Why not use "PC" DRAM for 27? i7 I Mac?
I need to buy some DRAM for my new i7 i Mac.
Especially right now I'm finding the exact spec. RAM from large memory companies (Mushkin, GSkill, Crucial, and more) priced as low as $70 with free shiping, whereas the same spec. form the same maker, but marked for "Apple" starts at over $100 (and no free shipping).
Do I need to stick to the Apple ram, and why?
Thanks
Especially right now I'm finding the exact spec. RAM from large memory companies (Mushkin, GSkill, Crucial, and more) priced as low as $70 with free shiping, whereas the same spec. form the same maker, but marked for "Apple" starts at over $100 (and no free shipping).
Do I need to stick to the Apple ram, and why?
Thanks
Comments
I need to buy some DRAM for my new i7 i Mac.
Especially right now I'm finding the exact spec. RAM from large memory companies (Mushkin, GSkill, Crucial, and more) priced as low as $70 with free shiping, whereas the same spec. form the same maker, but marked for "Apple" starts at over $100 (and no free shipping).
Do I need to stick to the Apple ram, and why?
Thanks
I ordered Crucial RAM for my i7 iMac from Amazon and it works perfectly. It was not specifically for Apple. Cost was 89.95 for 4GB. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?ur...1067&x=14&y=18
This question makes no sense. There is no such thing as "Apple RAM". It's all the same thing.
Not according to Crucial, G-Skill, OCZ, Mushkin, Kingston, and Newegg!
For example, I'm getting 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Memory; That's just the spec. you mention.
Part Numbers:
From Mushkin;
For Apple : 976643A
For Laptop: 996643
From Kingston;
For Apple :KTA-MB1066K2/4GR
For Laptop:KVR1066D3SOK2/4GR
So, the manufactures at least want us to believe there is a difference, and people report that when PC Laptop memory has a problem in a Mac, most manufactures just tell you to buy the Mac memory designed for your machine.
Just a side note: I ordered the G.SKILL kit, as they actually have been reading the Newegg complaints and offering to replace the PC ram with Mac ram whenever necessary.
I think that kind of support is the kind of thing people who buy Apple like to see.
I do.
So, the manufactures at least want us to believe there is a difference, and people report that when PC Laptop memory has a problem in a Mac, most manufactures just tell you to buy the Mac memory designed for your machine.
Just a side note: I ordered the G.SKILL kit, as they actually have been reading the Newegg complaints and offering to replace the PC ram with Mac ram whenever necessary.
I think that kind of support is the kind of thing people who buy Apple like to see.
I do.
Well, RAM is RAM. As long as it meets the JEDEC spec, it should work perfectly in any computer that supports that type of memory. And if it doesn't meet the JEDEC spec, it's defective (or over-volted "gamer" RAM, which is, frankly, defective).
They may be selling the same stuff as "Apple RAM" (and it is the same stuff), with presumably a hefty markup, but there is no reason to buy that. The little DRAM chips on it are the same as 'normal' RAM.
Not according to Crucial, G-Skill, OCZ, Mushkin, Kingston, and Newegg!
For example, I'm getting 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Memory; That's just the spec. you mention.
Part Numbers:
From Mushkin;
For Apple : 976643A
For Laptop: 996643
From Kingston;
For Apple :KTA-MB1066K2/4GR
For Laptop:KVR1066D3SOK2/4GR
So, the manufactures at least want us to believe there is a difference, and people report that when PC Laptop memory has a problem in a Mac, most manufactures just tell you to buy the Mac memory designed for your machine.
Just a side note: I ordered the G.SKILL kit, as they actually have been reading the Newegg complaints and offering to replace the PC ram with Mac ram whenever necessary.
I think that kind of support is the kind of thing people who buy Apple like to see.
I do.
No, they believe that Apple has conditioned Mac users to not take things beyond face value and they can charge them more for the same memory.
Apple computers have ALWAYS been very picky about the RAM they use. I remember the old G4 towers would work perfectly fine with some RAM, but wouldn't sleep properly for some reason related to the type/spec of the RAM.
Maybe I'm just brainwashed, but having been through different grades of RAM in the PC world, I'll happily pay a few $$$ extra for guaranteed compatibility.
I imagine this has more to do with closer tolerances to specifications than trying to gouge Apple users. Instead of taking the first parts out of the bin for Apple, they take the best parts out of the bin.
Apple computers have ALWAYS been very picky about the RAM they use. I remember the old G4 towers would work perfectly fine with some RAM, but wouldn't sleep properly for some reason related to the type/spec of the RAM.
No, PowerPC Macs were picky about RAM because Apple's engineers custom-designed their memory controllers and made them that way. Now Macs are just Intel PCs running OS X, and Intel does a much better job of designing those components.