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Can't upgrade RAM on MBP Retina!?
- Thread starter Master-D
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Not trying to give the OP a hard time, but I find it funny when people say they got the rMBP because they "needed" the screen/resolution. How can you know you need something if something like it hasn't been available before?
Wait, so I'm thoroughly confused?
What memory did you buy? The device comes with DDR3L ram. Even if you suspected there was a sodimm, where do you find DDR3L in a sodimm? I'm not having any luck. Considering regular DDR3 SODIMM is about $55-75USD for a 16GB(8Gbx2) kit, I'd expect DDR3L to be more expensive. I also assume regular DDR3 wouldn't work, as it's too high a voltage.
So again, what memory did you buy that you thought would work?
What memory did you buy? The device comes with DDR3L ram. Even if you suspected there was a sodimm, where do you find DDR3L in a sodimm? I'm not having any luck. Considering regular DDR3 SODIMM is about $55-75USD for a 16GB(8Gbx2) kit, I'd expect DDR3L to be more expensive. I also assume regular DDR3 wouldn't work, as it's too high a voltage.
So again, what memory did you buy that you thought would work?
Yes it is the OPs fault. When you buy the MacBook Pro, it says it is not upgradeable as you're going through the configuration options.
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Not trying to give the OP a hard time, but I find it funny when people say they got the rMBP because they "needed" the screen/resolution. How can you know you need something if something like it hasn't been available before?
Once upon a time computers weren't available for purchase, but now they're needed by most everyone. Needs evolve.
For the price you are paying you should should research before buying
I agree for the price of $3,000-$4,000 you should do your homework and research much as possible. I even research on a 1TB drive to see which one is the best out there. Unless your are RICH or someone bought it for you then I understand why you wouldn't bother to research your Mac Book Pro. Good Luck with the exchange....
Not trying to give the OP a hard time, but I find it funny when people say they got the rMBP because they "needed" the screen/resolution. How can you know you need something if something like it hasn't been available before?
Needs change my friend, When I last bought a macbook pro, I was using a Nikon D700 as my main body, that was a 12MP camera. I bought the hi-res non-glossy upgrade display for that and loved it. Now I'm using a D800 which is a 36MP body. The images are much bigger, therefore I 'need' a higher resolution display. Of course this is pretty low on Maslow's Hierarchy, but then so are all computer products. There are many things I need that haven't been invented or released to the public yet. Time travel, hover cars, teleportation, etc. etc. Probably more mundane things too, like a faster MBP with even higher resolution
I do research all my tech purchases, and I knew before getting this computer it was what I needed (/ wanted), but not because of it's upgrade potential. As a tax deductible cost it is cheap relative to the income it generates, so that wasn't a concern. I didn't research the upgrade potential specifically, because I knew until now there is not much you can do to a laptop, beside RAM & HDD. I'm glad none of you were caught out by this, but you are obviously active MacRumors forum users. Just because you don't monitor these forums carefully enough, doesn't mean that you a) don't know how to use a computer, and b) don't need to... sometimes it means you are busy. I saw there was a 16gb upgrade option, so made the wrong assumption that you could upgrade that at a later date. I'm not scared of taking a few screws out, but solder!? No way.
I'm not technically minded enough to know about the voltage of RAM etc, but I did try to check the RAM would work. Obviously I made a mistake, but I don't think it was a mistake no-one else can make. I used the online hardware checker at Crucial, checked for my machine (MBP 2.6 i7 15" DDR3 Mid-2012), saw it was available for £60, which is £100 less than the apple upgrade, it said it was guaranteed compatible, and was DDR3-1600. If you look at the about this mac screen below you will see it is shown as DDR3, not DDR3L.
It didn't jump out at this point as incompatible to a non-expert in RAM. If the RAM is DDR3L as you say, it's not shown as such on about this mac:
BANK 0/DIMM0:
Size: 4 GB
Type: DDR3
Speed: 1600 MHz
I'm really not into the very technical level of components, I use computers as a tool which is the main reason I use a mac 'it just works' (... well used to). It might be helpful for Apple to label the RAM in about this mac as non-upgradeable, that would have helped.
