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6GB in MacBook (Pro); Yes it works. - 8GB... well...

My UMBP is the 2.8GHz model with the express card. I currently have 4GB but I usually max it out because of photoshop and iMovie. Does anyone kindly know if 6GB is still possible? Hoping to get opinions from people who have the same model as mine.
 
15" 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo - MAX RAM?

Hi All,

I have spent considerable time reading this thread, but I must just be an idiot.

Currently have the Apple-Approved Max of 2GB of DDR2 SDRAM in my 15" MBP.

What is max I can push to? I have upgraded HD and run Leopard. Want to run Snow Leopard.

Thanks in advance. Sorry if this is answered and I am missing it.
 
If it really is a Core Duo (and not a Core 2 Duo) then 2 gb is the most you can put in your MBP.

You need to tell us your model identifier. It's from the blue apple in top left of screen, then click on More Info. Under the Hardware Overview should be something like "MacBook Pro 3,1".
 
So how do you do aout getting 6GB? 2 sticks of 3GB? And can the current 13 inch uMBP handle 6GB?
 
Rai Saix said:
So how do you do aout getting 6GB? 2 sticks of 3GB? And can the current 13 inch uMBP handle 6GB?
Click to expand...

Yup, 4 + 2. I think I've mentioned this at least a couple times here; but you need to call the tech department at macsales.com. Have your mac in front of you and they can tell you exactly what will work and what won't. They are a reputable company and won't try to sell you something that won't work. I think they probably have the best prices too.

Steve
 
I upgraded my brand new uMBP 15 3.06 GHz to 6 GB today. Got the 4 GB module from OWC and it's the exact same brand as the OEM 2 GB modules. Since installing my MBP has run with better stability. I worked in Netbeans IDE all day on a Java 6 Netbeans platform app, and also had the Eclipse IDE open with an older version of the development source. With those running, plus Mail, Safari, OmniFocus, Evernote, Eventbox, and others I've had zero pageouts since installing the RAM. Very nice.
 
Marvin1379 said:
Any ideas or word about an increase of allowable RAM in Snow Leopard?
Click to expand...

I'm also curious about this. I think it really depends on whether there is some hardware issue causing it, or a software issue. If it is a hardware issue, i.e. Apple did something in hardware so that only 6GB will work, either intentionally or not, SL probably won't help. Since newer MBPs support 8GB, I fear that it actually is an issue with hardware that they fixed in later models.

If it is a software issue, i.e. a PAE bug or some such, then SL might help. However in that case it also might only help in 64 bit kernel mode, which is off by default in current SL builds.

I have a 15" Late '08 unibody, and I'd love to upgrade to 8GB in the next year or so. At this point I don't have much hope. But at least that way I can only be pleasantly surprised.
 
I have an early 08 MBP with 4gigs and I'm also looking forward for test with 8gigs and SL. Apple included multitouch for my MBP into SL maybe there is another surprise in it as well ;)

btw, this is an interesting article on the matter
http://blogs.technet.com/keithcombs...n-t-like-8gb-of-memory-in-my-macbook-pro.aspx

Also some geekbench comparisons showing how large the performance penalty is when you decide to run one 4gig and one 2gig chip (and therefore loosing the ddr effects) would be really cool. I need more ram for AE and PS!
Edit:
According to this article the penalty isvery small:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=2495&tag=rbxccnbzd1
 
doctoree said:
I have an early 08 MBP with 4gigs and I'm also looking forward for test with 8gigs and SL. Apple included multitouch for my MBP into SL maybe there is another surprise in it as well ;)
Click to expand...

Won't work because this isn't a OS issue, its a firmware issue. Unless Apple comes out with another firmware for hte non unibody or early unibody mbps, it won't work.
 
Marvin1379 said:
Any ideas or word about an increase of allowable RAM in Snow Leopard?
Click to expand...

Actually, I haven't updated the first post yet, but the 6GB limitation is NOT AN OS ISSUE. Its a firmware issue. Therefore, you can install whatever OSX you want, but theres a 8GB crash.
 
sorry for such a late reply and for bringing this thread back, but i have have a few questions (2.4GHz Penryn MBP 8600GT).

1. can 10.5.8 fully address 8GB RAM? or is the limit still 6GB?

2. is anybody aware of SL being able to address 8GB in this MBP? or is it still 6GB? SL being 64-bit it should work should it not?

