Macbook Pro 2011 13" RAM Upgrade

Ash576 · 9 Jun 2011 at 13:41

So I got myself a new 2011 i5 Macbook Pro 13" and I couldn't be happier, the feel and design of this notebook is incredible. I decided to pick up the basic model as I refuse to pay £200 for a SSD that's out of date (OCZ Vertex 3 is like twice as fast and similar price) and £180 for an upgrade to 8GB of RAM. I am planning to upgrade my RAM from 4GB to 8GB but my main question is about the RAM I need to buy. I know what type of to buy, its just the branding. I have searched the web and found many brands such as Crucial/Kingston/G Skill but I have heard a few mixed reviews (For starters http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Apple-M...h-8gb-upgrade-for-2011-macbook-pro/td-p/38624)

I was just wondering if anybody here has been in the same situation as me and could give me some advice on which RAM to buy. I don't want to spend time and money on RAM that's going to fail on me. Anybody done a successfully upgrade on a 2011 Macbook Pro ?

Any help would be much appreciated

PardonTheWait · 9 Jun 2011 at 13:42

I've used Crucial personally on three Macs, and we install Kingston stuff at work. No problems with either

Deku · 9 Jun 2011 at 13:43

RAM is RAM.

The 2 Crucial sticks I bought I've had no problems with - the ones on that link may have been bad just like you could get with any brand.

Ash576 · 9 Jun 2011 at 13:47

I have 2 G Skills in my PC they seem to be a good brand, only on this website at the bottom of the page the guy who did a RAM upgrade with crucial resulted in Less "Allocate index". Is this something I should be worried about?

https://discussions.apple.com/message/13245332?messageID=13245332

PardonTheWait · 9 Jun 2011 at 13:47

Oh also all the Macs I've upgraded lately have had Hynix RAM installed from the factory, I'd not even heard of them prior to that

Ash576 · 9 Jun 2011 at 13:49

Yea I noticed that, i thought if id whack a pair of those in id be okay but I cannot find them on the web anywhere for sale.

PardonTheWait · 9 Jun 2011 at 13:54

Just get Crucial or Kingston they're both absolutely fine and have been the RAM of choice for Mac RAM upgrades for literally about ten years, stop worrying

Ash576 · 9 Jun 2011 at 14:13

Deku said:
RAM is RAM.

The 2 Crucial sticks I bought I've had no problems with - the ones on that link may have been bad just like you could get with any brand.

Do you have the same Macbook as me? I'm swaying towards Crucial, had any kernal panics/ lockups at all?

Fr0dders · 9 Jun 2011 at 16:45

Ash576 said:
Do you have the same Macbook as me? I'm swaying towards Crucial, had any kernal panics/ lockups at all?

it honestly doesn't matter.

RAM is RAM. Just buy it. You aren't going to get lockups by using a brand of ram other than the one apple chooses.

Deku · 9 Jun 2011 at 16:56

Ash576 said:
Do you have the same Macbook as me? I'm swaying towards Crucial, had any kernal panics/ lockups at all?

You're suffering from a classic case of "New Mac Owner Syndrome" dont worry we've all been there this over protected stage of your switchover shouldn't last long

Like MrLOL said it really doesn't matter.

Ps. I have the 15inch

Ash576 · 9 Jun 2011 at 18:03

Deku said:
You're suffering from a classic case of "New Mac Owner Syndrome" dont worry we've all been there this over protected stage of your switchover shouldn't last long

Like MrLOL said it really doesn't matter.

Ps. I have the 15inch

Cheers

Well I guess I had "New Mac Owner Syndrome" coming , considering im planning to spend £300 on a Macbook which just cost £1000

This is my 1st proper mac since the eMac (which ironically I upgraded the RAM

)

Thanks for the heads up, Crucial it is

8t10 · 9 Jun 2011 at 18:09

I've installed Crucial on a few Macs and PCs, all fine.