Late 2009 MacBook ram compatibility

[kge420]

I have the opportunity to purchase an 8gb stick of ram for a very good price $20. I want to know if it would be compatible with my late 2009 MacBook. I understand that ram is sometimes backward compatible and would like to know if this is the case here. Thanks, Keith
Photo of ram:

 

[DeltaMac]

That's a 1600 Mhz SODIMM. I would not expect it to work in your late 2009 MacBook.
Also, your MacBook will use up to 8GB, but one 8GB stick may not work, either. (8GB would be on a pair of 4GB, but a single 8GB stick may not be recognized)

 

[EugW]

That RAM will not work, for the reasons mentioned above.

Is it a MacBook6,1? If so, it needs 1066 MHz DDR3 PC3-8500 CL7 SoDIMMs. Do not get anything else. You will need 2 x 4 GB to max out the RAM on that machine.

This will cost you $50 to $75 US. The cheapest I have ever found it (in recent times) for name brand RAM was on Amazon.ca for about $35 US last year, but that sale sold out in minutes.

If you want to save some money and you already have 2 x 2 GB, you could get a single 4 GB SoDIMM for about $30, and use one of your existing 2 GB SoDIMMs, for a total of 6 GB.

 

[kge420]

Thanks for the quick response. I had a feeling it wouldn’t work and wanted to confirm. These machines sure are particular as to what memory they accept. I had an ssd from another machine and did a clean install of high sierra and other than a long boot time it runs ok. I’ll keep an eye out for 2x4gb of the correct spec.

 

[EugW]

Thanks for the quick response. I had a feeling it wouldn’t work and wanted to confirm. These machines sure are particular as to what memory they accept. I had an ssd from another machine and did a clean install of high sierra and other than a long boot time it runs ok. I’ll keep an eye out for 2x4gb of the correct spec.

Which SSD? How full is the drive?

Did you run the MacBook EFI and SMC firmware updates?

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201518#macbook

 

[elf69]

It will work if you have on 1066 speed in there and it was not "L".

I know because I did it!
in a late 2009 and a 2010.

I also fitted SSD to both mine and it was quite fast load.
something not right mate.

also need enable trim.

OP where are you?
I have 2x4gb 1066 if ur in UK

 

[kge420]

It will work if you have on 1066 speed in there and it was not "L".

I know because I did it!
in a late 2009 and a 2010.

I also fitted SSD to both mine and it was quite fast load.
something not right mate.

also need enable trim.

OP where are you?
I have 2x4gb 1066 if ur in UK

I’m in NJ, USA
[doublepost=1529203734][/doublepost]

Which SSD? How full is the drive?

Did you run the MacBook EFI and SMC firmware updates?

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201518#macbook

Drive is empty outside of the OS install. I didn’t run the mentioned updates. This drive was ina 2008 MacBook with 3gb ram and boot time was 25 seconds. That’s fast enough for me. I thought it was the OS that was causing the slow load.
[doublepost=1529206147][/doublepost]

I’m in NJ, USA
[doublepost=1529203734][/doublepost]
Drive is empty outside of the OS install. I didn’t run the mentioned updates. This drive was ina 2008 MacBook with 3gb ram and boot time was 25 seconds. That’s fast enough for me. I thought it was the OS that was causing the slow load.

There seems to be no updates listed for this MacBook

 

[elf69]

8gb works before the update I'm told so you should be fine.
The update allows 16GB to run in the machine.

Sadly my macbook no longer boots so cannot tell you what firmware it had.

 

[kge420]

8gb works before the update I'm told so you should be fine.
The update allows 16GB to run in the machine.

Sadly my macbook no longer boots so cannot tell you what firmware it had.

If I try to insert 2x4gb I get three beeps. 2gb+1gb is ok. I get the same result on a 2008 and this 2009 model.

 

[EugW]

If I try to insert 2x4gb I get three beeps. 2gb+1gb is ok. I get the same result on a 2008 and this 2009 model.

Did you do the firmware update? What OS are you running? Did you buy the right RAM?

 

[elf69]

yes but you have "L" ram that is why.

these models do not support "L" ram as it runs at a lower voltage than standard ram.

As I said in post #6.
NON "L" will work one 1600 and one 1066 as I have done so.
But the stick you have is "L" and this is why it does not work.

 

[EugW]

yes but you have "L" ram that is why.

these models do not support "L" ram as it runs at a lower voltage than standard ram.

As I said in post #6.
NON "L" will work one 1600 and one 1066 as I have done so.
But the stick you have is "L" and this is why it does not work.

1600 MHz non-L RAM may or may not work. Depends on the RAM.

 

[elf69]

Mine was generic 1600 pulled from a dead windows laptop at work, so probably "hynix"
the 1066 was kingston.

I did however replace the 1600 with 1066 from ebay at £40 from china.
If OP was in UK I'd post the ram to them as it is now surplus as my 2010 macbook mobo died.

