Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

install more than stated spec ( memory)

Neil321

Neil321

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 6, 2007
3,733
2
Britain, Avatar Created By Bartelby
hi all

A mate of mine has a spare of 2gig memory (single unit)that he doesnt need and was wondering what would happen if i installed it in my macbook pro thus giving it 1gb more than the spec

thanks
 
If it's a CoreDuo (not Core2Duo) you will only get 2Gb of RAM ever. If you install more the machine will either:

1) Refuse to boot (this is most common)
or
2) Only give you access to 2Gb

People have tried this. It did not work. The north/south bridge chipset is limited to 2Gb.
 
RobbieDuncan is right. Though the guide might prove useful.

[guide]Understanding Intel Mac RAM[/guide]
 
neil321 said:
Thanks oh well, didnt want to install it and have my macbook pro go pop
without asking first.
Click to expand...

It will actually still work once you take the extra RAM out, so if its free it could be worth a shot, alternatively you could get the RAM from Crucial for £20 or so, its crazy cheap at the moment.
 
Eraserhead said:
It will actually still work once you take the extra RAM out, so if its free it could be worth a shot, alternatively you could get the RAM from Crucial for £20 or so, its crazy cheap at the moment.
Click to expand...

hi sorry but im a bit confused now as i was told it wouldnt work and now it will and i would have to take out a 1gb to replace with a 2gb anyway to give 3gb
 
No. The assumption was that you currently had 1x1Gb and you wanted to add 1x2Gb for 3Gb total. In this case it would make sense to remove the 1x1Gb and replace it with 1x2Gb. If you already have 2x1Gb there is no reason to replace 1 of those with 1x2Gb as this will not work.
 
Eraserhead said:
It will actually still work once you take the extra RAM out, so if its free it could be worth a shot, alternatively you could get the RAM from Crucial for £20 or so, its crazy cheap at the moment.
Click to expand...

...£20? I'm seeing £52 for a 2GB stick on crucial, please point me in the direction of the £20 ones!!
 
robbieduncan said:
No. The assumption was that you currently had 1x1Gb and you wanted to add 1x2Gb for 3Gb total. In this case it would make sense to remove the 1x1Gb and replace it with 1x2Gb. If you already have 2x1Gb there is no reason to replace 1 of those with 1x2Gb as this will not work.
Click to expand...


sorry for confusion in my mac i have 2x1gb and wanted to know if i replaced one of the 1gb for a 2gb giving me 3gb would that have worked
 
CanadaRAM said:
That question cannot be answered until you tell us whether your machine is a CoreDuo or a Core2Duo. See post #2 or the guide that was linked.
Click to expand...

ok its a CoreDuo, like i said all i was doing was wondering why they had a limit of ram you could install and what would happen if you went over that even by a gb 1x1 plus 1x2 or if it had just a single 2gb could a 1gb be added just the same really
 
neil321 said:
ok its a CoreDuo, like i said all i was doing was wondering why they had a limit of ram you could install and what would happen if you went over that
even if only by a gb 1x1 and 1x2
Click to expand...

That is because that:
if you are a child only know the number 1~100. But your parents want you to remember all the building number of your 200 neighbors. That will make you crazy.
 
neil321 said:
ok its a CoreDuo, like i said all i was doing was wondering why they had a limit of ram you could install and what would happen if you went over that even by a gb 1x1 plus 1x2 or if it had just a single 2gb could a 1gb be added just the same really
Click to expand...

I've read where some have tried and cannot boot. 1 x 1 is all you're going to get. Better to have matche pairs too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back