Macbook 5,1 with snow leapord 4Gb, 6Gb, 8Gb?

[OverSpun]

What the heck?

OSX Snow Leopard-

OSX Lion-

My computer feels really sloppy recently but I can't figure what caused it...

Notice that it now shows 8GB RAM in the pie graph rather than 7.75 before...

 

[n8236]

Not sure which MBP the 5,1 is, but I have the i7 quad-core and just upgraded my ram to 8GB.

I wish I made the transition to 8 sooner. In OS X Lion, the apps all run smoother. Though the difference in performance is marginal, the smoothness of opening apps day in and out can be felt.

The biggest plus to the 8 is the ability to dedicate 2 to VMWare Fusion. It's beautiful!

When I had 4, running VMWare VMs was a nightmare. Tons of paging and it would either lag the VM or OS X.

I'm the kind of person that likes to have his cake and eat it too and having 8 allowed me to do that.

8GBs is recommended!

 

[CodeBreaker]

I repeat my question [sorry]

Has anyone tried the Kingston Value Ram (KVR) on the Aluminum MacBook? That is the only RAM that I can get locally at the moment.

 

[McGiord]

Has anyone tried the Kingston Value Ram (KVR) on the Aluminum MacBook? That is the only RAM that I can get locally at the moment.

I have no experience with that brand, but you can check for reviews in places like:
Anantech
Cnet
Amazon
Just do a search in those sites and you will have user's reviews and the editors opinions, they are in my opinion good references.

You have to made up your mind, if you buy them will you be able to claim the warranty?
If your decision is to buy something else, at the end you have to get the RAM somewhere else.
I always buy in www.macsales.com they are capable to ship internationally, however I have no clue if that makes sense for you.
Other here always recommend www.newegg.com

Do your research and you will have your own decision based on what is better for you.

 

[CodeBreaker]

I have no experience with that brand, but you can check for reviews in places like:
Anantech
Cnet
Amazon
Just do a search in those sites and you will have user's reviews and the editors opinions, they are in my opinion good references.

You have to made up your mind, if you buy them will you be able to claim the warranty?
If your decision is to buy something else, at the end you have to get the RAM somewhere else.
I always buy in www.macsales.com they are capable to ship internationally, however I have no clue if that makes sense for you.
Other here always recommend www.newegg.com

Do your research and you will have your own decision based on what is better for you.

It has got good reviews at Amazon (with no one reporting it faulty/incompatible). At other places, people are reporting problems with the 4 GB kit (2 X 2 GB), which date back to 2009. I also see posts reporting problems with Corsair/Crucial and OWC. Maybe this was before the secret firmware upgrade?

I have to buy them locally because I cannot pay in foreign currency. The only brands they have in shops in here are Transcend and Kingston (Value RAM only). Otherwise why would I be installing "value RAM" on such an expensive computer?

 

[h4lp m3]

I have 8gb (4x2GB) of RAM called "Knight" that I got off eBay on my MB 5,1 running snow leopard.

 

[WayOutWest]

so is running 2x4GB 1333mhz DDR3 stable on a 5,1 (late 2008) UMB?

 

[z7tjxd45]

so is running 2x4GB 1333mhz DDR3 stable on a 5,1 (late 2008) UMB?

I think you're looking for 1066 (1067) mhz. And yes perfectly fine.

I have 8gb (4x2GB) of RAM called "Knight" that I got off eBay on my MB 5,1 running snow leopard.

4x2GB?

 

[-AG-]

The 1333 that i have tried was not stable,it kept shutting off one ram socket for some reason, or just general locking up.

But the 1066 (default speed) 2x4GB works perfectly.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could find 2x8GB for cheap, that they probably would work too. But too expensive for me to test and if it doesn't work its really a waste because i have no other machines i could put it into.

The rest are all 1333.

I guess if anyone works at a ram wholesaler or retail outlet they can borrow some ram to test it, a few of us would be keen to hear the results.

Mind you on saying that the 2.0GHZ C2D in my uMB is getting a little long in the tooth and there is only so much benefit you can gain from adding more ram before the CPU becomes the bottleneck.

 

[WayOutWest]

The 1333 that i have tried was not stable,it kept shutting off one ram socket for some reason, or just general locking up.

But the 1066 (default speed) 2x4GB works perfectly.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could find 2x8GB for cheap, that they probably would work too. But too expensive for me to test and if it doesn't work its really a waste because i have no other machines i could put it into.

The rest are all 1333.

I guess if anyone works at a ram wholesaler or retail outlet they can borrow some ram to test it, a few of us would be keen to hear the results.

Mind you on saying that the 2.0GHZ C2D in my uMB is getting a little long in the tooth and there is only so much benefit you can gain from adding more ram before the CPU becomes the bottleneck.

thanks. I was wondering if it would work because Corsair has a 2x4gb 1333mhz DDR3 set on on Amazon for $34 shipped, with the $10 rebate.

I ignorantly upgraded from 2gb to 4gb without doing sufficient research. I paid $25 for the 2x2 set. Wondering if shelling out another $50 for the 2x4 is worth it. I do a little bit of photo editing (anticipate doing more) and I do a a lot of transcoding and video editing.

 

[ae86gtv16]

Has anyone tried the Kingston Value Ram (KVR) on the Aluminum MacBook? That is the only RAM that I can get locally at the moment.

I'm using Kingston right now on my MBP late 2008. I just upgraded to 8GB, installed it last night. so far it's working great! I got mine from newegg.

 

[jhobgoo]

2x4GB RAM on MBP51.007E.B05 Firmware?

I've read almost the entirety of this thread and am seeing that nearly everyone is having success with 2x4GB RAM on their late 2008 2.4GHz OSX SL 10.6.8 UMBP under the MBP51.007D.B03 firmware version, which is very exciting news from someone like me who frequently runs programs like Reason 5, Logic, Final Cut Express and After Effects often on their MacBook Pro.

