RAM upgrade on MBP (early 2011)

I have a MacBook Pro 15” (early 2011) Model 8,2. RAM is currently 4 GB (2x2GB).

1) I would like to upgrade the RAM. At https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1270, it says the maximum for this laptop is 8 GB (2x4GB), but at other forums I read that this MBP can take 16 GB (2x8GB). Is that correct?

2) Who are the best providers of RAM? At the forums I see these names: Crucial, Kingston, and Corsair.

Thank you for your help.

Your MacBook Pro can be upgraded to 16gig of ram.

Good places to purchase ram:

- Crucial.com - DRAM, solid state drive (SSD) memory upgrades for Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS
- Other World Computing (OWC) - Performance Upgrades For Your Mac

* Nick

Thank you. That's exactly what I needed!
(Including your tips re "Beachballs" and "Speedup".)

I too would like to upgrade to 16 but have read at another forum that 16 gb will overheat a mbp early 2011. Anyone here have any experience with that.

mmkayle said:

I too would like to upgrade to 16 but have read at another forum that 16 gb will overheat a mbp early 2011. Anyone here have any experience with that.

Click to expand...

Not true. We have lots of folks running maximum memory (16 GB) in their machines that Apple stated at the time of manufacture could only take 8 GB. What makes a MacBook Pro overheat is dirt and dust clogging the vents or fan. The extra memory (it's still only two modules) has no impact on heat.

Thank you. I will place an order at crucial.com which is also mentioned at the top of this thread.

Not sure how RAM could "overheat" anything at all.

Only if you set it on fire chas?