Upgrading RAM late 2009 MacBook

[No Ragrets]

Hi there everybody. I am upgrading the ram in my late 2009 unibody macbook (6.1), and I just wanted to double check some things. I currently have the original 2gb of ram in this computer, and wanted to upgrade to 8gb. I have searched around and know that this model can handle that much ram, but I just wanted to inquire about the ram I am looking to buy. I am also wondering if I have to get 2 4gb ram sticks, or could I get away with just 1 8gb stick? These are the sticks I'm currently looking at.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231630

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231297

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148608

If you have/can find cheaper sticks then by all means post some links. All help is greatly appreciated

 

[simsaladimbamba]

This and this RAM will work, the 8 GB module will probably not and 1600 MHz RAM will be too much.

I have a 2009 MBP with 8 GB of 1333 MHz RAM and it works fine.

 

[No Ragrets]

This and this RAM will work, the 8 GB module will probably not and 1600 MHz RAM will be too much.

I have a 2009 MBP with 8 GB of 1333 MHz RAM and it works fine.

I don't think 1333 mhz works in a macbook. I don't have a macbook pro

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I don't think 1333 mhz works in a macbook. I don't have a macbook pro

2009 MacBooks and MacBook Pros came with 1066 MHz RAM, but 1333 MHz RAM works in those models too. If you really think, 1333 MHz will not work, then 1600 MHz will also not work and you have to get 1066 MHz RAM like this found here.

 

[mojolicious]

Re above, I found my 2010 MacBook didn't like 1333 (although I didn't try the mooted '1066/1333 mix' solution). See https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1717959/

Were it me I'd go with 2x 4GB 1066. Indeed I *did* go with 2x 4GB 1066.

 

[brdeveloper]

I bought 2x4GB modules for my late-2009 macbook in 2010, so it was easier to find 1066 modules than in the current days. OWC still offers 1066 modules I guess. You can't use high latency modules (e.g. "value" RAM, Kingston KVR modules) as they won't work.

In my case, I bought my modules at Ebay from a well reputed seller which offered "2x4GB Mac RAM". After receiving the modules, I found that they were "brandless", that is, those black chip enclosures attached to the green board hadn't any brand or text. I think these modules were some kind of production surplus from a third-party supplier of a major brand. In other words: piracy.

Anyway, the modules work fine since 2010 and I usually fill the entire memory running VMs or RAM intensive tasks.