Mac RAM upgrade.

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Alex Tyler
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Looking at upgrading my 2011 Macbook Pro from 4 to 8gb RAM.

Just wondering if there are any brands to look out for or any to avoid.? I ask i have had problems in the past but i think it was the machine.

Cheers,

Tyler
 
Tyler138 said:
Looking at upgrading my 2011 Macbook Pro from 4 to 8gb RAM.

Just wondering if there are any brands to look out for or any to avoid.? I ask i have had problems in the past but i think it was the machine.

Cheers,

Tyler

Just done this myself. Go to Crucial, use the checker to get the correct memory and buy the one they suggest.
Cost me £32 and works a treat, and very easy to do.
 
Anything branded Hynix, Samsung, or Kingston should work well in Apple equipment - Apple uses Hynix and Samsung (and also Elpida these days) for the memory that the computer gets shipped with, and Kingston have been a long time premium 3rd party memory supplier used in the Mac world (I must have installed hundreds if not thousands of Kingston modules, and I can't remember ever having a duff one)

I've had bad experiences with crucial memory and macs, but this was back in the late 90's and as a result I never used them again. However I guess that these problems no longer exist given that so many people are recommending them for Apple gear these days.
 
Anything branded Hynix, Samsung, or Kingston should work well in Apple equipment - Apple uses Hynix and Samsung (and also Elpida these days) for the memory that the computer gets shipped with, and Kingston have been a long time premium 3rd party memory supplier used in the Mac world (I must have installed hundreds if not thousands of Kingston modules, and I can't remember ever having a duff one)

I've had bad experiences with crucial memory and macs, but this was back in the late 90's and as a result I never used them again. However I guess that these problems no longer exist given that so many people are recommending them for Apple gear these days.

Thanks, saw some Kingston at a good price so will go for that.

Thanks again,

Tyler
 
I'm planning to increase the memory my 1 year old 27" iMac, a) is it easy (done loads of PCs) and b) if I open it up will the memory it came be mark as Apple or will it show the true brand. Would have it slightly better to have all same make but bet it's stamped as Apple !
 
I'm planning to increase the memory my 1 year old 27" iMac, a) is it easy (done loads of PCs) and b) if I open it up will the memory it came be mark as Apple or will it show the true brand. Would have it slightly better to have all same make but bet it's stamped as Apple !

Yes dead simple. At the bottom centre is a small hatch secured by 3 screws. Removing this hatch will give you access to the RAM bay. In the rear 2 slots will be the pre-installed RAM from Apple, the front 2 slots should be empty. The RAM from Apple is not branded Apple, but almost certainly will be from one of the 3 manufacturers I mentioned in my previous post.

You don't have to have RAM from the same manufacturer at all, just make sure you put 2 matching RAM modules in the front bays - you can actually mix different ram in all slots if you like, but you'll lose around 10% of RAM performance. The front and rear pairs can be different sizes without affecting performance. The RAM modules have a notch to ensure that you can't insert them the wrong way round so have a quick look up in the RAM bay to see where the notch is and then match the RAM modules orientation to that. You may find that you need to push the RAM with a little force to get them in properly.

HTH
 
Thanks HTH really helpful. Sounds even easier then a PC not having to open the case.

Cheers

Duncan

Glad you found it helpful, but I now feel the need to point out I'm not HTH. HTH is just the short form of "Hope that helps" ;)
 
Just done this myself. Go to Crucial, use the checker to get the correct memory and buy the one they suggest.
Cost me £32 and works a treat, and very easy to do.

I would second that

I've upgraded to 8gb on my Macbook Pro 17(2011). No issues.
 
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