Although I don't mind spending/investing money in hardware to improve my work, I don't like to throw it away either, and that is why I thought the RAM upgrade could wait as the price of memory tends to fall with time. Luckily it was already cheap, so I caught this problem in time, others won't... that's my point.
That is true, but I didn't get mine online, I got it in the store where I didn't see any warning. I accept I should have known, but I didn't. I think others may not too, and will be equally disappointed.
PS. I realise 'retina' is not specified, and that is is key here... but it's definitely not clear. About this mac should state
MacBook Pro Retina, Mid 2012.
Not
Macbook Pro Retina, Mid 2012
if it is an entirely different line for RAM purposes.
Stupid LG Screen
So today my mbpr arrived via DHL. I wasn't excited because of this screen roulette between LG and Samsung. So, unfortunately, I got the LG (as a particular person like me, I did the IR tests and yes, it happened and the color was washed out. The texts aren't crisps at all. To my sensitive eye, there was no difference between the LG retina and my macbook air 13" with the Samsung display) and obviously I was upset and furious. I went to call apple support telling them about the issue but I got even more upset when they told me that Image Retention is normal. I counter-argued bringing in about the Samsung display being perfect and IR-free. The talk support kept quiet and pushed my case to his senior and of course, he is in denial that LG has this serious issue. So, in the end, after an hour or so, I gave up and went to ask for refund, but the lady who was kind told me she will try her best to get a replacement with the Samsung screen. Now, i'm a bit skeptical since I have a 14 days return policy. I have to return my macbook this wednesday and await for my replacement (no specific date announced yet). I really love the MBPr except the LG screen. What i'm more worried is after my 2nd replacement and IS STILL an LG, I wouldn't be able to ask for a return because I'm over my 14 days return? I am seriously unhappy as I did not deserve this, I bought the 2.6 16gb 256ssd.
So today my mbpr arrived via DHL. I wasn't excited because of this screen roulette between LG and Samsung. So, unfortunately, I got the LG (as a particular person like me, I did the IR tests and yes, it happened and the color was washed out. The texts aren't crisps at all. To my sensitive eye, there was no difference between the LG retina and my macbook air 13" with the Samsung display) and obviously I was upset and furious. I went to call apple support telling them about the issue but I got even more upset when they told me that Image Retention is normal. I counter-argued bringing in about the Samsung display being perfect and IR-free. The talk support kept quiet and pushed my case to his senior and of course, he is in denial that LG has this serious issue. So, in the end, after an hour or so, I gave up and went to ask for refund, but the lady who was kind told me she will try her best to get a replacement with the Samsung screen. Now, i'm a bit skeptical since I have a 14 days return policy. I have to return my macbook this wednesday and await for my replacement (no specific date announced yet). I really love the MBPr except the LG screen. What i'm more worried is after my 2nd replacement and IS STILL an LG, I wouldn't be able to ask for a return because I'm over my 14 days return? I am seriously unhappy as I did not deserve this, I bought the 2.6 16gb 256ssd.
So today my mbpr arrived via DHL. I wasn't excited because of this screen roulette between LG and Samsung. So, unfortunately, I got the LG (as a particular person like me, I did the IR tests and yes, it happened and the color was washed out. The texts aren't crisps at all. To my sensitive eye, there was no difference between the LG retina and my macbook air 13" with the Samsung display) and obviously I was upset and furious. I went to call apple support telling them about the issue but I got even more upset when they told me that Image Retention is normal. I counter-argued bringing in about the Samsung display being perfect and IR-free. The talk support kept quiet and pushed my case to his senior and of course, he is in denial that LG has this serious issue. So, in the end, after an hour or so, I gave up and went to ask for refund, but the lady who was kind told me she will try her best to get a replacement with the Samsung screen. Now, i'm a bit skeptical since I have a 14 days return policy. I have to return my macbook this wednesday and await for my replacement (no specific date announced yet). I really love the MBPr except the LG screen. What i'm more worried is after my 2nd replacement and IS STILL an LG, I wouldn't be able to ask for a return because I'm over my 14 days return? I am seriously unhappy as I did not deserve this, I bought the 2.6 16gb 256ssd.
