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Which RAM (brand/seller)?

wiseguy27

wiseguy27

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 30, 2005
420
0
USA
I've read a lot of people recommending http://www.crucial.com for memory upgrade kits. I have also read some people recommending http://www.datamem.com - this is cheaper than Crucial.

I checked http://www.dealram.com and found that there's a seller called http://www.18004memory.com that sells RAM for a lot cheaper than either of the above.

For 1GB (2x512MB), the prices (before shipping and taxes) are:
Crucial - $106
Datamem - $98
18004memory -$75

I believe all these are "unknown" brands, although they do give a "lifetime warranty". Do the members here have specific experience with bad RAM??? :confused: Would it be a gamble to go for the lower priced one? Or should I look for specific brand names for reliability?

Thanks! :)
 
wiseguy27 said:
I've read a lot of people recommending http://www.crucial.com for memory upgrade kits. I have also read some people recommending http://www.datamem.com - this is cheaper than Crucial.

I checked http://www.dealram.com and found that there's a seller called http://www.18004memory.com that sells RAM for a lot cheaper than either of the above.

For 1GB (2x512MB), the prices (before shipping and taxes) are:
Crucial - $106
Datamem - $98
18004memory -$75

I believe all these are "unknown" brands, although they do give a "lifetime warranty". Do the members here have specific experience with bad RAM??? :confused: Would it be a gamble to go for the lower priced one? Or should I look for specific brand names for reliability?

Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

what kind of memory are you looking for? I usually go for the cheapest (sometimes it's the well known brands, sometimes it's not), with lifetime warranty. For example: Outpost has an awesome deal on a 1gb stick of pc2700 sodimm memory for my powerbook. $139-$30 rebate=$109.

I usually search around deal sites.
 
I'm looking for RAM for a Power Mac G5 - PC3200 400MHz DDR. All the above prices I have indicated are for Power Mac G5 compatible RAM.

Yup, I have to have a look at other deal sites too. But are there any disadvantages in going for these cheap chips?
 
wiseguy27 said:
I'm looking for RAM for a Power Mac G5 - PC3200 400MHz DDR. All the above prices I have indicated are for Power Mac G5 compatible RAM.

Yup, I have to have a look at other deal sites too. But are there any disadvantages in going for these cheap chips?
Click to expand...


Nope. Unless you'll be overclocking your memory (which I don't know if possible with Macs), cheap stuff will be just fine.
 
I bought from 18004MEMORY and have no complaints - the RAM works fine. Many people recommend Crucial, but I'm not entirely sure why, or what makes them significantly better than ayone else. Just buy from a place where you KNOW the RAM will work with your Mac and you'll be fine.
 
wiseguy27 said:
I'm looking for RAM for a Power Mac G5 - PC3200 400MHz DDR. All the above prices I have indicated are for Power Mac G5 compatible RAM.

Yup, I have to have a look at other deal sites too. But are there any disadvantages in going for these cheap chips?
Click to expand...

I bought 2x512 made by Mushkin for my G5 from NewEgg and it works great. This is what I bought.
 
Well for my Powerbook 15inch 1.5Ghz I just bought two 1GB sticks from newegg.com for a total of $270 including shipping.

Kingmax 1GB 200 Pin DDR SO-DIMM DDR 333 PC 2700

There were a few different reviews indicating success with the same Powerbook as mine so I'm confident it will be just fine, sure beats paying the >$300 price Crucial wanted for one stick that is for sure!

I can't wait to see the difference that is going to make over the 512mb I have now, it is a pity the existing two 256mb sticks have to be ebayed though, oh well I'm sure I won't be complaining with a sweet 2GB of RAM and Tiger once I take the plunge. :)
 
wiseguy27 said:
I've read a lot of people recommending http://www.crucial.com for memory upgrade kits. I have also read some people recommending http://www.datamem.com - this is cheaper than Crucial.

I checked http://www.dealram.com and found that there's a seller called http://www.18004memory.com that sells RAM for a lot cheaper than either of the above.

For 1GB (2x512MB), the prices (before shipping and taxes) are:
Crucial - $106
Datamem - $98
18004memory -$75

I believe all these are "unknown" brands, although they do give a "lifetime warranty". Do the members here have specific experience with bad RAM??? :confused: Would it be a gamble to go for the lower priced one? Or should I look for specific brand names for reliability?

Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

I think you are comparing a single $75 512 Mb DIMM from 1800 with a pair from Crucial and Datamemory Systems. At the 1800 site I get $179 and $128 for the pair
HyperSpeed Memory - p/n AH4064U/512/Q2V-2 $179.00
GENERIC - p/n AN4064U/512/Q2V-2 $128.00

http://www.18004memory.com/category.asp?catid=9&subcatid=911

That's not much of a deal.

I have been very happy with Data Memory Systems, I have dealt with them for 5 years. They use Macs to run their business.
 
Thanks for that link on newegg - that looks like a very good deal!

I looked around and found some Corsair RAM kits that have the same specs as what the Power Mac uses, but the memory compatibility tool (on the website of the manufacturer) does not show those models for the Apple Power Mac. Similarly for Mushkin too.

After some more digging in, all I could conclude was that the specs may be the same, but if the manufacturer doesn't list it in their compatibility chart, then they've most likely not tested it on that platform (which is a little disturbing).

:)
 
CanadaRAM said:
I think you are comparing a single $75 512 Mb DIMM from 1800 with a pair from Crucial and Datamemory Systems. At the 1800 site I get $179 and $128 for the pair
HyperSpeed Memory - p/n AH4064U/512/Q2V-2 $179.00
GENERIC - p/n AN4064U/512/Q2V-2 $128.00

http://www.18004memory.com/category.asp?catid=9&subcatid=911

That's not much of a deal.

I have been very happy with Data Memory Systems, I have dealt with them for 5 years. They use Macs to run their business.
Click to expand...
No, I did look at the available kits and they're 2x512MB for around $75 odd (the generic ones, not the hyperspeed) - I specifically looked for matched pairs since that's what the latest Power Macs use.

The ones you see at $179 may be high performance stuff that may be more suitable for gaming (probably).

Anyway, what I've decided is to rely more on the compatibility matrix than take chances with generic RAM with the same specs - may probably result in lesser headache. :D
 
wiseguy27 said:
No, I did look at the available kits and they're 2x512MB for around $75 odd (the generic ones, not the hyperspeed) - I specifically looked for matched pairs since that's what the latest Power Macs use.

The ones you see at $179 may be high performance stuff that may be more suitable for gaming (probably).

Anyway, what I've decided is to rely more on the compatibility matrix than take chances with generic RAM with the same specs - may probably result in lesser headache. :D
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as faster RAM in a Macintosh -- for gaming or otherwise. Apple's motherboards do not overclock, and I have never seen evidence that they take advantage of lower latency. If it is Mac compatible, RAM either runs at the speed the machine set it to, period, or else it's incomaptible and doesn't run. "Hyperspeed" or "Ballistic" or "Superpowered" are just marketing fluff words.

Corsair TwinX and CMS RAM is specifically not guaranteed by Corsair for use in Macs. Anyone I know who has tried has found it incompatible.

Good luck on that $75 price at 18004memory. It's not what is listed under their G5 listings, $128 is.

"1GB UPGRADE (512MBX2) DDR 400 PC3200 FOR POWERMAC G5
THIS IS A KIT OF TWO 512MB DDR 400 PC 3200 CL3 184PIN DIMMS WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY
GENERIC - p/n AN4064U/512/Q2V-2 $128.00

512mb APPLE POWERMAC G5 DDR 400 PC3200
PC3200 (400) FOR 1.8GHZ AND DUAL 2.0 GHZ VERSIONS
HyperSpeed Memory - p/n MAH4064U/512/Q2V $75.00"

They have their PC Generic 1 Gb kit (2x512) at $99,
and a PC Generic 512 Mb kit (2x256) at $69


Whatever you get, stick with a vendor that offers tested and guaranteed compatibility with your model Mac, and a lifetime warranty, and no charge return if it doesn't work.
 
CanadaRAM said:
Whatever you get, stick with a vendor that offers tested and guaranteed compatibility with your model Mac, and a lifetime warranty, and no charge return if it doesn't work.
Click to expand...

Sound advice.
 
jackieonasses said:
i know he is to humble to say it... but go with canadaram.com! You know who the guy is and he has been very helpful the last few months..

kyle
Click to expand...

There is something to be said about buying Canadian/local! :)
 
CanadaRAM said:
Whatever you get, stick with a vendor that offers tested and guaranteed compatibility with your model Mac, and a lifetime warranty, and no charge return if it doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Definitely! That's what I stated in my earlier post (after digging in about the specs and the compatibility) - I'm not going to buy any generic PC compatible RAM for the Power Mac. :)

Thanks for all your suggestions. :)
 
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