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1600MHz works and runs at 1600 MacBook Pro 2011

I just can't believe how far the prices for DDR3 laptop memory have fallen. I told myself with my last laptop that I'd hold off on upgrading to 8 gigs when the price fell below $400, and when the first kit on Newegg hit $395 I pulled the trigger. That was on 11/12/09.

Now even the fastest available is 1/4 the price of that. Wow.
 
daneoni said:
I'm not even talking about Windows, I'm talking OSX (which has been able to see/address more than 4GB since Panther) on Merom C2D MacBook Pros

Saw 4GB installed but never used the full 4GB...tapping out at 3.3 or so GBs
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying but it's still a bad analogy.

Your missing 'memory' is a result of software, not hardware.

Remember, a simple firmware upgrade on some C2D MBPs allowed the total memory from 6 gig to 8 gig.
 
johnnj said:
I just can't believe how far the prices for DDR3 laptop memory have fallen. I told myself with my last laptop that I'd hold off on upgrading to 8 gigs when the price fell below $400, and when the first kit on Newegg hit $395 I pulled the trigger. That was on 11/12/09.

Now even the fastest available is 1/4 the price of that. Wow.
Click to expand...


I agree. When I purchased a late 2009 MBP I bought 8 Gig @ $700.00. How times have changed and prices have dropped.

I use a lot of VMs so memory is very important in the work that I do. I would upgrade to 16 if they were at $700.00.

Ironically, I'm old enough to remember this very scenario when the numbers were in MB and not GB. :)


-P
 
This is interesting as I was about to buy 16 gigs...but if it is running a higher hz speed, I am not so sure now.

This shouldn't surprise anyone as Apple enjoys doing this. It is kind of like how the current MBP can only take 8GB of RAM, despite being able to handle at least 16, with some saying more. It is their grand ole fashion :p
 
Pentad said:
I agree. When I purchased a late 2009 MBP I bought 8 Gig @ $700.00. How times have changed and prices have dropped.

I use a lot of VMs so memory is very important in the work that I do. I would upgrade to 16 if they were at $700.00.

Ironically, I'm old enough to remember this very scenario when the numbers were in MB and not GB. :)


-P
Click to expand...

Yes, VMs were my primary motivation for the more memory, too. I do think that I need 16, since the machine hasn't come 10 feet from touching swap since the 8 gig.

Yeah, I hear you about the meg/gig thing. I remember when I got 8 gigs for my 386 that I though I was king of the world because Photoshop ran so much better. Those were the days...
 
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ahhhh. it's nice to know there are many.. experienced people over here :)
 
circularforward said:
In my 2011 2.2 15", I am using the 8GX ram as I got it for a good deal. It shows as 1333. =(
Click to expand...

i was planning on getting the 8GX kit because of that XMP (i thought the more the merrier, even though mac cant do XMP)

so can i confirm that system profiler reports 1333mhz even though the ram is rated at 1600mhz? that is stunning news as i was looking at those kits as well.


someone mentioned G-skill 8gb kit for the 2011 mbps, where can i find those?
 
aznguyen316 said:
I read that one. They probably had the kingston GX version which doesn't clock at 1600 but the regular G as stated by OP does.
Click to expand...

on this note i dont understand y GX doesnt clock at 1600? it still states it does 1600 with XMP? is it because mac cant do XMP that it doesnt clock at 1600mhz?
 
konceptz said:
I'm sorry, do you think you could SS this? I have done some research and found this article which lends towards 1600 as not working.


No DDR3 1600 For MacbookPro 2011

It would be great if you proved them wrong!
Click to expand...

1600MHz works fine and benchmarks about 10% higher than 1333MHz. Don't get the XMP version though...
 

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JasonH42 said:
1600MHz works fine and benchmarks about 10% higher than 1333MHz. Don't get the XMP version though...
Click to expand...

:confused:
im confused, what models do work i know how to install RAM what RAM frequencies are but not much of an expert in the brand names (XMP etc).
 
Macsavvytech said:
:confused:
im confused, what models do work i know how to install RAM what RAM frequencies are but not much of an expert in the brand names (XMP etc).
Click to expand...

I hope Jason doesn't mind me answering for him :)
this is the Kingston part no: KHX1600C9S3K2/8G
the Kingston sticks you should avoid are the ones ending by "x" (4gx, 8gx) which indicates the XMP thing.

FYI someone said patriot (or g.skill, cannot remember right now) memory sticks work as well. just search for the key 1600 in this forum section and you will find the thread I am referring to.
 
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m4rk0 said:
I hope Jason doesn't mind me answering for him :)
this is the Kingston part no: KHX1600C9S3K2/8G
the Kingston sticks you should avoid are the ones ending by "x" (4gx, 8gx) which indicates the XMP thing.

FYI someone said patriot (or g.skill, cannot remember right now) memory sticks work as well. just search for the key 1600 in this forum section and you will find the thread I am referring to.
Click to expand...

So pretty much keep with Kingston sticks that don't end with x and are 1600 or go check the patriot ones out? Like there isn't any factual pattern as to what works and what doesn't.
 
Macsavvytech said:
So pretty much keep with Kingston sticks that don't end with x and are 1600 or go check the patriot ones out? Like there isn't any factual pattern as to what works and what doesn't.
Click to expand...

It appears to be XMP that doesn't work so yes that Kingston part is the one I'm running and the Patriot part mentioned in the other thread benchmarks equally well despite having a higher CAS latency.
 
JasonH42 said:
It appears to be XMP that doesn't work so yes that Kingston part is the one I'm running and the Patriot part mentioned in the other thread benchmarks equally well despite having a higher CAS latency.
Click to expand...

As i said im not much of a RAM expert, i am googling CAS now. Can you explain what exactly is XMP. Is it to do with all RAM or just Kingston. Finally if you don't mind can you give me a link to the RAM you bought and the site from which you got it ;)
 
Macsavvytech said:
As i said im not much of a RAM expert, i am googling CAS now. Can you explain what exactly is XMP. Is it to do with all RAM or just Kingston. Finally if you don't mind can you give me a link to the RAM you bought and the site from which you got it ;)
Click to expand...

CAS is the access time. The Kingston (KHX1600C9S3K2/8G) or Patriot will be fine, they benchmark the same. I wouldn't recommend the UK company I bought the RAM from, but LambdaTek stock it also although incorrectly it states 240pin (its 204pin): http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=2172333

XMP is Intel eXtreme Memory Profile - I believe it means the speed can be switched via the BIOS which we don't have access to on the MBP.
 
If you look at the spec sheets on the XMP (located on Kingston's site) they are slight different than the non XMP.

In a nutshell, you want the NON XMP.

Get it here @ Amazon.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I'm so close to clicking Purchase. I have $33 off @ amazon due to a gift card... but I'm not sure that 10% is worth $95....darn me over thinking!
 
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