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Ram for PB 15

D

DavidFalling

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 10, 2005
8
0
Okay, so im about to get my first powerbook g4 1.67 ghz this week, and i want to have the maximum ram (2 gigs), however, it seems that purchasing the ram directly from apple is a VERY pricy route to take.
i have looked at other online ram dealers but have heard that "cheap ram= CHEAP/ crappy ram" i even spoke to someone from apple about their expensive ram and they said that you get what you pay for, and that their ram is top of the line.
would you recommend getting the more expensive ram from apple, and not having to deal with a 3rd prarty. OR save some money, but possibly get cheap bad ram and void the warranty??? :confused: :confused: :eek:
thanks a ton!
-David
 
There are some misconceptions on this board about Apple's memory prices. They are usually higher, but I'm sure some of this covers installation and labor.

In fact, two 1-GB sticks from Crucial are $771 compared to Apple's $850. With Crucial you get the added benefit of an extra 512MB stick, but installing it can be a bit tricky with the Powerbooks. Not because it requires much technical skill, but because they are stacked behind each other and you don't have much room to make sure it's done correctly.

When you're spending this much money, you could save about a hundred dollars, but I would personally prefer to know that all of my components are from Apple. This makes reselling and diagnostics a lot easier if something goes wrong with the computer.

Really, no matter where you buy from, good non-generic DDR SO-DIMMs will not be cheap. Crucial is good, as you can see by the close price difference. Generic RAM will have bad latency (CL ratings), bad memory cells... I would stay away from it for sure. :)

If you DO choose the cheaper RAM, make sure it is from a reputable seller, is compatible with your Powerbook, and has a lifetime warranty.
 
Apple's "top of the line" comment is true to one extent: Apple has the clout to make sure the RAM they get is all tested. Otherwise it is the same RAM modules that are available to other sellers.

Apple will give you a 1 year warranty on the RAM. A good memory vendor will give you a lifetime warranty.

2 x 1 Gb prices
Apple = US$850.00 1 year warranty Samsung module
Crucial = US$771.98 Micron module
Kingston = US$590.00 Kingston module
Data Memory Systems = US$418.00 for the same Samsung module that Apple sells.
http://www.datamem.com/viewcat.asp?C=1169

All of the above are guaranteed to work in the Powerbook and all are CAS Latency 2.5. With the exception of Apple all are lifetime warranty

I just don't get the "gotta go Crucial" mantra. They have done one heck of a job of advertising their brand name. But their prices are not great, and the RAM is not invincible.

Just to put the record straight, we sell Crucial RAM in Canada, as well as Kingston, DMS, Corsair, Shikatronics and OCZ. Each brand has its strengths. For Macs, however, I highly recommend the Data Memory Systems memory.

They know Macs, they are honest, and they have been in business for over 17 years. If you are in the USA, call them and see what excellent customer service is.

Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com
 
dferrara said:
There are some misconceptions on this board about Apple's memory prices. They are usually higher, but I'm sure some of this covers installation and labor.

In fact, two 1-GB sticks from Crucial are $771 compared to Apple's $850. With Crucial you get the added benefit of an extra 512MB stick, but installing it can be a bit tricky with the Powerbooks. Not because it requires much technical skill, but because they are stacked behind each other and you don't have much room to make sure it's done correctly.

When you're spending this much money, you could save about a hundred dollars, but I would personally prefer to know that all of my components are from Apple. This makes reselling and diagnostics a lot easier if something goes wrong with the computer.
Click to expand...

Yeah, your probably right. i was definately thinking about the labor of putting the memory in and how difficult that would be alone. good tip, thanks for the help. much appreciated! now im excited to get my first powerbook! WOO!! anyone know how long a BTO powerbook usually takes to build and ship?
 
Ram

I just ordered a 512MB Ram module for my Powerbook (Al) from OWC (macsales.com) for $70, today.
Lifetime warranty and good sales staff.

Are you sure you need 2 GB? I suggest trying 1 GB (2x512) first, to see if it fits your needs, and possibly saving $500.
 
my (limited) understanding is that if RAM works, it works- there isn't a gradation of quality. With that said, I bought the cheapie 1GB stick from newegg for under $200. It works. My Powerbook got noticeably more responsive. Give it a shot- newegg has excellent customer service, a solid track record, the RAM is CAKE to put in, and you will save something like 4 hundred dollars on 2GB- that's a lot of money.
 
Another vote for DMS. They have the exact same Samsung memory Apple uses, just about half the cost. Crucial is overrated. They have good service and a lifetime warranty, but so do many others like DMS, but for much less.
 
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