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rabidz7

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 24, 2012
1,205
3
Ohio
According to the guides section it is possible to use 32GB ram in a Macbook Pro 15" Late 2011 2.4GHz, is this true?

Where can I get individual 16GB chips?
What will happen if I use latancies under 7?
What will happen if I use RAM above 1600Mhz?
 
Nov 28, 2010
22,670
31
located
Since no 16 GB 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM modules exist, nowhere. But you will be able to run Mac OS X 10.3 Panther perfectly with 16 GB.
 

rabidz7

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 24, 2012
1,205
3
Ohio
So I can upgrade to 32GB in 6months-1 year.
Or will it be longer before larger modules are available.
 
Nov 28, 2010
22,670
31
located
So I can upgrade to 32GB in 6months-1 year.
Or will it be longer before larger modules are available.

We do not know that, and 4 GB modules existed a bit longer before 8 GB modules arrived than since the arrival of the 8 GB module two years ago.

Maybe next year, but the advent of DDR4 might nix that.
 

TheRdungeon

macrumors 6502a
Jul 21, 2011
545
93
I think it's the higher end processors that can do it, so for the '11 models that's 2.2 and 2.3 (early) and 2.4 and 2.5 (late). Having said that, I wouldn't be suprised if Apple limits them to 16, otherwise the retina will look a bit stupid
 

Lolito

macrumors 6502
Mar 20, 2013
397
34
here
idon't think the retinas look stupid. they look quite cool, but they ARE certainly stupid... :)
 

liberte1776

macrumors 6502
Apr 3, 2014
425
392
Yes 32 GB modules are here!!

http://www.intelligentmemory.com/dram-modules/ddr3-so-dimm/

I have run 1600 MHz RAM in a late 2011 MBP 17" w/no issues.
 

jorgk

macrumors regular
Mar 20, 2013
113
43
Yes 32 GB modules are here!!

http://www.intelligentmemory.com/dram-modules/ddr3-so-dimm/

I have run 1600 MHz RAM in a late 2011 MBP 17" w/no issues.

Reading may help (since this has already been discussed, pls search the archives for those posts too):

"Please note: Most notebooks and desktop-computers based on normal Intel processors will not support 16GB UDIMM/SO-DIMM memory modules. This issue may be solvable by a BIOS/UEFI update with a new memory reference code. Please contact the support-hotline of your system-manufacturer to ask if there is a plan to release a software-update for supporting 16GB memory modules"

Thus, ask Apple.
 
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Michael Anthony

macrumors regular
Oct 18, 2012
131
21
Australia
I've got the same model with a 1TB SSD and 16GB memory, it's great, interesting to hear that they're still making bigger modules, whether they work or not I don't know because I just got here.
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,675
7,212
I have an early 2011 macbook pro. With a processor upgrade + ssd upgrade (already have 500gb) is 32gb a possibility?!
No. Without soldering one on, it's also not possible to upgrade the CPU.
 

jtgil

macrumors member
Jan 7, 2020
67
108
Hamburg
Yes 32 GB modules are here!!


I have run 1600 MHz RAM in a late 2011 MBP 17" w/no issues.

Sorry to revive an old thread but being a long time user of ther 17 inch late 2011 macbook pro, I am interested in upgrading the RAM to 32gb. According to intel specs, my CPU can support 32GB RAM.

Liberte1776 I wanted to confirm your statement, did you have success running a late 2011 mbp 17 with 32gb RAM? Do you remember if it was the DDR3 or DDR3L, I suppose the L version can function as the non L cards.
 
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MacNago

macrumors newbie
Jan 20, 2020
2
2
Hey mate. I believe you need the "L" (for Low) one. For the RAM voltage supply in the 17'/15" MBP is 13.5v which is considered a low voltage as opposed to 15v.
I will be trying it out this coming week. I have ordered a single stick 16GB DDR3 SO-DIMM 1600MHZ RAM. I intend to first use it solo. If successful, I will push for adding an 8GB stick to the remaining slot and see. The goal is to eventually reach 32GB.
Peace!!
[automerge]1584349962[/automerge]
Sorry to revive an old thread but being a long time user of ther 17 inch late 2011 macbook pro, I am interested in upgrading the RAM to 32gb. According to intel specs, my CPU can support 32GB RAM.

