The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Best RAM for Macbook Pro?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Ryan21, Aug 12, 2008.

  1. Ryan21

    Ryan21 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hello,

    I recently ordered a Macbook Pro and I want to upgrade the RAM to 4GB. Just wondering what kind would be the most compatible / efficient with it.

    Thanks!
     
    Ryan21, Aug 12, 2008
    #1
  2. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

    Reputations:
    433
    Messages:
    1,605
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    cdnalsi, Aug 12, 2008
    #2
  3. Magimagus

    Magimagus Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    150
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I used kingston from newegg... works great
     
    Magimagus, Aug 12, 2008
    #3
  4. shoelace_510

    shoelace_510 8700M GT inside... ^-^;

    Reputations:
    276
    Messages:
    1,525
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I think if you have the $$ to spend go with Crucial. They are a leader in the field with their quality really unmatched.

    For me though, I go with Corsair (because I don't have much $$). They are also a great company...
     
    shoelace_510, Aug 12, 2008
    #4
  5. S.SubZero

    S.SubZero Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    467
    Messages:
    1,348
    Likes Received:
    121
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I got that slightly overpriced Corsair "Mac" RAM:
    http://corsair.com/products/mac_memory.aspx

    The price wasn't too bad considering Corsair memory usually has a premium on it anyways. I do like Corsair though so I had no problem paying the extra few bucks. 4GB RAM in my MBP yay.
     
    S.SubZero, Aug 12, 2008
    #5
  6. ltcommander_data

    ltcommander_data Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    408
    Messages:
    1,398
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I got G.Skill 2x2GB running at 4-4-4-12 latency compared to 5-5-5 in "regular" RAM. It was a bit more expensive and realistically, increasing memory size will help performance more than lower latency.
     
    ltcommander_data, Aug 12, 2008
    #6
  7. Ryan21

    Ryan21 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Would you recommend keeping in the 2GB that comes with the MBP and then just add in one 2GB RAM, or replace the default ones with 2 2GB ones?

    If it's not THAT much of a difference, I'd prefer only buying one stick of RAM...
     
    Ryan21, Aug 12, 2008
    #7
  8. Ryan21

    Ryan21 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Ryan21, Aug 12, 2008
    #8
  9. shoelace_510

    shoelace_510 8700M GT inside... ^-^;

    Reputations:
    276
    Messages:
    1,525
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    The only advantage that you would have if you bought 2X2GB of the same type would be that it would run in Dual Channel. But really Dual Channel is only a 3-5% performance increase.

    So, save you money and just buy one 2 GB stick and add it in. :) If you could find out which brand and model you have in your MBP though, you could always buy a 2 GB module of that same type to match. Then you would have Dual Channel AND you'd save money. :D ;)

    Hope this helps!
     
    shoelace_510, Aug 12, 2008
    #9
  10. Ryan21

    Ryan21 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks very much Shoelace. It should be coming in the next couple days so I'll check out which kind it has first :p
     
    Ryan21, Aug 12, 2008
    #10
  11. nittany

    nittany Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    How can you find out what brand of memory came with your MBP?
     
    nittany, Aug 13, 2008
    #11
  12. shoelace_510

    shoelace_510 8700M GT inside... ^-^;

    Reputations:
    276
    Messages:
    1,525
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    You're welcome. :) And be sure to do that. ;) Good luck with your upgrade!
     
    shoelace_510, Aug 13, 2008
    #12
  13. shoelace_510

    shoelace_510 8700M GT inside... ^-^;

    Reputations:
    276
    Messages:
    1,525
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    By opening it up is probably the quickest and easiest way. XD
     
    shoelace_510, Aug 13, 2008
    #13
  14. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

    Reputations:
    433
    Messages:
    1,605
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Well, if your computer came with 2GB installed, it's more likely that in fact there are TWO sticks of 1GB each.

    So you'll have to throw those away, or sell them on ebay or something.
     
    cdnalsi, Aug 13, 2008
    #14
  15. dbam987

    dbam987 wicked-poster

    Reputations:
    565
    Messages:
    2,530
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I've had great success with Crucial, Kingston, OCZ, GSkill, Mushkin, and Corsair on every laptop and desktop I've upgraded for family, friends, and my own machines. On my MBP, I have a pair of 2 GB GSkill sticks which are awesome. Basically I've gone with whichever was the cheapest at the time I bought them.

    I'd keep the original sticks that the MBP comes with just in-case your new sticks fail which is highly unlikely but you never know.
     
    dbam987, Aug 13, 2008
    #15
  16. Stunner

    Stunner Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    154
    Messages:
    1,141
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Brand of RAM is of little to no importance. It is a commodity now and all RAM is good. Just be sure that the company you are buying from has a lifetime warranty for the product you are buying and you will be golden. So just look on outpost.com or newegg.com for the best deals.
     
    Stunner, Aug 14, 2008
    #16
  17. mc511

    mc511 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    27
    Messages:
    409
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Kingston. It works great.
     
    mc511, Aug 14, 2008
    #17
  18. Quikster

    Quikster Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    181
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    44
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Quikster, Aug 15, 2008
    #18
  19. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    543
    Messages:
    2,871
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    what brand of RAM does apple gave you?
     
    wobble987, Aug 15, 2008
    #19