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3rd party RAM?

I've bought RAM from Crucial for years.

Only once did I end up with a RAM chip that had a problem, and their customer service was superb in getting it promptly replaced. Depending on how you look at it, that could make you more or less likely to consider them.
 
Go with the qualified. The differences have been debated quite a bit around here and at the end of the day, it is not worth the price increase.
 
Yea, I just searched the forum and read some older threads about it. Seems like qualified is just as good.
 
Just switched and bought MacPro - need RAM buying advice

I know this is old ground - have read several articles about ideal RAM configurations. This time I have a specific question as I just bought a MacPro today,...finally ditching my XP system.

Bought with standard 2GIG (1GIGx2)
Will buy either 8GIG (2GIGx4) or 12GIG (2GIGx6) to power it up.

If I do the 8GIG addition, and place 2x2 in each upper and lower trays, should I leave the original RAM in, or not use it? If I use it, where would it ideally be placed?

For 12GIG - how to ideally place these? fil top tray first, then 2 in bottom tray? Then place the 1GIG RAM in lower tray as 3&4, or leave out?

Sorry to ask this oft-repeated query, but I'm new to Apple. Thanks for your patience.
 
CanadaRAM said:
No, Apple's RAM prices are insane, CAN$500 for 2 x 1 Gb FBDIMMs (2.5 x third party pricing) and CAN$1500 for 8 Gb (4 x 2) about 2x the current third party prices.

The rule still applies, order a stock configuration with minimum RAM and hard drive from Apple.


It doesn't follow. Prices come down when demand goes up, which we have seen in DDR2 RAM lately. Prices plateau or go up when the industry shifts to newer types of RAM and demand slacks off (which is why PC133 RAM for G4's and DDR RAM hasn't come down anywhere near the DDR2 levels, and is now creeping up.)
Click to expand...

What! Doesn't fit any economic theory I've ever heard. So we should be encouraging everyone to drive more and use more gasoline and then the increased demand will cause gasoline prices to drop? I think you are leaving something out.

The high ram prices for this new Mac Pro, because there are only a few producers of the new ram and a shortage of this new ram, will cause other suppliers/producers to want to get into the market and get some of this high profit. Thus as more suppliers produce the new ram and there gets to be a larger supply, then by competition among the suppliers to sell their ram, the prices will fall.

Sorry to be such a stickler on the issue.
 
designer22 said:
... how to ideally place these? ...
Click to expand...

Yes, this has been asked a lot but I can't remember the thread. I downloaded this schematic from the last one.
 

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Memory just as good?

On the Apple site when I went to customize my RAM, in the learn more they write:

"FB-DIMMs made by other manufacturers that do not include a sufficient heat sink may cause the fans to run faster (and louder) or the memory chips to run slower so as not to overheat."

Does anything think there would be an issue buying from the 3rd party vendors? I am pretty dumb when it comes to this...
 
rockinrocker said:
does that chart hold for the new model, though?
Click to expand...

No idea, but I don't see why it wouldn't. Isn't the basic architecture the same?

The Mac Pro (Early 2008) manual states:

Two DIMMs (standard configuration): One on the top memory card and one on the bottom card

Four DIMMs: One pair on the top memory card and one pair on the bottom card

Six DIMMs: Two pairs on the top memory card and one pair on the bottom card

Eight DIMMs: Two pairs on the top memory card and two pairs on the bottom card

splitsplat said:
On the Apple site when I went to customize my RAM, in the learn more they write:

"FB-DIMMs made by other manufacturers that do not include a sufficient heat sink may cause the fans to run faster (and louder) or the memory chips to run slower so as not to overheat."

Does anything think there would be an issue buying from the 3rd party vendors? I am pretty dumb when it comes to this...
Click to expand...

Apple's been saying this since the MacPro first came out in August '06. Hence the whole difference between OWC's "certified" vs. "qualified," etc.
 
astrostu said:
Apple's been saying this since the MacPro first came out in August '06. Hence the whole difference between OWC's "certified" vs. "qualified," etc.
Click to expand...

I don't think that is the case with OWC. The "qualified" modules have the same heatsink as the memory Apple gives.

The "certified" or Netlist modules have a more advanced heatsink which makes them cost more.

The modules that give the problems are the ones with heatspreaders and not actual heatsinks. OWC qualified RAM should work just fine in the Mac Pro without causing any issues.
 