3. what types of RAM are known to work? can i go and purchase any type of 204pin DDRII 667MHz RAM for it? or are some known to not be supported?

i am looking into purchasing an upgrade for my GFs laptop (which i will trade her for mine :p), i would max out the RAM to whatever is possible.

thanks in advance :)
 
Apple's own website is showing, and has been showing for quite some time now, that all unibody models sans the 2.4 are capable of 8 GB of RAM, and the Apple site itself guarantees RAM compatibility.
 
puma1552 said:
Apple's own website is showing, and has been showing for quite some time now, that all unibody models sans the 2.4 are capable of 8 GB of RAM, and the Apple site itself guarantees RAM compatibility.
Click to expand...
Doesn't that just refer to the mid-09 refresh models?
 
DAMNiatx said:
is it still happen in snow leopard ?, can someone confirm about it ?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but what part of firmware not OS don't people understand? At this point, unless Apple comes out with a firmware fix, there's not way to use 8GB on these 6GB unofficial systems.

DoFoT9 said:
sorry for such a late reply and for bringing this thread back, but i have have a few questions (2.4GHz Penryn MBP 8600GT).

1. can 10.5.8 fully address 8GB RAM? or is the limit still 6GB?

2. is anybody aware of SL being able to address 8GB in this MBP? or is it still 6GB? SL being 64-bit it should work should it not?

3. what types of RAM are known to work? can i go and purchase any type of 204pin DDRII 667MHz RAM for it? or are some known to not be supported?

i am looking into purchasing an upgrade for my GFs laptop (which i will trade her for mine :p), i would max out the RAM to whatever is possible.

thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

1. No, It's a firmware limitation, not OS.
2. Refer to Answer #1
3. 200-Pin, DDRII, 667MHz SO-DIMM (PC2-5300) only. 204-Pin are desktop variations

puma1552 said:
Apple's own website is showing, and has been showing for quite some time now, that all unibody models sans the 2.4 are capable of 8 GB of RAM, and the Apple site itself guarantees RAM compatibility.
Click to expand...

New refresh models only.
 
finally, somebody who knows what they are talking about!
ayeying said:
1. No, It's a firmware limitation, not OS.
2. Refer to Answer #1
3. 200-Pin, DDRII, 667MHz SO-DIMM (PC2-5300) only. 204-Pin are desktop variations
Click to expand...

ok great, i was under the impression that the Penryn machine feel under the category of "it could see the whole 8GB but would crash when more then 4GB was addressed as its a 32-bit thing limitation", but if its firmware then blast - i got my hopes up.

thank you.
 
ayeying said:
New refresh models only.
Click to expand...

Don't be so sure--tell me then why only the 2.4 from late '08 is listed at all?

Where is the late '08 2.8 model or 2.53 model? Seeing as the site is comprehensive, it has to be listed somewhere, and the only place it is currently listed is in the 'current family' section, but there is no distinction between the current 2.8 model and the older 2.8 models.

If what you're saying is true (which I don't necessarily doubt), then the late '08 2.8 and 2.53 models should be right alongside the 2.4 models saying 4.0 GB is the cap.
 
puma1552 said:
Don't be so sure--tell me then why only the 2.4 from late '08 is listed at all?

Where is the late '08 2.8 model or 2.53 model? Seeing as the site is comprehensive, it has to be listed somewhere, and the only place it is currently listed is in the 'current family' section, but there is no distinction between the current 2.8 model and the older 2.8 models.

If what you're saying is true (which I don't necessarily doubt), then the late '08 2.8 and 2.53 models should be right alongside the 2.4 models saying 4.0 GB is the cap.
Click to expand...

Say wut?

The real cap is 6.0GB (6144MB), not 4GB. Try it, it works. 4GB is basically the selling point for Apple because dual channel is preserved; people don't like to pay the outrageous amount of money for the single stick of 4GB.

The Late 2008 2.4GHz MacBook Aluminum or 2.4GHz MacBook Pro (P8600) won't accept 8GB ram. Well, it will, but it will crash if a program runs more than 4GB.

Here's the models that WILL NOT work (Starting Late 2008, when Unibodies were introduced):

MB466*/A - 2.0GHz Unibody MacBook 13" (P7350 Processor)
MB467*/A - 2.4GHz Unibody MacBook 13" (P8600 Processor)
MB470*/A - 2.4GHz Unibody MacBook Pro 15" (P8600 Processor)
MB471*/A - 2.53GHz Unibody MacBook Pro 15" (T9400 Processor)
MC026*/A - 2.66GHz Unibody MacBook Pro 15" (T9550 Processor)

Any system starting at Mid 2009 refresh (or Late 2009 for the 17" Unibody MacBook Pro only) can install 8GB without any problems.

Furthermore, I don't care about the listing. I tested it when I owned the 13" MacBook Aluminum, which is Late 2008 and the 17" Unibody MacBook Pro. The 8GB worked perfectly on the 17", the 13" failed when the Virtual Machine tried to allocate more than 4GB ram.
 
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