DDR3 RAM types

[bigp2]

I have a new Mac Pro en route, and I was looking for some RAM to upgrade it. I have found two different types of DDR3 ECC:
Kingston Mac Pro 6GB 1066MHz DDR3 ECC CL7 (http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/partsinfo.asp?root=us&LinkBack=http://www.kingston.com&ktcpartno=KTA-MP1066K3/6G)
Kingston 6GB 1066MHz DDR3 ECC CL7 DIMM (Kit of 3) with Thermal Sensor (http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/PartsInfo.asp?root=us&LinkBack=http://www.kingston.com&ktcpartno=KVR1066D3E7SK3/6G)

The second kit is cheaper than the first. The thermal sensor is the only difference I can see. Does anyone know if the second kit would work in a Mac Pro?

Phil

[VirtualRain]

I have a new Mac Pro en route, and I was looking for some RAM to upgrade it. I have found two different types of DDR3 ECC:
Kingston Mac Pro 6GB 1066MHz DDR3 ECC CL7 (http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/partsinfo.asp?root=us&LinkBack=http://www.kingston.com&ktcpartno=KTA-MP1066K3/6G)
Kingston 6GB 1066MHz DDR3 ECC CL7 DIMM (Kit of 3) with Thermal Sensor (http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/PartsInfo.asp?root=us&LinkBack=http://www.kingston.com&ktcpartno=KVR1066D3E7SK3/6G)

The second kit is cheaper than the first. The thermal sensor is the only difference I can see. Does anyone know if the second kit would work in a Mac Pro?

Phil

From the specs it should work no problem... perhaps contact Kingston and find out what the real differences are.

[nemodomi]

You need the thermal sensors.

http://blog.macsales.com/547-cautionary-note-on-mac-pro-memory

[VirtualRain]

You need the thermal sensors.

http://blog.macsales.com/547-cautionary-note-on-mac-pro-memory

This suggests otherwise... http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=667399

[bigp2]

So how do we know if the thermal sensors are the right ones? The OWC link talks about "special EEPROMs".

Phil

[HHarm]

I'm getting the second one.

I can't find the message now but there was a memory test that showed if a memory worked fully with a Mac Pro 09 or not. Any idea what program that was?

(I'm new to Macs)

[Gonk42]

So how do we know if the thermal sensors are the right ones? The OWC link talks about "special EEPROMs".

Phil

The DDR3 needs to be JEDEC compliant and all such modules will have an EEPROM giving the latency timing etc. The JEDEC standard lists the presence or otherwise of a thermal sensor as optional. I don't think that there are different types of thermal sensors, it is either there or it isn't.

Crucial (for instance) don't mention on their site whether a thermal sensor is present or not. I've e-mailed them to ask but have not yet had a response.

To quote from the Mac Pro User Guide :

"When purchasing DIMMs for use in Mac computers, make sure that the memory vendor conforms to the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) specification. Check with your memory vendor to ensure that the DIMMs support the correct timing modes and that the Serial Presence Detect (SPD) feature has been programmed properly, as described in the JEDEC specification. To check the compatibility of your DIMMs, see the Macintosh Products Guide on Apple’s website at www.apple.com/guide"

The SPD is the EEPROM. Apple don't mention the thermal sensor and the JEDEC standard for DDR3 lists it as optional but from what the OWC blog states the Mac Pro is unhappy without it.