Where to buy RAM in the UK?

[maddin4j]

Hello everyone !
I know there are websites like macsales.com and ifixit.com where they sell RAM and other stuff for Macs. I plan on upgrading my early 2008 MacBook Pro 15" from 2GB to 6GB RAM.

Even though those two websites I mentioned seem to be the best, is there any other site which has the same reputation, but in the UK?

I don't need any cheap stuff or low quality parts. I just want the same (or better) quality as on macsales and ifixit.

If there's no such thing then I will buy it from probably macsales. Or should I buy it at ifixit?

(btw, where can I find refurbished 3GS iPhones ?!)

 

[stridemat]

Hello everyone !
I know there are websites like macsales.com and ifixit.com where they sell RAM and other stuff for Macs. I plan on upgrading my early 2008 MacBook Pro 15" from 2GB to 6GB RAM.

Even though those two websites I mentioned seem to be the best, is there any other site which has the same reputation, but in the UK?

I don't need any cheap stuff or low quality parts. I just want the same (or better) quality as on macsales and ifixit.

If there's no such thing then I will buy it from probably macsales. Or should I buy it at ifixit?

(btw, where can I find refurbished 3GS iPhones ?!)

http://www.crucial.com/uk

Download the scanner to see what RAM you need and all there RAM is fully warranted.

 

[maddin4j]

http://www.crucial.com/uk

Download the scanner to see what RAM you need and all there RAM is fully warranted.

Thanks for the tip! However, they say that my MacBook Pro doesn't support 6GB (which it unofficially does). But I will still go for it. But only 4GB RAM. Or should I get 6GB?
They say that my Mac supports that dual-memory thing so installing 4GB would be better....?

 

[electroshock]

Thanks for the tip! However, they say that my MacBook Pro doesn't support 6GB (which it unofficially does). But I will still go for it. But only 4GB RAM. Or should I get 6GB?
They say that my Mac supports that dual-memory thing so installing 4GB would be better....?

The difference between 8GB (4GBx2) and 4 GB (2GBx2) is about 10x for the 8 GB pair. So, clearly not cost effective to disregard the last 2 GB that would be unused.

If you're really starved for RAM, then yes, 4 GB and a 2 GB DDR3 1066 MHz SO-DIMM would be the ticket. Otherwise, if your apps would run well within 4 GB then this might be the faster (overall) solution, though I wouldn't stress over that detail.

 

[maddin4j]

The difference between 8GB (4GBx2) and 4 GB (2GBx2) is about 10x for the 8 GB pair. So, clearly not cost effective to disregard the last 2 GB that would be unused.

If you're really starved for RAM, then yes, 4 GB and a 2 GB DDR3 1066 MHz SO-DIMM would be the ticket. Otherwise, if your apps would run well within 4 GB then this might be the faster (overall) solution, though I wouldn't stress over that detail.

Unfortunately, my modell only allows the slow DDR2 667MHZ RAM.
Just to compare my options: 2GB (2x2GB) would cost me 45£.
6GB (2GB + 4GB) would cost me over 120£ + shipping overseas (from macsales or ifixit)
I wonder if it really makes such a difference. I don't mind saving money ^^ and I am not really sure if those +2GB justify the 3x higher price tag.

 

[maddin4j]

okay I'm digging this thread up again.

I bought RAM from crucial.com/uk and I got them about a week ago. However they did not work and I send them back for another pair.

Today I got an email from Crucial and they told me that there are currently some incompatibility issues and so they give me a full refund.

So now I am looking for another RAM seller in the UK. I hope you guys can help me. Again.

 

[MacKiddyWiddy]

overclockers or ebuyer

the 2 best ones i can think of

 

[RedTomato]

Thanks for reporting back from Crucial. Much appreciated.

I'd consider going back to them again for 4GB (2x2GB matched pair) as it seems they gave you excellent service. They owed up to their mistake and gave you a quick refund.


(Disclaimer: most of the RAM I buy is from Crucial, though their pricing policies have annoyed me in the past. )

 

[maddin4j]

overclockers or ebuyer

the 2 best ones i can think of

THanks but both of those sites do not seem do "specialise" on memory for Macs. What I mean is that, for example, at Crucial you are able to choose you model and they show you what is compatible with it.
It made more more comfortable to buy it cause I knew that those models would work (which was unfortunately not the case).

