I'll likely be buying a Mac Pro in the next few weeks. I've been looking at memory to add to the system, and I always see special Mac Pro memory systems and packaging--they're at OWC, NewEgg, everywhere. Kingston and Crucial sell regular DDR2 PC2 6400 RAM and then they also sell special Mac kits.
See this Kingston "normal" RAM, which I'd like to buy, based on price (cca. $25) and specs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104030
And compare it to these "Apple compatible" RAM, priced at least twice as high:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...escription=&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=
I plan on maxing out the RAM slots at 16 GB (2GB x 8), so price will definitely be an issue.
According to the blurb of text on the Apple Store's ordering page for the Mac Pro, the only exceptional thing about required RAM is that:
Apple created a more robust thermal specification for the Mac Pro FB-DIMM heat sinks that provide more efficient cooling than many other FB-DIMMs. These FB-DIMMs require less airflow to stay cool and allow the internal fans to spin at slower speeds, improving system acoustics. FB-DIMMs made by other manufacturers that do not include a sufficient heat sink may cause the fans to run faster (and louder) or the memory chips to run slower so as not to overheat.
So basic question: Why can't I just buy "normal" RAM with a heat spreader and pop it into my Mac Pro? What's the downside?
Would you advise for or against buying this RAM specifically?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104030
Thanks a lot!
See this Kingston "normal" RAM, which I'd like to buy, based on price (cca. $25) and specs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104030
And compare it to these "Apple compatible" RAM, priced at least twice as high:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...escription=&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=
I plan on maxing out the RAM slots at 16 GB (2GB x 8), so price will definitely be an issue.
According to the blurb of text on the Apple Store's ordering page for the Mac Pro, the only exceptional thing about required RAM is that:
Apple created a more robust thermal specification for the Mac Pro FB-DIMM heat sinks that provide more efficient cooling than many other FB-DIMMs. These FB-DIMMs require less airflow to stay cool and allow the internal fans to spin at slower speeds, improving system acoustics. FB-DIMMs made by other manufacturers that do not include a sufficient heat sink may cause the fans to run faster (and louder) or the memory chips to run slower so as not to overheat.
So basic question: Why can't I just buy "normal" RAM with a heat spreader and pop it into my Mac Pro? What's the downside?
Would you advise for or against buying this RAM specifically?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104030
Thanks a lot!