FWIW, my ram vendor of choice for the last 8 years or so has been DMS ( http://www.datamemorysystems.com/ ).. They ship out of New Hampshire and offer free shipping.. I've always gotten good prices and customer service too :)

(They don't appear to have the new ram for these mac pros yet tho)
 
splitsplat said:
On the Apple site when I went to customize my RAM, in the learn more they write:

"FB-DIMMs made by other manufacturers that do not include a sufficient heat sink may cause the fans to run faster (and louder) or the memory chips to run slower so as not to overheat."

Does anything think there would be an issue buying from the 3rd party vendors? I am pretty dumb when it comes to this...
Click to expand...

I suspect this is just to discourage you from purchasing from another vendor. But if you are worried, you can pick up a couple of these and still save a ton of money:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118220

or

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/3275/ram-09/Aluminum_Black_DDR_Heat_Spreader.html
 
In the UK the best place to get MacBook/Pro/iMac Ram is play.com

a single 2gb chip will cost £27.99
the ram is good too, Kingston - with a lifetime warranty
 
MrT8064 said:
In the UK the best place to get MacBook/Pro/iMac Ram is play.com

a single 2gb chip will cost £27.99
the ram is good too, Kingston - with a lifetime warranty
Click to expand...

Doesn't look like that's true for the Mac Pro: they only have 2x2Gb or 2x1Gb at vastly overinflated prices for the old Mac Pro, nothing for the new Mac Pro. Do a search for FB-DIMM.
 
Roy said:
What! Doesn't fit any economic theory I've ever heard. So we should be encouraging everyone to drive more and use more gasoline and then the increased demand will cause gasoline prices to drop? I think you are leaving something out.

The high ram prices for this new Mac Pro, because there are only a few producers of the new ram and a shortage of this new ram, will cause other suppliers/producers to want to get into the market and get some of this high profit. Thus as more suppliers produce the new ram and there gets to be a larger supply, then by competition among the suppliers to sell their ram, the prices will fall.

Sorry to be such a stickler on the issue.
Click to expand...

I agree, but what he said is only partially true. Prices go down when supply goes up, just look at the housing market now. Prices go up when demand is high and supply is low, look at the PS3 last christmas. Those are examples where supply is relatively inelastic, as in if they could (or would) churn out millions of PS3's overnight, it would drive the price down, but they can't. In both examples you're deviating from the equilibrium price, so that's why those "markets" are in turmoil at the time. as far as memory goes, once more supply hits the market, demand is expected to go up, which will drive prices down.
 
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know where to get the exact RAM that Apple installs? It's made by Samsung, right? Someone must carry it. I doubt Samsung makes unique RAM modules just for Apple.

My guess is that you can get the exact same RAM from someone else, just without the Apple 300% markup.
 
TheThirdMan said:
I was about to post that link. Theyre on ebay too, still a really good deal even if you order from the uk.
Click to expand...

No offense, but is there anyone here who's been on MacRumors Forums for a while that can verify the integrity of this place? The two people that posted it are both newbies.

Just checking my sources before I spend the cash.
 
chameleon said:
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know where to get the exact RAM that Apple installs? It's made by Samsung, right? Someone must carry it. I doubt Samsung makes unique RAM modules just for Apple.

My guess is that you can get the exact same RAM from someone else, just without the Apple 300% markup.
Click to expand...

The actual DDR and AMB chip manufacturers vary. The sticker on the 512MB FB-DIMMS that came stock with my MP are made by Nanya.

Others have Hynix or Infineon. In short, it'd be a waste of time trying to track down the exact RAM that Apple uses in the MP. What you can do is install RAM that performs exactly as well (I have 4GB of OWC RAM..manufactured by Infineon, perhaps with a Samsung AMB chip??).

I'm very happy with OWC, but would today just as happily buy from Crucial (= Micron..they actually manufacture the RAM they sell).
 
MacPeach said:
Does the warranty (3 year Apple Care Plan) fail, if I use 3rd party RAM?
Click to expand...

Absolutely not. Worst case AppleCare will require you to reproduce any problem you've experienced with the third party RAM removed (so hang on to that factory 2GB), to verify that it isn't causing the problem, but your warranty will be otherwise unaffected.
 
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