DIY RAM Upgrade + Apple Care?

[ChePibe]

I would like to purchase a MacBook for my wife, but will need to upgrade the RAM to 2 GB and would later like to purchase the Apple Care extended warranty. Given that two 1 GB sticks of RAM runs $80 and upgrading via Apple costs $158 (with education discount), I would rather do the job myself. But I also know we'll need Apple Care to cover the laptop while we're in law school.

Will installing RAM that is not "Apple Approved", or an installation done by someone who is not an Apple authorized tech (yours truly) make purchasing Apple Care impossible? Will it void the warranty?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[xpovos]

Apple has told me that it will not affect AppleCare coverage---except, of course, that the non-Apple RAM itself isn't covered (obviously). If it could be shown that non-Apple RAM caused some other component to fail, I'm sure that would void coverage as well.

To really be on the safe side, why not swap out the RAM but keep the original sticks? If there is ever an issue requiring the machine be sent in, put the original sticks back in.

If that seems dishonest, just keep Apple's ridiculous markup on RAM in mind. (C'mon, $1100 for a 2x2GB kit for the MBP? Who does that?)

 

[whateverandever]

It won't void your warranty... but Apple might whine if you send it in for repair with the other RAM in it.

 

[UltraNEO*]

It won't void your warranty... but Apple might whine if you send it in for repair with the other RAM in it.

Apple always whine.. no matter what!!

 

[showtime]

What is "Apple Approved" ram and what makes it so special? Wouldn't most ram made by crucial/mushkin/kingston be on par with most ram if not better?

 

[CanadaRAM]

What is "Apple Approved" ram and what makes it so special? Wouldn't most ram made by crucial/mushkin/kingston be on par with most ram if not better?

Apple uses Samsung, Micron and Hynix RAM, mostly, which are equivalent to the quality RAM available third party. Apple does not 'approve' any third party RAM as such.