MacBook ram

bommaah

I'm planning on upgrading my macbooks ram memory, but I'm not sure about what specs I should be looking for. Like pc-??? mhz? perhaps what timings... Enlighten me please. Thx



edit: I'm planning on buying things here, if that helps recommending something...

ti fighter

667 DDR2 PC2-5300



I got mine from crucial



edit: also it's a very good idea to fill both ram slots with matching pairs like,



[1 gig] [1 gig]



or



[512] [512]



etc...

idave

Just ordered a 2GB kit (2 x 1GB) from powerlinememory.com for $158. It's cheap, generic memory. My fingers will be crossed that there are no problems.



I've bought from Crucial in the past. They have a good reputation for quality memory but this time they want more than twice as much money, so I'm taking a chance with the cheap stuff. Chances are it'll work just fine.

speedo_24

let us know how the powerlinememory.com ram works for you im interested in the cheap stuf too

jakk

how about using 1gb + 256mb (the one installed)



will the performance worse than 512 + 512 mb?



because I really don't want to buy both 512 and in case i want to upgrade in the future.



So just buy 1 gb and leave 256 there. What's ur opinion?

troberts

Quote:

Originally posted by Jakk

how about using 1gb + 256mb (the one installed)



will the performance worse than 512 + 512 mb?



because I really don't want to buy both 512 and in case i want to upgrade in the future.



So just buy 1 gb and leave 256 there. What's ur opinion?

Matching the memory is related to graphics performance, not OS performance, because it is integrated. I do not know what type of performance hit you will take by not having matching RAM so hopefully, someone else will have that information.



If you are buying online from Apple spend the extra $100.00 to get 2x512MB memory modules because you will double the memory and it will be matched. While you are using your MacBook with 1GB RAM you can decide whether you really need 2GB RAM. If you are buying from a retail store then use the MacBook with the stock 512MB RAM until you can get 2x1GB modules at the same time so you are sure that the two modules have the same make, model, latency, etc.

idave

Quote:

Originally posted by speedo_24

let us know how the powerlinememory.com ram works for you im interested in the cheap stuf too

Got and installed 2GB today. It passed the Apple (extended) Hardware Test. No problems so far.

speedo_24

Sweet - How long did the shpping take?

idave

Quote:

Originally posted by speedo_24

Sweet - How long did the shpping take?

About a week. They ship ground for free.

austere

I might be wrong, but does it void Applecare to remove all apple-official RAM?



And also, does anybody really know the performance hit between matched pair or no?

pepedlux

Will jacking up the ram to 2GB+ have any effect on the integrated chip's ability to handle 3D rendering in things like games? I heard that the MacBooks won't be able to handle anything newer than say World of Warcraft without a serious hit in the FPS department.

jpennington

It's doesn't void the warranty, except for the ram.

jasenj1

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong: Don't the MacBooks and iMacs use the same RAM?



If so, my plan is to buy a 512MB stick and a 1GB stick. Put the 512MB from the iMac & the purchased stick in a MacBook; put the 1GB in the iMac. Add another Gig to the iMac as needed.



- Jasen.

jakk

Quote:

Originally posted by jasenj1

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong: Don't the MacBooks and iMacs use the same RAM?



If so, my plan is to buy a 512MB stick and a 1GB stick. Put the 512MB from the iMac & the purchased stick in a MacBook; put the 1GB in the iMac. Add another Gig to the iMac as needed.



- Jasen.

No, it's not the same.

pbr

Quote:

Originally posted by Jakk

No, it's not the same.

Oh yes, it is.



By the way:

Does anybody know, whether 2x 512MB (=1GB) (Dual Channel) is faster than 256MB+1024MB (=1,25GB) (No Dual Channel)?

idave

When you look at prices of 1GB sticks at Crucial for the MacBook vs. the current DDR2 iMac, while the specs appear to be the same, the prices are different. Hmmm. Do they both use small laptop size memory sticks?

kmhtkmhtkmht

I paid 930 Hong Kong Dollars per stick... so yes it was expensive but I wanted it there and then!

kmhtkmhtkmht

Same as I - the Corsair one's - Value Select but they only had 1 stick left! ( so I went upstairs and bought it for 930.

mc122

Btw, how can i install the ram module in the Macbook??



do i need to bring the mac to the apple shop and have things done by the guys there?

lundy

Quote:

Originally posted by MC122

Btw, how can i install the ram module in the Macbook??



do i need to bring the mac to the apple shop and have things done by the guys there?

http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_cente...book/high.html

pyr3

Quote:

Originally posted by pbr

Oh yes, it is.



By the way:

Does anybody know, whether 2x 512MB (=1GB) (Dual Channel) is faster than 256MB+1024MB (=1,25GB) (No Dual Channel)?

Dual Channel = faster. Without Dual Channel (IIRC), the Intel graphics chip will have limited access the main memory. So even if you have 1.5GB (1GB stick + 512GB stick) the memory available to the GMA950 would only be 64MB (I think).