The LG screen has the same color accuracy and pixel density (arguably color accuracy is actually better on the LG since the LG screen is much closer to 6500K). It's only the IR and brightness where the Samsung is superior.
I'm sorry, but your eyesight really isn't all that sensitive if your 13" MBA screen looks the same.
So today my mbpr arrived via DHL. I wasn't excited because of this screen roulette between LG and Samsung. So, unfortunately, I got the LG (as a particular person like me, I did the IR tests and yes, it happened and the color was washed out. The texts aren't crisps at all. To my sensitive eye, there was no difference between the LG retina and my macbook air 13" with the Samsung display) and obviously I was upset and furious. I went to call apple support telling them about the issue but I got even more upset when they told me that Image Retention is normal. I counter-argued bringing in about the Samsung display being perfect and IR-free. The talk support kept quiet and pushed my case to his senior and of course, he is in denial that LG has this serious issue. So, in the end, after an hour or so, I gave up and went to ask for refund, but the lady who was kind told me she will try her best to get a replacement with the Samsung screen. Now, i'm a bit skeptical since I have a 14 days return policy. I have to return my macbook this wednesday and await for my replacement (no specific date announced yet). I really love the MBPr except the LG screen. What i'm more worried is after my 2nd replacement and IS STILL an LG, I wouldn't be able to ask for a return because I'm over my 14 days return? I am seriously unhappy as I did not deserve this, I bought the 2.6 16gb 256ssd.
What does this have to do with the RAM not being upgradeable? Couldn't you have picked one of the hundreds of other IR complaint threads?
So, I'm happy to report that my retina RAM woes are over Apple changed it no questions asked even though it was more than 3 weeks old.
Also, regarding the image retention issue, although some here may think I'm a bit dopey for missing the well published upgrade issue, I was all over image retention. I care about the screen a lot more than upgrades clearly, and was very concerned by the LG displays and their ghosting. My last computer had an LG display but didn't show any ghosting at all. I ran the chess board image test for at least 30 minutes several times and there were no issues at all. Although I had no issues to date, I was aware there were reports of this issue occurring later so wasn't happy to have a ticking time bomb.
I read today the IR issue is still affecting computers coming out now, so I was keen to get the Samsung display in case I got a dodgy LG display. I ran the terminal command to check what display I had in the new machine at the store, and it is the LS code Samsung display. What a result
Conspiracy theory... Apple are putting the Samsung displays in the top end 2.7Ghz 16gig 750GB models?
See you in a couple of years
Apple changed it no questions asked even though it was more than 3 weeks old.Also, regarding the image retention issue, although some here may think I'm a bit dopey for missing the well published upgrade issue, I was all over image retention. I care about the screen a lot more than upgrades clearly, and was very concerned by the LG displays and their ghosting. My last computer had an LG display but didn't show any ghosting at all. I ran the chess board image test for at least 30 minutes several times and there were no issues at all. Although I had no issues to date, I was aware there were reports of this issue occurring later so wasn't happy to have a ticking time bomb.
I read today the IR issue is still affecting computers coming out now, so I was keen to get the Samsung display in case I got a dodgy LG display. I ran the terminal command to check what display I had in the new machine at the store, and it is the LS code Samsung display. What a result
Conspiracy theory... Apple are putting the Samsung displays in the top end 2.7Ghz 16gig 750GB models?
See you in a couple of years
Because it isn't a design flaw... it was a design change, the MBA has had soldered RAM for years because it was necessary to maintain it's thinness. They made the MBP a lot thinner while keeping its specs high, therefore they made compromises.
Side note, how do you spend near $3,000 without doing research on a product? I remember at launch there was a thread where a guy was raging hard saying Apple failed him and he wanted a refund because his rMBP didn't have an optical drive.. when they made it clear that it wasn't included.
What's so funny is watching all of the Apple apologists defending Apple and bash on the OP. Most people expect that a professional level computer would have silly little things like upgradable RAM and HDD.
Unfortunately, the rMBP is Pro in marketing only.
Unfortunately, the rMBP is Pro in marketing only.
There is no need to "Defend" Apple, it is their product. They can change it if they like, what I think is silly of the OP is not doing research before buying. This applies to any expensive product, not just Apple.