Will the followingCrucial RAM be compatible with my early 2011 Macbook Pro

[fermer]

Hi,

I have a MacbookPro with the following specs:
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
Processor 2.3 Ghz Intel Core i5
Memory 4 GB 1333 Mhz DDR3
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

I noticed there is a lightning deal on Amazon for the following memory:

Crucial 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) CL11 SODIMM 204-Pin 1.35V/1.5V Notebook Memory CT2KIT102464BF160B

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-DDR3-...007B5S52C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I'm not sure if this memory is compatible with a Macbook Pro laptop, as it doesn't say it is in the product's description. Some users mention being able to upgrade their Macbook's memory using non-Macbook specific ram modules. I wasn't able to find a clear answer using Google and wanted to give it a shot here while the deal is still on.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[MacInTO]

Yes it is compatible. DDR3 is backwards compatible. I recently found this out when I put 1600MHz ram from a 2012 into a 2011 and it worked!

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/support-memory-speeds-compatability

 

[JTToft]

Yes, it's ideally suited to your machine.

I recently found this out when I put 1600MHz ram from a 2012 into a 2011 and it worked!

- Not only that, but it should work at the full 1600 MHz, too. The 2011s are capable of it, even if Apple won't admit it.

 

[fermer]

Thanks for replying.

I did some more googling yesterday and found various users mentioning having beeping sounds from their MacBook and other incompatibility issues. I have decided to purchase a MacBook specific RAM by one of the big manufacturers once it goes on sale.

In retrospect though, I think I should have made the purchase since it was 16gb of RAM for about $50. Oh well..

 

[MacInTO]

You would get the beeping if you tried to put 1333 RAM into a 2012 Macbook Pro (that requires 1600 MHz RAM).

 

[JTToft]

I did some more googling yesterday and found various users mentioning having beeping sounds from their MacBook and other incompatibility issues. I have decided to purchase a MacBook specific RAM by one of the big manufacturers once it goes on sale.

- Most, if not all, issues that users have with compatibility are due to the users not knowing which RAM fits their machine and therefore making a wrong purchase. To be honest, Mac and MacBook specific RAM is a waste of money. It's the exact same just with a sticker on it.

You would get the beeping if you tried to put 1333 RAM into a 2012 Macbook Pro (that requires 1600 MHz RAM).

- I'm not sure that's true. Intel lists 1333 being supported on the 2012 Ivy Bridge CPUs.

 

[MacInTO]

I'm not sure that's true. Intel lists 1333 being supported on the 2012 Ivy Bridge CPUs.

I tried it. I put 1333 ram into my mid 2012 mbp and got the three beeps.

If ivy bridge is late 2012 them maybe.

 

[JTToft]

I tried it. I put 1333 ram into my mid 2012 mbp and got the three beeps.

If ivy bridge is late 2012 them maybe.

- You sure it wasn't also 1.5V DDR3 modules rather than the proper spec 1.35V DDR3L? Because that might cause issues with the 2012.

The Late 2012 13" is the Retina version with soldered RAM.

 

[MacInTO]

- You sure it wasn't also 1.5V DDR3 modules rather than the proper spec 1.35V DDR3L? Because that might cause issues with the 2012.

The Late 2012 13" is the Retina version with soldered RAM.

It was RAM from this machine, http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...8-13-late-2011-unibody-thunderbolt-specs.html

 

[JTToft]

It was RAM from this machine, http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...8-13-late-2011-unibody-thunderbolt-specs.html

- That would most probably have been 1.5v, which isn't ideal for the 2012 machines. I bet that's the reason rather than the frequency difference.

(1.5v modules aren't suitable for 1.35v machines, but 1.35v modules are fine for 1.5v machines.)