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What's the max RAM that a 2012 cMBP can take?
- Thread starter Star Nuts
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Max is 16GB. 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.)
The good news is you DO know that... now!
Do you know why Apple state it's 8GB? Is it to do with Support/Warranty?
I thought from Sandy Bridge onwards the maximum RAM they can use is 32GB (once 16GB modules become available)?
In that case, if the 32GB RAM sticks stay with the same specifications, it would be interesting to see if they're compatible with the cMBP 2012 models. I believe a similar situation occurred with the 2011 models and 16GB (8x8) models of RAM?
I don't think the 2012 MacBooks will really benefit that much with 32GB of RAM though. You can never tell though.
I don't think the 2012 MacBooks will really benefit that much with 32GB of RAM though. You can never tell though.
That isn't being entirely honest, my good man. You're implying that 16GB is the absolute maximum when this is patently not the case. The absolute maximum, albeit in theory, is 32GB for all Macs past Sandy Bridge.
That is being honest. Theoretical maximum doesn't do any good in real life. The max someone can upgrade the MBP to is 16GB. If that changes in the future with 16GB RAM modules being available and tested to prove they're compatible, I'll update that number, as will everymac.com and MacTracker.
But the OP asked what is the maximum RAM a MBP can take. The honest answer is it can take 32GB with the caveat that 16GB modules are not currently available.
It's not a matter of honesty. It's a matter of what answer is accurate now, or theoretically possible in the future. I find the practical real-world answer more useful than the theoretical future answer. You're welcome to answer any way you choose, but neither answer is dishonest.
This is veering worryingly off-topic, I didn't mean dishonest in that you were maliciously withholding the truth.
It seems we've reached ἀπορɛία and so we can leave this discussion at that.
To the OP, the maximum RAM a cMBP from 2012 can take is 32GB once 16GB modules become available.
It seems we've reached ἀπορɛία and so we can leave this discussion at that.
To the OP, the maximum RAM a cMBP from 2012 can take is 32GB once 16GB modules become available.
One other thing to consider is that there's more at play than the chipset maximum. As an example, earlier Macs could only use roughly 3GB of RAM, when the chipset supported 4GB:
Why are the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" models limited to 3 GB of memory? If I install dual 2 GB modules, why won't I be able to use 4 GB of RAM? @ EveryMac.com
Until there are proven reports of MBPs successfully using 32GB of RAM, I'd prefer to report what has been proven to work.
I'm not questioning whether Sandy Bridge can support 32GB. I'm not even questioning that MBPs won't be able to support 32GB. I'm saying I won't claim that you can upgrade a MBP to 32GB until I know it's been done successfully by more than once or twice. Quote 32GB all you like. I'll keep reporting what I know works today.
While I also always state, that the chipset supports 32 GB, the article/thread you linked does not use a board Apple uses, and the DIMMs used on this are not SO-DIMMs. Maybe the 2011 and 2012 Macs with two SO-DIMM slots will support 32 GB, but as of now, there is no proof.