New to mac, which Ram to buy

Antracith · Antracith #1 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 12:31 PM

Hi!
I got my macbook pro yesterday (the old version, not unibody) and I wanna upgrade my ram and I am not sure of which ram to buy. I know that i want 200 pin 667 mhz sodimm ram but can I buy any ram that meet these specs or do I need special apple ram?

Is it safe to install more ram on your own?

Any help appreciated!

/John

mac57 · mac57 #2 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 12:43 PM

I would recommend going to Crucial.com and using their memory advisor. I have bought several RAM upgrades over the years from Crucial and they have always done well.

BTW, if you check the manual for your new MBP, it will tell you the details of the memory you need. You can use this to double check what the crucial memory advisor recommends.

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #3 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 12:46 PM

A second option is:

Find the latest Performance Upgrades, Firewire and USB Hard Drives, SATA, Memory, Laptop Battery, and more at OWC

- Nick

deathcloud · deathcloud #4 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 01:09 PM

Yea the main two sites I see advertised here is crucial (and I think thats because they have that scam that detects your exact memory you need) and also OWC because of the great prices they have.

Antracith · Antracith #5 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 03:58 PM

Okey so thats great thanx!
But just to be sure, can other memory be used or is this specific mac memory?

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #6 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antracith

Okey so thats great thanx!
But just to be sure, can other memory be used or is this specific mac memory?

It's not really "Mac specific" memory...just make sure the memory you do get is compatible with a Mac.

If you do buy memory from some place else other than recommended above...make sure you can return it if it doesn't work!

- Nick

D3v1L80Y · D3v1L80Y #7 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antracith

Okey so thats great thanx!
But just to be sure, can other memory be used or is this specific mac memory?

There is no such thing as "specific Mac" memory.

So long as you get the spec you need, it should work.

Now, there are such things as bad sticks of RAM, so make sure that you can return the RAM if it doesn't work.

Neo · Neo #8 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 09:01 PM

Another vote for macsales.com here...

Disclaimer: No affiliation, other than being a happy customer several times over.

budafied · budafied #9 (**permalink**)

09-15-2009, 10:11 PM

in my experience, newegg.com has almost always been the cheapest place to buy computer hardware. They ship very quickly and have been great for many in the tech world.

Antracith · Antracith #10 (**permalink**)

09-16-2009, 06:54 AM

Thing is, I can find ram that fits the specs for less than 50% of the price at the places mentioned, here in Sweden. Thanx for all the info!

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #11 (**permalink**)

09-16-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antracith

Thing is, I can find ram that fits the specs for less than 50% of the price at the places mentioned, here in Sweden. Thanx for all the info!

That's EXACTLY what I was referring to in my post above! We can find less expensive ram here in the United States as well...except that when you install it into your computer it doesn't work!!!

Go ahead & purchase the 50% less expensive ram...maybe it will work, maybe it won't.

- Nick

Antracith · Antracith #12 (**permalink**)

09-16-2009, 09:24 AM

Yea I got that, but when the RAM is of the brand Crucial with the same specs (the exact same RAM) for 50% of the price, then I think I can be sure it will work...

Oh another question, is the mac reversibly compatible (or whatever you call it)? What I mean is, would it be able to handle 800 mhz ddr2 ram down clocked to 667 mhz? I guess no but it is interesting to discuss..

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #13 (**permalink**)

09-16-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antracith

Yea I got that, but when the RAM is of the brand Crucial with the same specs (the exact same RAM) for 50% of the price, then I think I can be sure it will work...

As far as the ram speed...it's probably best to just get what your computer needs (667 or 800). I have seen instances where folks have used 800mhz in a computer that needed 667mhz...and it worked fine...but no guarantees.

So stop talking...and start buying! Let us know if it works & how much you paid.

- Nick

technologist · technologist #14 (**permalink**)

09-16-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antracith

Thing is, I can find ram that fits the specs for less than 50% of the price at the places mentioned, here in Sweden. Thanx for all the info!

The companies mentioned are there because they have good reputations, and good return policies. Even if memory has the correct specifications, it may have errors that only become evident once it is tested thoroughly. Sometimes, they only become evident once the memory is actually installed in a computer and used for a few days.

