Refreshed 15" rMBP uses DDR3L instead of DDR3

[emt1]

Does anyone know how this will affect real-word performance?

 

[Asuriyan]

This isn't new to this week's model- my CTO that I just exchanged had DDR3L. Before that I'm not entirely sure.

 

[KPOM]

It shouldn't. If anything it will run a little cooler, which should help prevent throttling.

 

[Stetrain]

Pretty sure it's always been DDR3L on the Retina models, even if Apple didn't advertise it as such.

Here's Anandtech's review from back when the 15" first came out, it specifies DDR3L: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6023/the-nextgen-macbook-pro-with-retina-display-review/2

 

[swerve147]

Interesting, I have DDR3 RAM. The difference is 3L is lower voltage, 1.35v as opposed to 1.5 v. As for performance there's really not a lot of info out there. I'd be curious to hear myself.

 

[varunsanthanam]

Hmm..

I have one of the 2013 refreshed rMBPs but I appear to have DDR3 not DDR3L
Should I ask for a replacement?

 

[Stetrain]

Pretty sure they all have DDR3L, I don't see why they wouldn't since it's soldered onto the board, it isn't like some could have different RAM sticks put in.

Apple probably just doesn't bother to show the "L" on the "About this Mac" window.

Edit: Here's an archive of the tech specs page from back in October:

They've always had DDR3L RAM.

I don't think it would even be possible to just put DDR3 chips in some of them because the logic boards would be designed for the lower voltage requirements of the DDR3L.

 

[theuserjohnny]

I have one from when they first came out and it says DDR3

 

[swerve147]

I have one from when they first came out and it says DDR3

Oh, OK, cool. I surveyed some of the Geekbench results for rMBPs and none of them show DDR3L on the System Configuration details so I'm assuming it's across the board.

Not to be a pain but I could have sworn I saw DDR3L in the "About This Mac" screen when I had my base rMBP. Oh well, I'm not sweating it. I was probably imagining things anyway.

 

[drambuie]

Does anyone know how this will affect real-word performance?

There's no performance difference between DDR3 and DDR3L RAM. With the Ivy Bridge CPU memory controllers, they are usually interchangeable. The late 2012 iMacs can take either, but it's better not to intermix both types.