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Is the new MBP 17" memory capacity 8 or 16GB?

R

RICARDOVASCO

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 1, 2011
103
0
Hi all .Im buying a MBP 17"quad core ( MD311LL/A). I saw the Apple specification and it says the memory capacity is 8GB. However , I've seen the same MD311LL/A with 16 GB on Ebay. I'd like to know really whats the maximum capacity for them. 2 x 4 GB or 2 X 8GB ? Can I buy only a 8BG slot and have it working with 12 GB?

Regards
Ricardo
 
That model will be compatible with 2 x 8GB dimms of RAM.

It may work with a 4GB and an 8GB, but it will work best with a pair of RAM the same size.
 
RICARDOVASCO said:
Hi all .Im buying a MBP 17"quad core ( MD311LL/A). I saw the Apple specification and it says the memory capacity is 8GB. However , I've seen the same MD311LL/A with 16 GB on Ebay. I'd like to know really whats the maximum capacity for them. 2 x 4 GB or 2 X 8GB ? Can I buy only a 8BG slot and have it working with 12 GB?
Click to expand...

You can in theory do a 12gb configuration, but be aware that the machine has dual channel memory - if you don't match the two slots, your memory access speed is not as good (it can't read from both chips at once).

If you think you only "need" 12gb, but can afford 16gb (its not expensive now?), it may still be worth getting 16gb so that you maintain dual channel memory access. This will improve performance for memory io intensive apps (vs a 12 gig setup) even if they aren't using all your memory.
 
Thank you all! Yes, I think I will upgrade it for 16gb ( 8 + 8gb).

Regards
Ricardo
 
Just one more question. If the MD311LL/A comes with 4GB memory ram, is it 2 x 2 GB or 1 x 4 GB?
 
RICARDOVASCO said:
Thanks!

Is it the right one for the MBP 17" MD311LL/A?

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Chann...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332606765&sr=1-2
Click to expand...

No, as it says this:
echnical Details
Density: 16GB Kit (2x8GB) DDR3 1333MHz SODIMM
Speed: 1333MHz
Timing: 9-9-9-24 latency
Type: DDR3
Format: DIMM
Lifetime warranty
Pin Out: 240 Pin
Voltage: 1.5V
Click to expand...
While the picture shows notebook RAM, the details are about desktop RAM.
You need 204-pin SO-DIMM RAM modules. Newegg and Amazon have them.

 
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simsaladimbamba said:
No, as it says this:

While the picture shows notebook RAM, the details are about desktop RAM.
You need 204-pin SO-DIMM RAM modules. Newegg and Amazon have them.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much!

I think this one is the correct. Isn't it?

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-1333M...7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332610677&sr=1-7

I also found this cheap one but some people are complaining about some errors... bugs..etc

http://www.amazon.com/Komputerbay-PC3-10600-1333MHz-204-Pin-9-9-9-25/dp/B00698WP50/ref=pd_cp_pc_0

What do you think? Is Corsair better?
 
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RICARDOVASCO said:
Thank you so much!

I think this one is the correct. Isn't it?

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-1333M...7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332610677&sr=1-7

I also found this cheap one but some people are complaining about some errors... bugs..etc

http://www.amazon.com/Komputerbay-PC3-10600-1333MHz-204-Pin-9-9-9-25/dp/B00698WP50/ref=pd_cp_pc_0

What do you think? Is Corsair better?
Click to expand...


I found 16GB for only 99 dollars. The price recently dropped form 129 to 99, so keep an eye on it because it may drop more soon. It's a relatively unknown brand, but the reviews are great, and a good buddy of mine who has it on his 13" swears by it. http://trdd.us/pn
 
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