DDR3 1066 RAM in mid 2012 MBP?

[Jiftyrealm]

I have 8 GB of DDR3 1066 mhz ram I already own in an older Thinkpad T400. My 2012 MBP has 4 GB of 1600 mhz ram. So would replacing with the 1066 mhz ram technically work? And if so would performance increase? I can validate myself by bench-marking, but I'm curious as to what everyone's thoughts are.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Orlandoech]

Will it work? Yes, at 1066Mhz which is slower than 1600MHz

Will you see a performance increase in MHz? Absolutely not, you will technically get a performance decrease. Will it be noticeable? Not in day to day tasks.

Will you see a multitasking performance increase? Yes because 8GB is greater than 4GB for multitasking.

Would I switch the ram? Only until my order of 8-16GB 1600MHz DDR3 arrived, so just for a few days

 

[Jiftyrealm]

Will it work? Yes, at 1066Mhz which is slower than 1600MHz

Will you see a performance increase in MHz? Absolutely not, you will technically get a performance decrease. Will it be noticeable? Not in day to day tasks.

Will you see a multitasking performance increase? Yes because 8GB is greater than 4GB for multitasking.

Would I switch the ram? Only until my order of 8-16GB 1600MHz DDR3 arrived, so just for a few days

Thanks for your prompt response. So multitasking performance increases, but what types of activities will be impacted by the decrease in mhz? Would it just be overall slowness?

Do you or anyone have any recommendations for benchmark tools that I can use to compare?

 

[Orlandoech]

Thanks for your prompt response. So multitasking performance increases, but what types of activities will be impacted by the decrease in mhz? Would it just be overall slowness?

Do you or anyone have any recommendations for benchmark tools that I can use to compare?

MHz speed decreases, literally, however you more than likely wont notice much difference.

You go from memory with bandwidth of 12,800 MB/s (1600MHz) to memory with the bandwidth of 8533.5 MB/s (1066MHz), so that is a difference of -33%-34% which is HUGE imo.

 

[Essenar]

I'm using 8GB of 1333mhz ram in my 13" MacBook Pro and I can notice the speed difference NEVER. I do notice that I can run like 30 tabs on Chrome, have Word open, have Borderlands 2 open, a couple of PDF's and some Excel spreadsheets and also be video chatting with my ex girlfriend no problemo.

 

[chrfr]

For the approximately $45 it costs to buy the proper RAM for the computer, I'd avoid the potential for instability and performance loss and get the right RAM.

 

[Orlandoech]

For the approximately $45 it costs to buy the proper RAM for the computer, I'd avoid the potential for instability and performance loss and get the right RAM.

The only "potential" for stability issues is if the ram itself is bad or going bad which can be an issue with the "right" ram.ita ddr3 so-dimm so therefor its correct and is perfectly capable.

 

[Jiftyrealm]

Thanks for all the feedback. I will likely swap the memory and give it a shot. Just need to find the time.