16GB RAM upgrade for my Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Mid-2010)

I am looking to upgrade my Macintosh's RAM and need a little bit of help. I'm usually pretty confident in my own decisions regarding something as "easy" as RAM choice but for this one I want an outside opinion from someone that may have a little more experience with Apple computers than i have. The RAM I am looking to get is 2x8GB 1600 1.35V/1.5V but the original RAM is 2x1GB 1066 1.5V. According to the link provided below, this Macintosh will work with and accept the 16GB of RAM. The RAM below is also made specifically for Apple computers.

Do you think I will have any problems with this new RAM? Or will the RAM be "downclocked" automatically to satisfy the maximum supported motherboard/chipset timings, voltages and clocks? Do I have nothing to worry about?


Computer:
Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Mid-2010)
MC516LL/A
MacBook 7,1
A1342
2395
OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.4
Toshiba 2.5" 250GB HDD
Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz
2x1GB 1066 DDR3 1.5V
NVIDIA GeForce 320M 256MB

RAM:
Crucial
CT2K8G3S160BM
204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM
16GB (2 x 8GB)
DDR3 1600
CL 11
1.35V/1.5V
Dual Channel kit
Lifetime Warranty
$139.99 w/ free shipping from newegg

Thanks in advance,
David

 

Anyone? Cmon guys don't be shy.

Mods, would i get better results if this was posted in the Apple subforum?

Sent from my XT557 using Tapatalk 2

 

I can move it to the Apple subforum if you want, let me know.

 

I didn't know Core 2 Mobile could accept 16GB of RAM.

 

this is correct. I searched high and low and tried it when my virtual machines needed more memory. This is not possible.

 

Forgive me for not understanding but specifically what model, version os, and ram did you try out?

I've got two links (one in my OP, and another that links from that link) that say otherwise. And this YouTube video of a very similar (cpu/gpu-wise) 2010 13" MacBook Pro that also proves Core 2 duo with Mountain Lion can and does accept 16GB Apple-specific RAM from OWC. However, I was hoping to use the Apple-specific Crucial RAM i linked in the OP. I guess I just give a try and find out.

Let's give it some time this week. I'll PM you if anything. Thanks Tijo.

I don't see why not so as long as the OS (64-bit) and the hardware (64-bit) support it. As we already know, Intel and Apple may say it only supports upto "XXX MAX RAM" but most of us here know from experience that is not always the case. Lastly, its DDR3 RAM (which is relatively inexpensive), maybe you were thinking DDR2 and Core 2 Duo?


EDIT:
Thanks anyways, I went ahead and bought the RAM. I'll post back my results.

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Ok so this Crucial kit did not work in my MacBook 7,1 A1342. I am selling them in the NBR Market here if anyone is interested and has a newer Mac. PM me.

Looks like i have no choice but to order the OWC memory kit.

 

There's no such thing as "Mac Specific RAM" in the DDR3 category. DDR3 RAM is DDR3 RAM. Timings may fluctuate a bit, depending on what brand or grade you buy. But if that Crucial 16GB won't work, none of it will. AFAIK, very few Core 2 Duo notebooks supported 16GB of RAM, and those that did were usually business class notebooks with 3-4 RAM slots. Reason being that single 8GB SO-DIMM's were VERY few and far between in the Core 2 days.

So, continue throwing money if you must... You'd be better off selling your Core 2 Macbook Pro and taking that cash and investing in a new notebook. The new Core i-Series models will most certainly take 16GB of RAM, no issue, and also have the CPU grunt and bus bandwidth to actually take advantage of it.

 

I took the risk on the Crucial memory, I should've gone with the OWC from the get go.

Most Core 2 Duo computers that I remember came with DDR2, my Mac uses DDR3 which is a little unheard of. 8GB DDR2 were pretty much nonexistent or costed an arm and a leg back in the day. 8GB DDR3 module is a little more reasonable in cost (to me) and easily found nowadays.

This website claims that they've tested and sell "apple specific" RAM and state that it is supported. The youtube video i posted above proves this because the person is using OWC "apple-specific" ram (that he purchased from macsales) into a MacBook Pro with Core 2 Dup P8600/Nvidia 320M (same exact as mine).

Please click this link: Apple MacBook Unibody 2.4GHz 2.26GHz Memory up to 16 GB of Ram | Hard Drive Upgrade and Video Installation Guide


As much as I would LOVE to throw my money at a brand new system, I cannot justify a $1000 (minimum) purchase on a brand new system. This one honestly works for my intended purposes. It is not for mission critical jobs, soley for personal learning and self teaching of Apple computers, OSX and OSX programs. I am using it as my learning tool and its my first Apple computer. However, I may take you up on that advice and will look into a newer Mac. I need for it to have a CD/DVD burner, and preferably USB 3.0. A backlit keyboard would be nice too.

Thanks for the tips.

 

Actually, that was really only the Merom arch. Pretty much all the Penryn models were DDR3 PC8500 1066Mhz. Not uncommon at all. DDR2 with Penryn was pretty rare, and usually you only saw it on budget notebooks with CPU's like the T6600. The Vaio FW was the only one I can remember that was comparatively high end, used Intel P-series and had DDR2.

 

What it is, is that those OWC sticks are the older format and high quality. They are 8 layer pcb and true 8 chip per side. If the bios holes are set high enough these sticks will work even on a windows C2D. This would be rare as most bios's will not be set that high as the reference PC bios's for PM/GM 45 will not have the memory configured that high.

Sorry for the simplistic explination›.........................

 

What do you mean if the BIOS holes are set high enough?

Are you referring to the memory clocks and timings?

Finally got my OWC 2x8 GB 1066 MHz kit and sure enough it worked.




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Apple computers don't have a BIOS, they use UEFI, he was referring to Windows based PC's. Interesting that 8 GB sticks work with a Core 2 Duo chipset.

 

For C2D's with bios and PM/GM 45 chipsets the memory hole refers to where (again in bios) they start reserving hardware addresses. If this is say reserved starting at 12GB then even if the system recognizes the 2x8GB sticks it will only allow 12GB to be used or worse only a 8+4GB arrangement. Maybe EFI is more dynamic than a standard BIOS too...............

 

Maybe you can ask an upgrade help at Macparts Online. If you're interested, you can also seek original/authentic Mac parts at the lowest prices there. My friend has exchanged Mac Pro 2-2.66-3GHz Quad A1186 Logic board there. I'm also planning to exchange a Mac Mini logic board 2.66 GHz in the coming days.