When you buy from a reputable company, you're paying for the reputation, which is mostly the return/replacement/refund policy.

iggibar · iggibar #15 (**permalink**)

09-16-2009, 12:12 PM

I got my memory from OWC for less than 53 shipped! Very happy here!

mac57 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 29, 2006 Location: St. Somewhere Posts: 4,547 Mac Specs: PowerMac G5 Quad, 2.5 GHz, 4 Core, 120 GB SSD, 500 GB HDD	09-15-2009, 12:43 PM I would recommend going to Crucial.com and using their memory advisor. I have bought several RAM upgrades over the years from Crucial and they have always done well. BTW, if you check the manual for your new MBP, it will tell you the details of the memory you need. You can use this to double check what the crucial memory advisor recommends. My Macs: PowerMac G5 Quad, 2.5 GHz, 4 Core, Mac Pro, 3.2 GHz 8 Core, Power Macintosh 7500/100 My iStuff: 32 GB iPhone 4, 30 GB iPod Video, 16 GB iPod Touch My OS': Mac OS X Tiger, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Leopard, Mac OS 8.6, openSUSE 10.3, Win XP I was on the Mac-Forums honor roll for September 2007
	QUOTE Thanks

budafied #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 04, 2008 Posts: 151 Mac Specs: 13.3" MBP: 2.26 C2D, 4GB, 160GB	09-15-2009, 10:11 PM in my experience, newegg.com has almost always been the cheapest place to buy computer hardware. They ship very quickly and have been great for many in the tech world. 11.6" MacBook Air Ultimate PS3 Slim, Xbox 360 S, 40" Sony LCD
	QUOTE Thanks

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Antracith #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 15, 2009 Posts: 7 Mac Specs: Macbook pro 17" 2.3 GHZ, 3 GB ram + 2 other MBP:s	09-15-2009, 12:31 PM Hi! I got my macbook pro yesterday (the old version, not unibody) and I wanna upgrade my ram and I am not sure of which ram to buy. I know that i want 200 pin 667 mhz sodimm ram but can I buy any ram that meet these specs or do I need special apple ram? Is it safe to install more ram on your own? Any help appreciated! /John
	QUOTE Thanks

deathcloud #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 232 Mac Specs: 13'' Macbook Pro 2.26 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3 500 GB 7200rpm HD	09-15-2009, 01:09 PM Yea the main two sites I see advertised here is crucial (and I think thats because they have that scam that detects your exact memory you need) and also OWC because of the great prices they have.
	QUOTE Thanks

Antracith #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 15, 2009 Posts: 7 Mac Specs: Macbook pro 17" 2.3 GHZ, 3 GB ram + 2 other MBP:s	09-15-2009, 03:58 PM Okey so thats great thanx! But just to be sure, can other memory be used or is this specific mac memory?
	QUOTE Thanks

Neo #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 14, 2007 Posts: 557 Mac Specs: white MB 2.16GHz 3GB 320GB 10.6.1	09-15-2009, 09:01 PM Another vote for macsales.com here... Disclaimer: No affiliation, other than being a happy customer several times over.
	QUOTE Thanks

Antracith #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 15, 2009 Posts: 7 Mac Specs: Macbook pro 17" 2.3 GHZ, 3 GB ram + 2 other MBP:s	09-16-2009, 06:54 AM Thing is, I can find ram that fits the specs for less than 50% of the price at the places mentioned, here in Sweden. Thanx for all the info!
	QUOTE Thanks

Antracith #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 15, 2009 Posts: 7 Mac Specs: Macbook pro 17" 2.3 GHZ, 3 GB ram + 2 other MBP:s	09-16-2009, 09:24 AM Yea I got that, but when the RAM is of the brand Crucial with the same specs (the exact same RAM) for 50% of the price, then I think I can be sure it will work... Oh another question, is the mac reversibly compatible (or whatever you call it)? What I mean is, would it be able to handle 800 mhz ddr2 ram down clocked to 667 mhz? I guess no but it is interesting to discuss..
	QUOTE Thanks

iggibar #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 20, 2009 Location: Up UP and awayyyy!!! Posts: 3,913 Mac Specs: MBP15" 240gb SSD+128gb SSD, PowerBook17, PowerMacG5, Phone4S 32gb, Phone4 32gb, Galaxy Note 2 80gb.	09-16-2009, 12:12 PM I got my memory from OWC for less than 53 shipped! Very happy here!
	QUOTE Thanks

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