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shadowfax

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2002
5,849
0
Houston, TX
when you have nVidia 9400M integrated graphics, 256MB of RAM is reserved for the integrated graphics chip. I don't believe it is released to the system when you switch to the discrete graphics.
 

shadowfax

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2002
5,849
0
Houston, TX
According to this:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3

MacBook and MacBook Pro 'Unibody' Models
OWC tested to support Maximum Memory of 6.0GB:

  • MacBook 13.3" 2.0GHz (All)
  • MacBook 13.3" 2.4GHz (All)
  • MacBook Pro 15" 2.4GHz (All)
  • MacBook Pro 15" 2.53GHz model w/ExpressCard Slot (Late 2008)
  • MacBook Pro 15" 2.8GHz model w/ExpressCard Slot (Late 2008)

According to the page you linked:

6.0GB(2.0GB + 4.0GB Kit) PC8500 DDR3 1066MHz SO-DIMM 204 Pin PC3-8500 Memory Upgrade Kit for Late 2008, Early 2009, Early 2010 MacBook, MacBook Pro "Unibody" Models, 2009/2010 Mac mini, 2009 iMac Models. Lifetime Warranty. (OWC8566DDR3S6GP)

I know the picture of the Macbook 5,1 isn't shown below in the list of pics, but they clearly state it's for the Macbook 5,1 in 2 places.

I have been using 6 GB in my Late '08 2.4 GHz MB for months now, working like a champ. I strongly suggest getting a paired set of RAM and not mixing a 2 GB stick of Apple/Other RAM with an OWC 4GB stick; it seems unnecessarily risky.

One thing to keep in mind: OWC is a reputable business. They will let you return the set and refund your money if it doesn't work for you. They did for me the first time I tried (when I bought a 4 GB stick alone and tried to pair it with non-matched 2 and 1 GB sticks, and tried to use it alone). Good people to do business with, in my experience.
 

Vader815

macrumors newbie
Nov 4, 2010
8
0
You say don't use mismatched sticks but I don't think I've ever seen a 3g stick of ram. Or do you mean buy a 2g and 4g OWC sticks for the 6g total?
 

shadowfax

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2002
5,849
0
Houston, TX
I didn't mean mis-matched as in different sizes; mis-matched as in 2 different brands of RAM. I am, perhaps superstitiously, wary of mixing up Apple and 3rd party RAM.
 

Vader815

macrumors newbie
Nov 4, 2010
8
0
I've been pondering upgrading my ram to 6g after I get a SSD to boost my comp's performance dramatically. Have there been any reports of the ram getting wacky if they're mismatched?
 

chache

macrumors newbie
Dec 9, 2010
3
0
Running 6GB on my Macbook 5,1

I have the first release of the unibody. Macbook 5,1 (bought first day out). Currently running 6GB of RAM from Crucial, no issues. (2gb + 4gb)

I originally upgraded to 4gb (2+2) from Crucial, due to cost of 4GB at the time. Now that they have come down in price, I bought two separate 4GB from Crucial and installed. 8GB Does not work. But 6GB does work great.

hope this helps others.
 

blizz1975

macrumors newbie
Dec 11, 2010
1
0
Crucial 6GB DIMMS

Chache,

Can you post the exact specs of the Crucial DIMMs you used? If you are inclined can you post the vendor too? I want to compare prices with OWC and consider this upgrade for my MBP 5,1

Thanks for your post.
 

chache

macrumors newbie
Dec 9, 2010
3
0
Chache,

Can you post the exact specs of the Crucial DIMMs you used? If you are inclined can you post the vendor too? I want to compare prices with OWC and consider this upgrade for my MBP 5,1

Thanks for your post.

For Pricing, Check out the link - www.crucial.com -

2GB stick (from original kit):

I bought this in Dec 2008 at the time 4GB sticks were insanely expensive. I used the "Memory Advisor Tool" to find the Kit for my Late 2008 Macbook Unibody - 2.4Ghz - 13.3.

4GB kit (2GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500 memory module
CT2KIT25664BC1067
Module Size: 4GB kit (2GBx2)
Package: 204-pin SODIMM
Feature: DDR3 PC3-8500
Specs: DDR3 PC3-8500 • CL=7 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1066 • 1.5V • 256Meg x 64 •

4 GB stick (bought single stick for 6GB upgrade):

I just used the specs above to match a single 4GB stick. It worked for me.

4GB, 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500 memory module
CT51264BC1067
Module Size: 4GB
Package: 204-pin SODIMM
Feature: DDR3 PC3-8500
Specs: DDR3 PC3-8500 • CL=7 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1066 • 1.5V • 512Meg x 64 •

I have now been running this for a month without any issues whatsoever. System is stable and no crashes.
 

moucha

macrumors newbie
Jan 15, 2011
1
0
MacBook 5.1 8GB RAM

Hello,

I have both a MacBook 5.1 and a MacBook Pro 5.3 and today I bought 8 GB RAM type Kingston KTA-MB1066K2/8G for the MacBook Pro. In the last moment I decided to try the blocks in the MacBook. Surprise: it worked flawlessly. Two hours from installation, with Windows 7 and Fedora 14 running on VMWare Fusion and each allocated 2 GB and everything is superbly fine. I hope it will work in this configuration for more. I did a couple of empiric tests: hibernation, sleep, everything just fine. The installed OS is 10.6.6. I attached a screenshot of my desktop. One more thing: the battery BOOSTED by around 30-45 minutes. Overall I am terribly impressed.
 

smithrh

macrumors 68030
Feb 28, 2009
2,722
1,730
Hi Moucha,

There's nothing attached to your post.