I just don't like to buy the memory from those sellers because I am not 100% sure if they would work for my Mac.

I hope you see what I mean.

Thanks for reporting back from Crucial. Much appreciated.

I'd consider going back to them again for 4GB (2x2GB matched pair) as it seems they gave you excellent service. They owed up to their mistake and gave you a quick refund.


(Disclaimer: most of the RAM I buy is from Crucial, though their pricing policies have annoyed me in the past. )

You might want to read the email they send me:

Hello,

I am contacting you regarding your recent order and RMA for memory for your Apple system. I am sorry to hear of the problems you are experiencing with the RAM purchased from us. We have recently identified some potential incompatibility issues with our modules and your Apple system. We are working hard to address the matter and find a solution. At this time however we have no suitable alternative part, so I have arranged a full refund for you.

Please be assured that all Crucial memory modules are tested 100% at both the component and module level and are built to the industry standard specifications (JEDEC) and carry a limited lifetime warranty. However, there are occasionally specific combinations of memory modules and systems that, together, do not function properly. We are working to find out the cause of this in this instance and hope to have it rectified as soon as possible.

In the meantime, please accept our apologies again.

If you have any further questions, please let us know.

So I would contact them first and make sure that nothing like that happens to you. Unfortunately I had some bad luck.

I wish there would be an equal alternative to Crucial. I don't plan to buy from sellers outside of the UK since shipment would take longer, and if something goes wrong, it would not take me long to return my purchase. If I would buy from ifixit.com or macsales.com, which are both located in the US (I think), I might have to pay extra fees for shipment and because of the exchange rate. I does not matter if you prove the latter wrong. I just want to buy from a UK seller. Makes it much easier.

 

[RedTomato]

overclockers.co.uk is another option.

To be honest, I seriously doubt you need 6GB. I have 4GB in my MB, and the only way I can fill it up is by running OSX plus Windows Server 2008 in a VM and Vista in another VM, all at the same time.

40 tabs in Firefox plus Final Cut Pro plus Photoshop still leaves me with plenty of spare RAM.

Matched 4GB pairs are also slightly faster than 6GB. You haven't said what specific RAM you had to return to Crucial. If it was the 2x2GB matched, it's hard to think that Crucial would be out of stock for long for such a new computer as your 2008 MPB.

 

[maddin4j]

I did buy 4GB from Crucial. 6GB was 2x more expensive that buying 4gb and I didn't think that those extra 2gb were worth the money.

Yes it was 2x2Gb. Well, seems like they can't send me another pair as you read in their email.

I just bought 2x2GB from overclockers.co.uk but I am not 100% sure if they are right. Should be though. They will arrive on friday so I will let you know how everything went.

The RAM modules are from Corsair. Is that a brand I can trust? I'm kinda worried...

 

[RedTomato]

Corsair are very good. Along with Micron they're one of the more reputable memory suppliers in the world. (Crucial is the retail arm of Micron).

Corsair are a much smaller company than Micron, but you should be fine with them.

 

[georgeryder9]

Re

4GB is enough for mac unless you want to convert your mac into a mainframe computer. what you want to do with 8GB RAM on MAC?

 

[RedTomato]

4GB is enough for mac unless you want to convert your mac into a mainframe computer. what you want to do with 8GB RAM on MAC?

I'd quite like 8GB on mine. See my post above. 4GB is more than enough for 99% of my computer needs, but it isn't enough for running various VMs at the same time. Normally it wouldn't matter, but it does if you're studying Windows Server 2008 and the way it networks with various other OSes.

The next Apple laptop I buy, in late 2010, will have 8GB. For now, I may have to build a PC or hackintosh so that I can run 8+GB, but I don't really want to, as it's nice to have everything on my one small laptop.

 

[maddin4j]

Ok guys. I just got my RAM from Corsair and it worked right away ! Seems to be working great!

I guess 4GB RAM are enough for me. It was only ~50£. 4GB RAm at the Apple Store cost 160£.

So yeah. I am really happy right now. Finally I am done with this. Took me quite a while until I got a memory upgrade.

Thanks for your help guys.