I have bought OWC brand memory for 3 different MACs over the past 5 years. All work perfectly. Recommended.
I like their prices, and their service is great, but as of yesterday I just had my second RAM failure with OWC stuff. This would be 2 out of around (I'm guessing here) 5 purchases.
The first failure happened after I no longer owned the computer containing the memory. The RAM failed a couple of weeks after the computer had been purchased used on eBay. I was pleased that OWC honored the lifetime warranty even for the second owner, no hassles at all.
The second failure happened yesterday, just a few days after buying the RAM -- a 1 GB module for my new 15" MBP. I had a sudden unexpected kernel panic, and when I tried to reboot all I got was the normal start-up chime followed by three sharp beeps. I took the new RAM out -- booted up fine. Put it back in -- three sharp beeps. Took it out again -- back in business, albeit with half the RAM I want to have.
Again, OWC's service has been great so far. They were friendly and helpful when I called, and they'll do a cross-ship replacement, meaning that a replacement is already on the way, and they e-mailed a pre-paid UPS shipping label last night which I used this morning to return the defective RAM. Once OWC receives the defective RAM, they'll take a temporary hold off my credit card for the cost of the replacement RAM.
It's hard to say what I think about OWC overall at this point -- 2 failures out of 5 is pretty bad, but that could just be coincidence. OWC has responded to these failures well.
In both cases, I bought bargain-basement RAM, figuring RAM either works or it doesn't work. I suppose one factor in RAM quality I might need to start considering now is how prone the RAM I buy is to spontaneous failures. Is the expensive stuff actually statistically shown to be more reliable, or could I just have easily had the same bad luck with more expensive RAM?
Following on some of what has already been discussed...
So is "generic" RAM just a crap-shoot? (i.e. the quality control on it is iffy, so if you get good ones, you are fine)?
I was looking at www.powerlinememory.com and for 2 GB they give you the choice of "generic" ($158), "major brand" ($218), and "factory original" ($278).
Their explanation:
* Generic - is available for the the price displayed on this page and is intended for the budget minded customer that is not doing mission critical work and is not trying to get the best performance or reliability from their machine. 1 year limited warranty
* Major Brand - great quality chips (e.g. Micron, Samsung, Nanya) on a high quality 3rd party board, these modules will provide great performance and reliability for a moderate price increase. Lifetime limited warranty
* Factory Original (pictured) - Are Apple OEM approved memory modules that are recommended for power users or mission critical work and is what actually ships in Apple computers. Hey you have the Lamborghini of computers might as well upgrade with the best components! Lifetime advance replacement warranty
So is generic just a bad idea? I suppose the extra $60 is worth the lifetime warranty?
Comments
Originally posted by sammick
This may have been discussed but anyway:
Crucial has 2GB memory for the MacBook for $360
Other World has 2GB for $225
Do you think there is any difference other than the price?
quality. i have crucial in my iMac, expensive but you know it will work.
For my macbook i picked up some from newegg.com (patriot 1gb sticks) and its been flawless. I think they were $86 each.
Originally posted by sammick
Do the RAM memory modules have to be "matched" or is that bull....
They only have to be the same size. Different sizes will work, but compromise the performance.
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspe...E=CT25664AC667
So, would two of those work on the MBP?
Originally posted by axc51
That's true that Apple doesn't offer those size sticks, but Crucial does:
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspe...E=CT25664AC667
So, would two of those work on the MBP?
They should, it looks like the correct specs (other than the size)
US $1792.00 x 2 = $3584. Have fun with that.
Oops.
Originally posted by WildDude92
I have bought OWC brand memory for 3 different MACs over the past 5 years. All work perfectly. Recommended.
I like their prices, and their service is great, but as of yesterday I just had my second RAM failure with OWC stuff. This would be 2 out of around (I'm guessing here) 5 purchases.
The first failure happened after I no longer owned the computer containing the memory. The RAM failed a couple of weeks after the computer had been purchased used on eBay. I was pleased that OWC honored the lifetime warranty even for the second owner, no hassles at all.
The second failure happened yesterday, just a few days after buying the RAM -- a 1 GB module for my new 15" MBP. I had a sudden unexpected kernel panic, and when I tried to reboot all I got was the normal start-up chime followed by three sharp beeps. I took the new RAM out -- booted up fine. Put it back in -- three sharp beeps. Took it out again -- back in business, albeit with half the RAM I want to have.
Again, OWC's service has been great so far. They were friendly and helpful when I called, and they'll do a cross-ship replacement, meaning that a replacement is already on the way, and they e-mailed a pre-paid UPS shipping label last night which I used this morning to return the defective RAM. Once OWC receives the defective RAM, they'll take a temporary hold off my credit card for the cost of the replacement RAM.
It's hard to say what I think about OWC overall at this point -- 2 failures out of 5 is pretty bad, but that could just be coincidence. OWC has responded to these failures well.
In both cases, I bought bargain-basement RAM, figuring RAM either works or it doesn't work. I suppose one factor in RAM quality I might need to start considering now is how prone the RAM I buy is to spontaneous failures. Is the expensive stuff actually statistically shown to be more reliable, or could I just have easily had the same bad luck with more expensive RAM?
So is "generic" RAM just a crap-shoot? (i.e. the quality control on it is iffy, so if you get good ones, you are fine)?
I was looking at www.powerlinememory.com and for 2 GB they give you the choice of "generic" ($158), "major brand" ($218), and "factory original" ($278).
Their explanation:
* Generic - is available for the the price displayed on this page and is intended for the budget minded customer that is not doing mission critical work and is not trying to get the best performance or reliability from their machine. 1 year limited warranty
* Major Brand - great quality chips (e.g. Micron, Samsung, Nanya) on a high quality 3rd party board, these modules will provide great performance and reliability for a moderate price increase. Lifetime limited warranty
* Factory Original (pictured) - Are Apple OEM approved memory modules that are recommended for power users or mission critical work and is what actually ships in Apple computers. Hey you have the Lamborghini of computers might as well upgrade with the best components! Lifetime advance replacement warranty
So is generic just a bad idea? I suppose the extra $60 is worth the lifetime warranty?
Crucial and OWC have reputations to uphold and have many users who are happy with their products--