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    Memory recommendation

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by tenderidol, Feb 21, 2010.

  1. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi everyone,

    I am planning to upgrade the RAM in my wife's 13" MBP (mid-2009). Currently it has 2GB. When I upgraded the HDD to 500GB, I didn't pay attention, but I vaguely remember seeing only one 2GB stick in there. Is that the case? If so, is it advised to buy a "matching" 2 GB stick or 2x2GB new ones?

    Secondly, I have some Officemax gift cards to use before the end of this month, and I realized that they carry Crucial memory. Crucial website states the compatible memory for the mid-2009 13" MBP as "DDR3 PC3-8500 • CL=7 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1066 • 204-pin SODIMM".

    Would this work in the 13" MBP?
    CT25664BC1067 at OM
    CT25664BC1067 official site

    Thanks very much in advance!
     
  2. ClearSkies

    ClearSkies Well no, I'm still here..

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    The RAM modules are mounted one over the other in the current MBPs, so you only saw the one on top.

    Apple generally uses 2x1GB or 2x2GB in their systems, never a single RAM stick.

    Your linked stick will work, but adding one will only get you to 3GB :(.
     
  3. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks for the reply. I'll get 2x2GB to replace the 2x1GB in that case. I guess I'll put the 1GB sticks into a drawer, in case I need to get a warranty work under Applecare in the future ;)
     
  4. unnamed01

    unnamed01 Notebook Deity

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  5. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Nope, You don't need to swap them again before a repair. According to the apple website and the user guides which come with a mac, the laptop ram is user upgradable. So, no risk of voiding the warranty.

    May be that was the case a few years ago when macs ran PPC. However, now, this is no longer the case. The macbook and macbook pros will take any PC-8500 Ram. Be sure to check that it's actually PC-8500.
     
  6. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    OK... I received the memory from Officemax today (well, they said that it was shipped directly from the manufacturer). I was expecting a Crucial brand memory, but the sticks I received are "Future Memory Solutions" brand :(

    Anybody heard of them? Apparently they are supplying memory modules for Samsung, MSI, etc, but I never heard of them.

    Just in case, here is the part# FMD3256X641066SOX8

    Spec wise, it matches the Crucial...
     
  7. MKang25

    MKang25 NBR Prisoner

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    Any DDR3 ram will work. Its just that if you buy one that is clocked higher it will be downclocked