Liberte1776 I wanted to confirm your statement, did you have success running a late 2011 mbp 17 with 32gb RAM? Do you remember if it was the DDR3 or DDR3L, I suppose the L version can function as the non L cards.
The non "L" runs on 15v, while the "L" on 13.5v as required by the 17/15" MBP.
 
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MacNago

macrumors newbie
Jan 20, 2020
2
2
im wondering how this turned out.. ?

did someone got 32gb to work.. ?
Bad news!! I tried it today. I put a single stick 16GB RAM in, and the computer gave out the "No RAM" beeps. Though physically and specs wise everything matches up it's still not seeing the RAM stick.
I think it may have to do with the BIOS firmware no recognizing the serial code or number of the 16GB RAM stick. The quest goes on :(
[automerge]1584491546[/automerge]
Yes 32 GB modules are here!!


I have run 1600 MHz RAM in a late 2011 MBP 17" w/no issues.
I tried it today. I put in a single stick 16GB RAM in, and the computer gave out the "No RAM" beeps. Though physically and specs wise everything matches up It's still not seeing the RAM stick.
I think it may have to the do with the BIOS firmware no recognizing the serial code or number of the 16GB RAM stick. The quest goes on :(
 

FlorisVN

macrumors 6502a
Nov 8, 2013
976
380
Bad news!! I tried it today. I put a single stick 16GB RAM in, and the computer gave out the "No RAM" beeps. Though physically and specs wise everything matches up it's still not seeing the RAM stick.
I think it may have to do with the BIOS firmware no recognizing the serial code or number of the 16GB RAM stick. The quest goes on :(
[automerge]1584491546[/automerge]

I tried it today. I put in a single stick 16GB RAM in, and the computer gave out the "No RAM" beeps. Though physically and specs wise everything matches up It's still not seeing the RAM stick.
I think it may have to the do with the BIOS firmware no recognizing the serial code or number of the 16GB RAM stick. The quest goes on :(

ok thx for testing !
This confirms it for me that these DDR3 macs, cannot be upgraded to 32GB ram atm.

these core i7 cpu''s doe support 32GB in most cases akkording to intel, I think Apple blocked in within their bios/EFI firmware.
 

jtgil

macrumors member
Jan 7, 2020
67
108
Hamburg
@MacNago
Bad news!! I tried it today. I put a single stick 16GB RAM in, and the computer gave out the "No RAM" beeps. Though physically and specs wise everything matches up it's still not seeing the RAM stick.
I think it may have to do with the BIOS firmware no recognizing the serial code or number of the 16GB RAM stick. The quest goes on :(
[automerge]1584491546[/automerge]

I tried it today. I put in a single stick 16GB RAM in, and the computer gave out the "No RAM" beeps. Though physically and specs wise everything matches up It's still not seeing the RAM stick.
I think it may have to the do with the BIOS firmware no recognizing the serial code or number of the 16GB RAM stick. The quest goes on :(
Hi mate, I apologise for taking 2 years to come back to this. Thank you for your reply and subsequent experiment. It seems @liberte1776 typed the wrong number or had a lucky one off Mac...

Although I have been away, I haven't stopped researching this issue. I own a Mac Pro 5,1 as well, and I have been through the typical battles people have to go to keep our Macs updated beyond the unsupported MacOS and hardware with Apple systems.

"OpenCore" has lead to new territories with the Mac Pro 5,1, and although I am not able to investigate this currently for other Macs, I found that unsupported RAM can be used when configuring OpenCore in a Mac Pro. So I believe there is a chance to use OpenCore to allow the cMBP17 to boot using 16GB DIMMS, thus allowing 2x16GB DIMMS for a full awesome 32GBs RAM.

Have a read through here to investigate the matter and whoever wants to give it a go is welcome!
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/crazy-idea-32gb-ram-modules-in-a-cmp-anyone-tried-this.2046693/
 
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