BUT... does anyone by chance have any success with 2x4GB RAM under the MBP51.007E.B05 firmware? I'd love 8GB RAM and from what I've read in this thread thus far, this BootROM firmware is the only spec difference between my UBP and the majority of those who are having great success running 8GB RAM.

I'll be exploring elsewhere to see what I find and will report back should I take the plunge to 8GB before I have a reply.

EDIT: Sorry, I just realized that everyone with the xxxxxxxx.B03 firmware are on MacBooks, whereas the xxxxxxxx.B05 is the firmware version for the MacBook Pro firmware. Regardless... any success on the MacBook Pro with 2x4GB RAM?

 

[jusstefy]

Kingston KVR1333D3S9/4G

Kingston KVR1333D3S9/4G x2 1333Mhz works fine with my Macbook 5.1 2008 late unibody aluminium 2.0

OS X LION 10.7.2 !

 

[jusstefy]

Kingston KVR1333D3S9/4G

NoPE!!!! Actually its not working so well =( after some tests i got the Kernel Panic.. just run all my apps, trying to play Left 4 dead 2 but after a couple of minutes i got KP..

BUT !! It work WELL with Kingston KVR1333D3S9/4G + Kingston KVR1333D3S9/2G = 6GB on the board, just did the same tests and seems everything work pretty cool, no Kernel Panic at all... but still want my 8 GB =(

My first upgrade was 4 GB -> 2x Kingston KVR1333D3S9/2G 1333Mhz it works as charme no Kernel Panic ever!

Second 8GB -> 2x Kingston KVR1333D3S9/4G .. it works but inevitably u can get the Kernel Panic in the worst possible moment.. yea. =( Probably because of it 1333Mhz.. i think so.

and Last 6GB -> Kingston KVR1333D3S9/4G + Kingston KVR1333D3S9/2G Works as well as my first one. Even with 1333Mhz.. no problem at all

So... You decide.

 

[MagicBoy]

That machine was only ever specified to run 1066MHz RAM. The 1333MHz is out of spec and may run at an unsupported voltage.

I always recommend getting tested compatible RAM from places like Crucial or OWC. It's not worth the bother of saving a couple of £/$/€ for the amount of aggravation it causes.

 

[jusstefy]

Kvr1333d3s9/4g + 2g

ibench test result

My score but there is KVR1333D3S9/4G + thesame/2G 6Gb RAM 1333Mhz

 

[jusstefy]

That machine was only ever specified to run 1066MHz RAM. The 1333MHz is out of spec and may run at an unsupported voltage.

I always recommend getting tested compatible RAM from places like Crucial or OWC. It's not worth the bother of saving a couple of £/$/€ for the amount of aggravation it causes.

Yep, but still works great with 6Gb. which not enough for me ), i bought this one only because in my city i cant find RAM with 1066Mhz.. im from Russia, which means its not so easy to get that Crucial or OWC

 

[jusstefy]

confirmed 6Gb works fine with Kingston KVR1333D3S9/4G + Kingston KVR1333D3S9/2G no problem at all. Even with 1333Mhz. .. but still u guys better find RAM with 1066 Mhz.

 

[rw3]

Working with 8GB of Corsair 1066Mhz DDR3...MacBook5,1 with EFI 1.4.

 

[barwnik]

16GB DDR3 1333MHz for MacBook 5.1 2.0Ghz

I have just bought 2x 8GB 1333MHz by Komputerbay from Amazon.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Komputerb..._Computer_Memory_RAM&hash=item19cb2e607b#shId


I just hope that will work. If not then will return them.
Will let you all know how it works.

 

[rilian]

I have just bought 2x 8GB 1333MHz by Komputerbay from Amazon.

I just hope that will work. If not then will return them.
Will let you all know how it works.

Hi! So, have you tried 16GB memory in MacBook 5.1 ? Is it working ?

 

[barwnik]

Hi! So, have you tried 16GB memory in MacBook 5.1 ? Is it working ?

Oh yes I did try it. Unfortunately the result was negative. I am not sure whether it was about not correct bus speed which should be 1066 not 1333 or by the memory capacity or the incompatibility of the memory itself.

 

[MagicBoy]

It's that the chipset only supports 4GB memory modules.

Apple list the machine as taking up to 6GB, the firmware update allows up to 8GB as two 4GB modules.

 

[rilian]

Oh yes I did try it. Unfortunately the result was negative. I am not sure whether it was about not correct bus speed which should be 1066 not 1333 or by the memory capacity or the incompatibility of the memory itself.

barwnik, thanks for fast reply!

i am running 2x4GB kingston 1333MHz cards and everything is fine

i do not understand where this limitation is sitting ?

maybe some EFI patch will unlock ?

thanks

 

[sangretoro]

I can verify that 8GB RAM will work in the MacBook5,1 (Late 2008) Aluminum Unibody Intel C2D 2.0Ghz. I just installed a 2x4GB Crucial 204-Pin SODIMM DDR3 PC3-8500 CL7 kit. About this Mac and Activity Monitor both show 8GB (Activity Monitor shows 7.75GB as 256MB is shared with the graphics card). No Kernel panics so far and everything works flawlessly. I also installed a 60GB SSD in place of my Optical Drive (well, as of now I switched my HDD and SDD so the SDD is where the HDD was originally). That took quite a bit of tinkering to get my preferences and caches to work properly, but now my system boots in under 30 seconds and applications launch instantly (MS Word in ~3 seconds.).
Let me know if you have any questions about my setup or anything.

Can you send me more info about how you installed the SSD and also what tinkering you had to do? What sites did you use to walk you through the process?