. However in your case, if you cant afford the 2gig option Scott and I recommended I would have to disagree with you on the 1.5gig option you are exploring. There is a big difference in size vs. speed. I could have 6 gig of PC133 and still be slower than a dual channel setup with 2 gig of 667mHz RAM.
In this case it would be a waste of money to mismatch a 1.5 gig setup. If you dont wish to buy another 512 I can understand that, but I think I would save a few extra bucks till the 2 gig was possible.

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Answer 12

May 17, 2007 2:50 PM in response to KMoorehouse

FYI

I've written this so many times on this forum 🙂

Apple supply Samsung, Hynix, Nanya and Micron ram as standard - so any of these will be like buying from Apple directly.

Micron own Crucial and Crucial have a pretty good reputation also.

1800 memory has a good rep as does Ramjet and Other World Computing. They may sell you ram which is not one of the listed brands above but which they have selected using their years of experience.

At the moment, ram is very cheap indeed so even though you are in Canada it may still be worth buying from the US. You can get quotes from the online sellers. At the moment you can buy a 1gb chip from Crucial for $45. Crucial is a highly regarded manufacturer of ram.

You could therefore try shopping around and get some quotes for shipping to Canada. Crucial.com allows you to select international shipments. You might also try newegg.com and ewiz.com to see what they will charge.

Best of luck.

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Answer 13

May 17, 2007 2:54 PM in response to Rajesh Sharma

PS - you could give Crucial a call - or live chat via their website

Toll-free for US & Canada
800-336-8915

Phone
1-208-363-5790

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Answer 14

KMoorehouse Author

Level 1

15 points

May 17, 2007 9:50 PM in response to L0K13

Hi,

Thank you for all your help with this !!

The main reasons I am buying this RAM are:

1) Because I am getting the Spinning ball anytime I am running more than one or two programs
2) I like using Photoshop and Illustrator but they are lagging and slow
3) I LOVE the Sims 2 game and it is very graphic/memory intensive.

Hey..a girl has to have fun at home too right ! 🙂

I just basically want to know if adding 1 gig would make a difference in these tasks and in reducing or getting rid of the spinning ball.

Kallum

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Answer 15

KMoorehouse Author

Level 1

15 points

May 17, 2007 9:59 PM in response to Rajesh Sharma

When is dual channel support actually significant ?

I talked to an Apple rep at the local Best Buy tonight and he said that by adding 512 MB of RAM, I would be seeing the majority of the speed increase because of the matched pair thing.

However, I always thought it was better to get as much RAM as you can. I wish I could afford to buy two 1 gig modules but I can't.

The $45.00 Crucial memory looks good but with the exchange rate, taxes and tarrifs, it actually appears to come out to the same price as the local Corsair RAM 😟

This decision is so stressful !!! I just want to increase the performance and speed of my MBP the best way possible but I just find it so confusing to figure out the best option.

Some say adding just 512 MB would be noticable but the extra gig has to be better right ? or not ?

Kallum

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