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    Is 3gb ram possible on a MacBook?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by MYK, Jan 8, 2007.

  1. MYK

    MYK Newbie NBR Reviewer

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    On apple.com, you can customize a MBP to have 3gb but you can't do so with a MacBook. Isn't it possible? What would happen if I stick in a 2gb stick along with a 1 gb stick in a macbook? If it isn't possible, can I just put 1*2gig stick and leave the other one free?
     
    MYK, Jan 8, 2007
    #1
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I don't see why not though 3GB of memory is probably overkill.
     
    ZaZ, Jan 9, 2007
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  3. MYK

    MYK Newbie NBR Reviewer

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    Please elaborate on that. A MBP has 2 slots but it would max out on 3.2gb, so apple did not make 4gb an option. Is it the same with macbooks? Maybe it won't use anything over 2 or 2.5 gb worth of ram. Maybe "apple" don't think anyone would spend that much on a 2gb stick for a macbook. I know I don't need it, but if I have a free stick, can or can't I use it? If it maxs out on
    2gb, could I install a 2gb stick or does it have to be 2 * 1 gb.
     
    MYK, Jan 9, 2007
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  4. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    More likely than not it is a hardware issue. The logic board will likely not see more than 2GB. I know that was the limitation on the old MBP. So, no I doubt it. Plus a 2 gig stick of RAM is insanely expensive at the moment and make the upgrade not cost effective.
     
    cashmonee, Jan 9, 2007
    #4
  5. jimboutilier

    jimboutilier Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    I've seen one technical article that said that the new C2D MacBooks actually have the same limitation as the C2D MBP's but I do not know how reliable the information is.

    The author implied that because you will not get the full benefit of DDR2 if you don't pair the chips, going to 3gb would likely do more to slow your system than speed it up unless you use some truly Bloated Apps (Windows? - lol - Sorry Bill)
     
    jimboutilier, Jan 9, 2007
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  6. Starlight

    Starlight Notebook Evangelist

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    Well the limitation to not be able to use more than 3.25gb or so is in the architecture and won't be gone until Santa Rosa or so. Whether the Macbook is still limited to 2GB or not I do not know however, but Apple has only said 3GB works in Macbook Pro and iMac so far (well, and Mac Pro, but those can use up to 16GB since they have a different architecture).
     
    Starlight, Jan 9, 2007
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  7. gridtalker

    gridtalker Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes it is .
     
    gridtalker, Jan 9, 2007
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  8. ogando_jose

    ogando_jose Notebook Consultant

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    Oh! come on! and I wanted 17gb on my Mac Pro !!!
     
    ogando_jose, Jan 9, 2007
    #8