Can you confirm what amount of RAM the system shows?

I'm very interested in the very upgrade that you did!

TIA
 

kdesmedt

macrumors newbie
Sep 15, 2010
10
0
I upgraded my MacBook 5,1 to 8GB as well. Works great so far. Screenshot in attachment.
 

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smithrh

macrumors 68030
Feb 28, 2009
2,722
1,730
Awesome - RAM is so cheap now it's a no-brainer upgrade...

8Gb kits are ~$100! :D
 

snorkeller1

macrumors newbie
Apr 24, 2003
25
0
I upgraded my MacBook 5,1 to 8GB as well. Works great so far. Screenshot in attachment.

Is that a Dutch 10.6.6 installed on a late '08 13-inch Unibody MacBook (non-Pro) ?

Amazing that you've got an extra 2GB of RAM over the 6GB limit for that MB. Also, the RAM is 1067 MHz rather than 1066 ?:confused:
 

smithrh

macrumors 68030
Feb 28, 2009
2,722
1,730
The current thought is that an EFI update allows the full 8Gb to be used, over the older limit of 6Gb. Note that the Mac Mini (Late 2009) also supports 8Gb RAM.

Again, with RAM prices this low, I'll just buy it and try it.
 

snorkeller1

macrumors newbie
Apr 24, 2003
25
0
The current thought is that an EFI update allows the full 8Gb to be used, over the older limit of 6Gb. Note that the Mac Mini (Late 2009) also supports 8Gb RAM.

Would be fun to follow that trend of thought to its source. Mactracker reveals that while MB/MBP5,1 have EFI updates, the Mac Mini (Late 2009) doesn't need one. However, the said updates only "eliminate(s) the noise made by the optical disk drive during wake from sleep". Undocumented update features, maybe?
 

smithrh

macrumors 68030
Feb 28, 2009
2,722
1,730
Would be fun to follow that trend of thought to its source. Mactracker reveals that while MB/MBP5,1 have EFI updates, the Mac Mini (Late 2009) doesn't need one. However, the said updates only "eliminate(s) the noise made by the optical disk drive during wake from sleep". Undocumented update features, maybe?

Probably the case. I know my company sneaks fixes in all the time, I wouldn't put it past Apple.

In any case, I just put 8 Gb of new RAM into my MacBook 5,1 and it's working great! 8 Gb for ~$100, that's absurdly low. Mac mini is the next, I'll put that in tomorrow.
 

cfrench

macrumors newbie
Apr 12, 2009
3
0
Waukee, Iowa
Got my 8 gigs installed earlier this week on a late 2008 MBP 5,1.
Haven't had any issue's with it so far. Got it for $84 from newegg.
Kinda hope'n I would notice a bigger difference but maybe I should format the drive and start fresh.

Screen shot 2011-01-21 at 5.43.36 PM.png
 

smithrh

macrumors 68030
Feb 28, 2009
2,722
1,730
Got my 8 gigs installed earlier this week on a late 2008 MBP 5,1.
Haven't had any issue's with it so far. Got it for $84 from newegg.
Kinda hope'n I would notice a bigger difference but maybe I should format the drive and start fresh.

There's precious little - if anything - to be gained by formatting a drive and "starting fresh" on Mac OS X. There's nothing like the Windows registry that tends to get bloated and even corrupt as time goes by.

If you weren't experiencing pageouts (swapping RAM to disk) before the upgrade, you probably won't see any major improvement. As others have put it, adding RAM won't speed up your computer, but it will prevent it from slowing down in certain circumstances.
 

snorkeller1

macrumors newbie
Apr 24, 2003
25
0
Probably the case. I know my company sneaks fixes in all the time, I wouldn't put it past Apple.

In any case, I just put 8 Gb of new RAM into my MacBook 5,1 and it's working great!

Again relying on Mactracker, the March 2009 2.66/2.93GHz MBP5,1s were the first 15-inchers capable of taking 8GB of RAM. Which model are you running, btw?
 

TheIguana

macrumors 6502a
Sep 26, 2004
677
492
Canada
Again relying on Mactracker, the March 2009 2.66/2.93GHz MBP5,1s were the first 15-inchers capable of taking 8GB of RAM. Which model are you running, btw?

I think you are getting mixed up between the MacBook Pro models from 2008 and the MacBook models from 2009.
The MacBook Pro 5,1 (otherwise known as the Late 2008 MacBook Pro) had a mixed bag of maximum RAM support. Officially all models could only take up to 4Gb. Unofficially, the 2.4GHz model could handle up to 6Gb, while the 2.53Ghz and 2.8Ghz models could handle up to 8Gb of RAM.
 
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