The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Crucial says my macbook can only handle 2GB of RAM and not 4GB?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by passive101, Sep 17, 2008.

  1. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    36
    Messages:
    1,548
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I did that automatic program which says I can only use 2GB. I did their manual check and they have some macbooks that are 2.0GHZ C2D (like mine) that take 2GB and some that take 4GB of RAM.

    This is what it tells me.

    Guaranteed-compatible memory upgrades for your MacBook 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (13-inch White) MA700LL/A Laptop/Notebook .

    Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-5300 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.*

    *Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.



    It says it is dual channel so I should install the same type of ram in both slots which is fine.
     
    passive101, Sep 17, 2008
    #1
  2. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Yes, you need to install 2 identical 1GB modules to get whatever benefits dual channel has to offer. (Same memory chips, and chip count)
    Slightly different modules will also work in Dual Channel, but try to get modules having the same frequency and timings.
    Buy any 2GB Kit. Brand doesn't matter, its the price and lifetime warranty that matters.

    Also checkout the Dual Channel RAM Guide.
     
    Andy, Sep 17, 2008
    #2
  3. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    36
    Messages:
    1,548
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    So mine can only use 2GB? I was hoping for 3-4GB.
     
    passive101, Sep 17, 2008
    #3
  4. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

    Reputations:
    3,047
    Messages:
    8,636
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    206
    depends on when you bought it. it wasn't really until late summer of 07 that laptops could handle more than 2GB or so of memory.
     
    masterchef341, Sep 17, 2008
    #4
  5. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I don't know if CPU-Z runs in MAC or not. :p
    If its the 945GM/PM chipset, then there is no point in going above 3GB, because your macbook won't recognise more than 3.5GB.
    You can try out 2GB now, and if you find the system's performance being bottlenecked by the 2GB RAM, you can upgrade to 3GB, but due to that the performance/bandwidth boost due to Dual Channel will suffer.
     
    Andy, Sep 17, 2008
    #5
  6. wywern209

    wywern209 NBR Dark Knight

    Reputations:
    47
    Messages:
    979
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    dual channel gain in perf. is overrated.
     
    wywern209, Sep 17, 2008
    #6