How much RAM can my MBP support?

[yousufs04]

hi guys, I'm having difficulty understanding something. I want to increase my RAM on my MBP and was wondering whats the maximum it can support? specs below:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
2.3 GHz Intel Core i5
4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

I read on the website that my soDIMM slots support up to 8gb ram... now does that mean 8gb per slot so 16gb total or 4gb max per slot unto 8gb total?

thanks for the help in advance
new to macworld

 

[DeltaMac]

Maximum memory for your Early 2011 13-inch MBPro, according to Apple, is 8GB total.
But, various sites have tested 16GB, and that's also what Mactracker reports as the maximum.
(That's 8GB x 2, for sure.)

 

[Kissmyne]

According to Apple the maximum is 8GB (total,thus 2x4GB) however the *actual* maximum amount of RAM is 16GB(total, thus 2x8GB)

 

[yousufs04]

According to Apple the maximum is 8GB (total,thus 2x4GB) however the *actual* maximum amount of RAM is 16GB(total, thus 2x8GB)

thank you for fast response!

do you think its wise to go ahead and put 16gb 2x8gb ram in? and should I stick with 1333 mhz? or will 1600 downgrade to 1333?

 

[johnh57]

Does anyone know if the crucial memory tester give the true max or the stated max?

 

[Kissmyne]

thank you for fast response!

do you think its wise to go ahead and put 16gb 2x8gb ram in? and should I stick with 1333 mhz? or will 1600 downgrade to 1333?

Stick with 1333mhz unless the 1600mhz is cheaper.. your mac will downclock the RAM to 1333mhz if it is rated for higher(not an issue from a technical standpoint, but a big deal if you are paying more for "faster" RAM)

 

[TechGod]

Stick with 1333mhz unless the 1600mhz is cheaper.. your mac will downclock the RAM to 1333mhz if it is rated for higher(not an issue from a technical standpoint, but a big deal if you are paying more for "faster" RAM)

It doesn't downclock. I'm almost 100% sure about that...

 

[DeltaMac]

It doesn't downclock. I'm almost 100% sure about that...

I'm almost 100% sure that is not correct.
Memory will (usually) not upclock to a higher speed, but in some cases, the (spd?) on the memory stick can be flashed for a higher speed. Not all RAM accepts that upclocking successfully.
But higher speed RAM should normally clock down when used in a slower memory bus. There's limits to that compatibility. 1600 should down-clock OK to 1333, but way less likely to 1066 Mhz.
Simplifying: A memory card should down-clock OK one step slower, but probably not two steps.

 

[TechGod]

I'm almost 100% sure that is not correct.
Memory will (usually) not upclock to a higher speed, but in some cases, the (spd?) on the memory stick can be flashed for a higher speed. Not all RAM accepts that upclocking successfully.
But higher speed RAM should normally clock down when used in a slower memory bus. There's limits to that compatibility. 1600 should down-clock OK to 1333, but way less likely to 1066 Mhz.
Simplifying: A memory card should down-clock OK one step slower, but probably not two steps.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1600mhz-works-and-runs-at-1600-macbook-pro-2011.1133642/

Just found that thread. It doesn't appear to be downclocking.

EDIT: Further evidence

 

[Kissmyne]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1600mhz-works-and-runs-at-1600-macbook-pro-2011.1133642/

Just found that thread. It doesn't appear to be downclocking.

EDIT: Further evidence

So here is the thing. I looked over the threads you mentioned and you are absolutely right about certain 15" Macbook Pros(Early 2011) supporting 1600mhz RAM, and the reason they support it at those speeds is because the memory controller on the CPUs that they were equipped with supported it.

15" (Early 2011)Models with the Core i7-2635QM do not support it- http://ark.intel.com/products/53463/Intel-Core-i7-2635QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-2_90-GHz

15" (Early 2011)Models with the Core i7-2720QM and Core i7-2820QM do support it -
http://ark.intel.com/products/50067/Intel-Core-i7-2720QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_30-GHz?q=2720qm

http://ark.intel.com/products/52227/Intel-Core-i7-2820QM-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_40-GHz?q=2820qm

However the kicker here is that the OP has a 13" Macbook Pro(Early 2011) equipped with a Core i5-2415m. The memory controller on this particular CPU does NOT support 1600mhz memory bus speeds therefore the RAM will run at 1333mhz unless rated for a lower speed. http://ark.intel.com/products/53449/Intel-Core-i5-2415M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-2_90-GHz?q=2415m

 

[TechGod]

So here is the thing. I looked over the threads you mentioned and you are absolutely right about certain 15" Macbook Pros(Early 2011) supporting 1600mhz RAM, and the reason they support it at those speeds is because the memory controller on the CPUs that they were equipped with supported it.

15" (Early 2011)Models with the Core i7-2635QM did not support it- http://ark.intel.com/products/53463/Intel-Core-i7-2635QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-2_90-GHz

15" (Early 2011)Models with the Core i7-2720QM and Core i7-2820QM do support it -
http://ark.intel.com/products/50067/Intel-Core-i7-2720QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_30-GHz?q=2720qm

http://ark.intel.com/products/52227/Intel-Core-i7-2820QM-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_40-GHz?q=2820qm

However the kicker here is that the OP has a 13" Macbook Pro(Early 2011) equipped with a Core i5-2415m. The memory controller on this particular CPU does NOT support 1600mhz memory bus speeds therefore the RAM will run at 1333mhz unless rated for a lower speed. http://ark.intel.com/products/53449/Intel-Core-i5-2415M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-2_90-GHz?q=2415m

Alright, looks like I was wrong. Thanks for the info!

 

[snaky69]

hi guys, I'm having difficulty understanding something. I want to increase my RAM on my MBP and was wondering whats the maximum it can support? specs below:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
2.3 GHz Intel Core i5
4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

I read on the website that my soDIMM slots support up to 8gb ram... now does that mean 8gb per slot so 16gb total or 4gb max per slot unto 8gb total?

thanks for the help in advance
new to macworld

16GB.