Can I install more Memory

pfhannan · 11-22-2011, 06:09 AM

Is it possible to add more memory than what Apple specifies, like it requires a max of 1 GB, would a 2 GB work?

acme.mail.order · 11-22-2011, 06:58 AM

What do you mean by "specifies"?

If you mean operating system minimums, then yes. More is better.

If you mean machine specifications, then no - the hardware is only capable of handling a certain amount of memory.

pfhannan · 11-22-2011, 07:05 AM

The MacBook has 2 slots, Max is 1GB per slot, I thought I would try to put in 2MB in each slot

Quote:

Originally Posted by acme.mail.order


	What do you mean by "specifies"? If you mean operating system minimums, then yes. More is better. If you mean machine specifications, then no - the hardware is only capable of handling a certain amount of memory.

appleman_design · 11-22-2011, 07:11 AM

it would be a waste of money to exceed apple specs..

pfhannan · 11-22-2011, 07:13 AM

Thank you very much

DeltaMac · 11-22-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appleman_design


	it would be a waste of money to exceed apple specs..

It's only a waste of money, if the Mac doesn't support that memory.

It does depend on the exact model MacBook that you have...
The oldest MacBooks, with Core Duo processor, are maxxed out at 1GB per slot, total of 2GB.
A Core 2 Duo can have 2GB, or more, in each slot - but the oldest of those core 2 duo only recognize a max of 3GB total.
As in past history, some Macs can have more installed than 'official' Apple specs. A reliable place to find out what you need to know is the comprehensive app "Mactracker"

benwiggy · 11-22-2011, 08:47 AM

It's true that for some Macs, Apple has specified that the machine has a max of, say, 4Gb RAM, but people have found out that 6GB works.

I'm guessing that this is because the type of memory sticks weren't available when Apple wrote the spec.

Most good memory suppliers will tell you how much of their memory will fit in a particular model of Mac. If it doesn't work, then you can take it back because their info was misleading.

macsolver · 11-22-2011, 09:38 AM

Hi,

I would recommend you try the free memory scanner from Crucial:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/MacOS.aspx

With it I have found that it is possible to fit much more RAM that the textbooks say, and it works (there is a PC version too).

For instance I have a 512Mb chip working in a G3 Clamshell, and 2Gb in a Toshiba L10 laptop which is supposed to be limited to 2 x 512Mb.

Regards,

Nick

DeltaMac · 11-22-2011, 12:30 PM

That scanner works OK, but doesn't always give complete information about some Mac models, and appears to be limited to what Apple recommends.
For example, my MacBook Early 2008 2.4 GHz is reported by the scanner as 2 x 2GB maximum, but mine already has one 4GB, and one 2GB for a total of 6GB.
That's why I recommend Mactracker, which is quite complete about which models will support other levels of RAM than the info provided by Apple.

trevor · 11-22-2011, 03:10 PM

I agree with DeltaMac, Mactracker is the superior resource for this type of question. It can be downloaded here.

Trevor

morespace54 · 11-22-2011, 04:27 PM

+1 for Mactracker (both iPhone and app).
I have been using it for a few years already and, to me, it's a must have app.

chabig · 11-22-2011, 07:07 PM

MacTracker is also available for free in the Mac App Store.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mactr...30255202?mt=12

anthlover · 11-22-2011, 11:13 PM

Not completely relevant in this thread but I see you can now jam 16GB into recent Macbook Pro and 32GB into an Imac thx to denser modules. datamem.com has them. I am sure others to do.

Damn now I have more reasons to upgrade

And along those lines though model speed and year helps. It is sometimes good to go to Apple Menu About this mac and get the model Identifier number e.g Mac book/Macbook Pro 3,1 or 7,1 etc.

11-22-2011, 06:09 AM	#1
pfhannan Major Leaguer Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 409	Can I install more Memory Is it possible to add more memory than what Apple specifies, like it requires a max of 1 GB, would a 2 GB work?

11-22-2011, 09:38 AM	#8
macsolver Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Redhill, Surrey, England Posts: 479	Crucial Memory Scanner Hi, I would recommend you try the free memory scanner from Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/MacOS.aspx With it I have found that it is possible to fit much more RAM that the textbooks say, and it works (there is a PC version too). For instance I have a 512Mb chip working in a G3 Clamshell, and 2Gb in a Toshiba L10 laptop which is supposed to be limited to 2 x 512Mb. Regards, Nick

11-22-2011, 03:10 PM	#10
trevor Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO USA Posts: 19,549	I agree with DeltaMac, Mactracker is the superior resource for this type of question. It can be downloaded here. Trevor __________________ How to ask questions the smart way

11-22-2011, 11:13 PM	#13
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,661	Not completely relevant in this thread but I see you can now jam 16GB into recent Macbook Pro and 32GB into an Imac thx to denser modules. datamem.com has them. I am sure others to do. Damn now I have more reasons to upgrade And along those lines though model speed and year helps. It is sometimes good to go to Apple Menu About this mac and get the model Identifier number e.g Mac book/Macbook Pro 3,1 or 7,1 etc. Last edited by anthlover; 11-22-2011 at 11:16 PM.

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11-22-2011, 06:58 AM	#2
acme.mail.order League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tokyo Posts: 6,045	What do you mean by "specifies"? If you mean operating system minimums, then yes. More is better. If you mean machine specifications, then no - the hardware is only capable of handling a certain amount of memory.

11-22-2011, 07:11 AM	#4
appleman_design Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,550	it would be a waste of money to exceed apple specs..

11-22-2011, 07:13 AM	#5
pfhannan Major Leaguer Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 409	Thank you very much

11-22-2011, 08:47 AM	#7
benwiggy League Commissioner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,039	It's true that for some Macs, Apple has specified that the machine has a max of, say, 4Gb RAM, but people have found out that 6GB works. I'm guessing that this is because the type of memory sticks weren't available when Apple wrote the spec. Most good memory suppliers will tell you how much of their memory will fit in a particular model of Mac. If it doesn't work, then you can take it back because their info was misleading.

11-22-2011, 12:30 PM	#9
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,950	That scanner works OK, but doesn't always give complete information about some Mac models, and appears to be limited to what Apple recommends. For example, my MacBook Early 2008 2.4 GHz is reported by the scanner as 2 x 2GB maximum, but mine already has one 4GB, and one 2GB for a total of 6GB. That's why I recommend Mactracker, which is quite complete about which models will support other levels of RAM than the info provided by Apple.

11-22-2011, 04:27 PM	#11
morespace54 Triple-A Player Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 127	+1 for Mactracker (both iPhone and app). I have been using it for a few years already and, to me, it's a must have app.

11-22-2011, 07:07 PM	#12
chabig Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,930	MacTracker is also available for free in the Mac App Store. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mactr...30255202?mt=12