I have 2x4GB 1066

no "L" ram will work in a 2009/2010 macbook as it uses standard voltage not low voltage ram

 

[kge420]

Mine was generic 1600 pulled from a dead windows laptop at work, so probably "hynix"
the 1066 was kingston.

I did however replace the 1600 with 1066 from ebay at £40 from china.
If OP was in UK I'd post the ram to them as it is now surplus as my 2010 macbook mobo died.

I have 2x4GB 1066

no "L" ram will work in a 2009/2010 macbook as it uses standard voltage not low voltage ram

The ram pictured in the op is not the ram I’m using. That is a photo of the ram I had the opportunity to buy.

 

[EugW]

The ram pictured in the op is not the ram I’m using. That is a photo of the ram I had the opportunity to buy.

It would help to know what RAM you're using.

 

[kge420]

It would help to know what RAM you're using.

Here is a photo of the currently installed ram. 2gb+1gb. I have also attached a photo of the type of ram I’m using in my Thinkpad L412. That ram is also a no go in the MacBook.
Including a photo of my ssd. This works just fine.

 

[DeltaMac]

Fast RAM should clock down for a slower speed memory bus, but that does not always work, or does not work reliably - which is kind-of the point for installed memory. It's much better when you don't have to think about the memory!
That g-skill RAM (from your ThinkPad?) is a step or two faster than what you should expect to work in your 2009 MacBook.
If you want to upgrade, then get memory that you can expect will be compatible. One level up from factory specs will probably work. Faster memory is less likely, and that's what you are running into now. Look for: PC-8500, 1066 Mhz, or PC-10800, 1333 Mhz, DDR3 SO-DIMMs
DON'T get the low voltage (with the L designation). DO go to Crucial and get the stuff that works (assuming you want this to work )
OWC has the right ones, too... https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/8566DDR3S8GP/

 

[EugW]

The only RAM in those pictures that is appropriate for the MacBook Pro is the 1 GB RAM.

Fast RAM should clock down for a slower speed memory bus, but that does not always work, or does not work reliably - which is kind-of the point for installed memory. It's much better when you don't have to think about the memory!
That g-skill RAM (from your ThinkPad?) is a step or two faster than what you should expect to work in your 2009 MacBook.
If you want to upgrade, then get memory that you can expect will be compatible. One level up from factory specs will probably work. Faster memory is less likely, and that's what you are running into now. Look for: PC-8500, 1066 Mhz, or PC-10800, 1333 Mhz, DDR3 SO-DIMMs
DON'T get the low voltage (with the L designation). DO go to Crucial and get the stuff that works (assuming you want this to work )
OWC has the right ones, too... https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/8566DDR3S8GP/

Don't forget the CAS timings. The 2 GB and 2 x 4 GB RAM pictured have the wrong CAS timings. Too slow. Required is CL7. Those are CL9 from what I can tell. They might be able to run fine at PC3-8500 CL7, but if a RAM stick isn't configured as such, the RAM may not won't work in a Mac.

He's lucky that the 2 GB RAM works. I wonder if it would work by itself though, not paired with the 1 GB RAM. (The 1 GB stick appears to have the right specs.)

kge420, just get RAM with the right specs instead of playing trial and error with RAM with the wrong specs:

That RAM will not work, for the reasons mentioned above.

Is it a MacBook6,1? If so, it needs 1066 MHz DDR3 PC3-8500 CL7 SoDIMMs. Do not get anything else. You will need 2 x 4 GB to max out the RAM on that machine.

This will cost you $50 to $75 US. The cheapest I have ever found it (in recent times) for name brand RAM was on Amazon.ca for about $35 US last year, but that sale sold out in minutes.

If you want to save some money and you already have 2 x 2 GB, you could get a single 4 GB SoDIMM for about $30, and use one of your existing 2 GB SoDIMMs, for a total of 6 GB.

If you want to make it easier, get Mac-specific RAM, specific for your model. Several retailers and and brands have that, but they do charge a bit more for that.

 

[kge420]

The only RAM in those pictures that is appropriate for the MacBook Pro is the 1 GB RAM.


Don't forget the CAS timings. The 2 GB and 2 x 4 GB RAM pictured have the wrong CAS timings. Too slow. Required is CL7. Those are CL9 from what I can tell. They might be able to run fine at PC3-8500 CL7, but if a RAM stick isn't configured as such, the RAM may not won't work in a Mac.

He's lucky that the 2 GB RAM works. I wonder if it would work by itself though, not paired with the 1 GB RAM. (The 1 GB stick appears to have the right specs.)

kge420, just get RAM with the right specs instead of playing trial and error with RAM with the wrong specs:


If you want to make it easier, get Mac-specific RAM, specific for your model. Several retailers and and brands have that, but they do charge a bit more for that.

over the next few days I'll remove the 1gb stick and see if it boots on the 2gb stick. Just as an experiment.