Are these two memory sticks the same?

[McGuillicuddy]

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/MPa...A5CA7304&WSMD=iBook+(G4+1.2GHz)&WSPN=CT372707


http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT6464X265&cat=RAM


As far as I can tell these two sticks are identical, except that one is listed specifically as an upgrade to the ibook, and the other is listed simply as a 200-pin 512 MB PC2100 SO-DIMM. Funny thing is the price is £25 less for the latter (i.e. the one that is not listed specifically for Apple)!

Is there any reason the cheaper stick won't work in my 1.2 GHz iBook?

 

[TLRedhawke]

The two parts are absolutely identical. It appears to be another case of a merchant charging more for "Mac ram" than "PC ram". This is why I don't buy from Crucial, or really any merchants who differentiate between the two. The supplier for our store will give me the same part number if I ask for G5 ram, or if I ask for PC3200 SDIMM. It's the same ram, it should cost the same. Buy PC ram. Same stuff, usually cheaper.

 

[caveman_uk]

Crucial uses different product codes depending upon what the RAM is for. It does the same for compact flash. I know from experience that they say 'Well, you didn't get it from our memory selector. Maybe it's not the right sort of memory for that machine'?' Which in my case was BS as compact flash is compact flash. They did give me my money back anyway....

 

[McGuillicuddy]

Well I decided to go ahead and order the non-apple-specific memory for £25 less. I'm quite sure it will work just fine but I'll post here with the results in a couple days.

 

[McGuillicuddy]

Couple things I've noticed: - when you go to the overall list of PC2100 memory which, if the two sticks were actually different should include both of them, only the non-apple-specific stick is shown.

Also, it appears that the price discrepancy exists ONLY for the 512 MB stick. The 128, 256, and 1GB prices are the same for both listings.

And finally, the apple-specific listings for the 128, 256, and 1GB sticks show '16 x 64', '32 x 64', and '128 x 64' respectively, but '64 x 64' is not shown for the 512 MB apple listing. It is shown for the generic listing for the 512 MB stick.

I think they're trying to take us for a ride with the 512 MB stick for some reason by charging extra if you buy it using their Memory Finder or whatever you call it. Not sure why they're only doing it for the 512 MB dimm though.

 

[Gizmotoy]

I posted a similar request for information the other day. The current iBook and the PowerBook 1GHz 12" machines both use the same 200 pin PC2100 RAM discussed here. However, the iBook-specific 512MB chip and the Powerbook-specific chip differ by $40 US. That's nearly a 50% increase. On top of that, the Powerbook version is the cheaper one!

If anyone's curious, I ended up getting this one instead: http://shop3.outpost.com/product/3326052?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

[Rocksaurus]

Interestingly enough last time I went RAM shopping on crucial the "Mac RAM" was cheaper than the "PC RAM" (though only by a dollar). I can't explain the price difference here, but don't bash crucial.

 

[Mechcozmo]

I don't know if this is true or not, so take it as a possibility:

Crucial checks your cookies for competitors, and adjusts prices accordingly.

I read that somewhere here on MR. I do not repeat, do not know if this is true. A search gives me nada.

My PowerBook's DIMM was the same for the "PC" DIMM.

 

[maya]

I don't know if this is true or not, so take it as a possibility:

Crucial checks your cookies for competitors, and adjusts prices accordingly.

I read that somewhere here on MR. I do not repeat, do not know if this is true. A search gives me nada.

My PowerBook's DIMM was the same for the "PC" DIMM.

I did a search and I still find crucial's prices way above the rest. They do not seem competitive to me any longer back in the day they were not any more, hopefully this changes.

 

[McGuillicuddy]

The following is a copy of the online conversation I had with a Crucial Customer Service rep (it reads from the bottom up):

Jennie> You're welcome. Thank you for visiting Crucial.com, and have a
great day.
Doug> right. okay, thanks very much.
Jennie> Just in they way you selected they item you were searching for.
Doug> the more expensive one only comes up when using the memory finder
for an apple ibook G4.
Doug> heh. that's what i expected. any idea why they have two different
prices?
Jennie> They are the same. I would select the cheaper one of the.
Doug> right
Jennie> One moment, please, while I review your inquiry.
Doug> but one costs notably more than the other
Doug> all the specs appear identical
Doug> both are 512 MB PC 2100 200-pin SO-DIMMs
Doug> i'm just wondering what the difference is between these two items:
CT6464X265 and CT372707
Doug> hi there

Jennie> Hello Doug. How can I help you?


So there you have it. Beware of the 'Memory Finder'.

 

[McGuillicuddy]

Just to follow up for any people searching through the forums now. I ordered the cheaper one. It works perfectly.