Swapping RAM?

[bluedogz]

OK, so here goes...

The Mrs. and I each have a MacBook:

Mine- late 2011 MBP 13", 2.4 i5, 16 GB RAM, Lion 10.8.2.
Hers- mid-2010 MB 13", 2.4 C2D, 2GB RAM, Lion 10.8.2

I recently upgraded my own RAM in the MBP, first from 4GB to 8GB, then a little later up to 16GB. I'd like to use the now-redundant RAM in the Mrs.' MB, but have little idea how to determine if it will work.

Option 1 is to just install it and hope for the best.
Option 2 is to ask here to see how I'd determine if I can use all this extra RAM.

Input, anyone?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

You can use the two 4 GB 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM modules from your MBP in her MBP.

Upgrading RAM in MacBooks and MacBook Pros​

 

[bluedogz]

You can use the two 4 GB 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM modules from your MBP in her MBP.

Upgrading RAM in MacBooks and MacBook Pros​

Sim, I appreciate the guidance... I actually had been through those links already. My wife does not have any of the listed models- she has the very-last mid-2010 white MacBook (not Pro).

In the interest of curiosity, I swapped out her RAM for the two 4GB modules that came out of my MBP originally... the MB would not boot and gave the 2 beeps for incompatible RAM. I guess that answered my question, but that's the hard way, and I'm hoping to learn how I could have figured that out without cracking open the MB.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Sim, I appreciate the guidance... I actually had been through those links already. My wife does not have any of the listed models- she has the very-last mid-2010 white MacBook (not Pro).

This one applies for you:

13" White Unibody MacBook (2009 - )

In 2009 Apple upgraded the 13" Aluminium MacBook to a MacBook Pro and "discontinued" the MacBook model for a while.
Later that same year, Apple introduced the 13" White Unibody MacBook.

The 13" White Unibody MacBook uses a Core 2 Duo CPU and 204-pin 1066 MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 SO-DIMM SDRAM.
The 13" White Unibody MacBook can at least support up to 8GB RAM. (info)​

GUIDES

iFixIt guide on how to replace the RAM in 13" White Unibody MacBooks
13" White Unibody MacBook User Guide - Installing Additional Memory (page 46)​

WHERE TO BUY RAM

MacSales (OWC) - Memory Upgrade Options
Newegg - DDR3 RAM for notebooks
Newegg - DDR3 RAM for Apple notebooks​

In the interest of curiosity, I swapped out her RAM for the two 4GB modules that came out of my MBP originally... the MB would not boot and gave the 2 beeps for incompatible RAM. I guess that answered my question, but that's the hard way, and I'm hoping to learn how I could have figured that out without cracking open the MB.

It may be due to the 2010 MB coming with 1033 MHz RAM and the 2011 MBP coming with 1333 MHz RAM, but that should not be the case, as I use 1333 MHz RAM in my 2009 MBP.

Anyway, if the above small guide did not help:

You can find specs on all Apple products, including maximum RAM:

• By visiting EveryMac.com: Actual Maximum RAM
• By selecting your model on the Crucial Memory Advisor™ Tool to find RAM information
• By using Mactracker
• By entering your serial number here to find specs for your model.
  (Be aware that some models can use more RAM than Apple shows. Check EveryMac to verify actual usable RAM.)