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MacBook Pro RAM prices have come down a lot - will they stay down for new MBP model?

Nostromo

Nostromo

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 26, 2009
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Deep Space
I was very surprised when I checked on a 16 Gb RAM set for the current MBP 15" to see it was only $240 at Crucial.com.

(Planning to get a 15" MBP once it's out).

Is this because RAM has generally decreased in price or because the current model is already a little bit older?

Will we see those horrible prices of almost $1000 for 16 Gb of MBP RAM for the new model, or will the RAM prices stay down? (it will if the new generation uses the same RAM as the one before, but what if there are new RAM specifications? and therefore new RAM components?).
 
Since the RAM is not machine dependent*, though the 2012 Macs might use faster RAM, the prices will stay down and probably get even lower, until DDR4 and DDR5 arrive and DDR3 is no longer produced (or only produced in small quantities) and will cost more again.
And you can get 16 GB RAM for less than 120 USD via Newegg.

* Other computers use 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM too.
 
This is good news.

Will definitely max out the MBP then.

Except if we see a leap to 32 GB max RAM.
 
RAM prices have certainly crashed, essentially 8gb sticks have dropped in price by about 90% over the past 9 months.

As always, the biggest chips carry a premium, currently this is on 16gb sticks...
 
Nostromo said:
I was very surprised when I checked on a 16 Gb RAM set for the current MBP 15" to see it was only $240 at Crucial.com.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads-up - made me go and check the Crucial UK site and it's dropped to £118 from £188 just a few days ago :D

I posted in another thread about buying from OWC (but someone pointed out that with import charges and VAT the saving wouldn't be that great) but at that price there's no need.

Nostromo said:
(Planning to get a 15" MBP once it's out).
Click to expand...

Me too (but may go for 17" depending on the specs), hence my interest in RAM prices
 
Nostromo said:
I was very surprised when I checked on a 16 Gb RAM set for the current MBP 15" to see it was only $240 at Crucial.com.
Click to expand...

16gb DIMM, or a 16gb (2x8) set? $240 is crazy high for the set. I paid half that which is why I asked.
 
m85476585 said:
Nothing special about Cricual in general; any reputable brand that meets specs and has a lifetime warranty will work.
Click to expand...

True, but for those of us in the UK Crucial have an advantage in that they sell directly to end-users and have excellent Customer Service which in a country where CS usually ranges from poor to non-existent makes it worth the extra few £££s
 
throAU said:
RAM prices have certainly crashed, essentially 8gb sticks have dropped in price by about 90% over the past 9 months.

As always, the biggest chips carry a premium, currently this is on 16gb sticks...
Click to expand...

Of course there is no 16 GB 204-pin chips that I know of, correct?
 
Ccrew said:
My understanding is you're correct, but doesn't mean someone didn't stumble across one.
Click to expand...

I am only interested because the quad-core Mini and MBP can handle 32 GB of RAM, right? So I would like to see a 16x2 config if it can handle it with no problems.
 
Not sure if there are 16gb laptop memory sticks yet, but 16gb modules are now available for servers. They're expensive ('tis why we went for 96gb RAM in our recent VM server purchases rather than more).


As always though, price will come down with time (and laptop parts will no doubt be available in 6-12 months)

I wouldn't expect 32gb of RAM to be "cheap" for laptop size chips in 16x2 for about 18-24 months, if that.

In that market, 16gb is going to be heaps for some time. The mac mini is quite unfortunate in that respect - people use it as a server and it only has 2x laptop memory slots...
 
throAU said:
Not sure if there are 16gb laptop memory sticks yet, but 16gb modules are now available for servers. They're expensive ('tis why we went for 96gb RAM in our recent VM server purchases rather than more).


As always though, price will come down with time (and laptop parts will no doubt be available in 6-12 months)

I wouldn't expect 32gb of RAM to be "cheap" for laptop size chips in 16x2 for about 18-24 months, if that.

In that market, 16gb is going to be heaps for some time. The mac mini is quite unfortunate in that respect - people use it as a server and it only has 2x laptop memory slots...
Click to expand...

I wonder if it'll have the same crazy prices the 8 Gb sticks had, 2 for almost $1000.

But if one needs so much RAM, he may be served better all around by a workstation .
 
m85476585 said:
Others like Gskill are around $109 right now (I've been using Gskill RAM in my MBP for years)
Click to expand...

So much for promoting newegg.com. They voided my order because - even though I've got a US shipping address, their system doesn't accept non-US billing addresses so they don't want my money.

I saw a deal at Amazon for cheap RAM, so I'm going there.
 
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I hope the RAM prices come down and stay down that would be great. Although I have already ungraded my RAM so I suppose its a moot point.
 
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