Mac pro Quad Core memory Reccomendation??

duncsharp · 23 Feb 2008 at 23:33

am looking at getting 6gb more ram for my mac pro

just wondering if someone can link me to compatable ram, ive seen on the spec list that the mac pro can run 800hz ram but only see 677hz in the mac ram section

Darryn · 24 Feb 2008 at 00:58

Doubt anyone will be able to help you directly as posting links to compatible ram with break one of the forum rules...

But 800mhz FBDimms are available and will hopefully soon be available from OcUK.

duncsharp · 24 Feb 2008 at 08:33

ah ok sorry

thought there was more ram that was compatable at those speeds on here

J1nxy · 24 Feb 2008 at 11:12

If your talking about getting crucial stuff its so ridiculously over priced its not even funny. I paid about what they want for 4GB and got 8GB

keogh · 24 Feb 2008 at 14:43

duncsharp said:
ah ok sorry

thought there was more ram that was compatable at those speeds on here

Also, very important to point out, if you have the older Mac Pro (i.e. the Mac Pro Quad Core 2.66MHz [Pre Jan 2008]) model then you CANNOT get the 800MHz RAM as that will not work in your Mac Pro. The 800MHz RAM id for the newer Mac Pros only!

If you have an older one, then OcUK are your friends: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=930&subid=931 as you will want the PC5300 (677MHz) modules!

J1nxy · 24 Feb 2008 at 15:47

Well thats not actually true you can get the 800mhz ram it'll just run at 677 instead. You can also run the 667 ram in a new Mac Pro but obviously this will will result in a performance hit.

keogh · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:07

J1nxy said:
Well thats not actually true you can get the 800mhz ram it'll just run at 677 instead. You can also run the 667 ram in a new Mac Pro but obviously this will will result in a performance hit.

Oh ok my bad, but would be stupid to get the 800MHz for a higher price than the 677MHz ram only to run it at that speed anyway... unless you decide to upgrade to the newer Mac Pro at a later date of course!

duncsharp · 24 Feb 2008 at 17:17

So im guessing I would be paying around £300 for 6gb more ram for the mac pro, does this sound like a reasonable price?

dannyraul · 24 Feb 2008 at 18:06

You can get 4GB of the 800Mhz OWC memory from a well known auction site for £189.50. For the same price you can get 2GB from crucial.

J1nxy · 24 Feb 2008 at 18:50

dannyraul said:
You can get 4GB of the 800Mhz OWC memory from a well known auction site for £189.50. For the same price you can get 2GB from crucial.

...and the seller is very reputable

dannyraul · 24 Feb 2008 at 20:11

J1nxy - did you buy from scrumpymacs? Is he any good then - the memory looks good.

J1nxy · 24 Feb 2008 at 20:16

yep, top bloke quick dispatch etc

dannyraul · 24 Feb 2008 at 20:22

Nice one, will be purchasing 8GB on monday then! Are you running your 8GB along with any 1GB sticks you get as stock from Apple? If so what slots are you using them in - 3 & 4?

keogh · 24 Feb 2008 at 20:54

dannyraul said:
Nice one, will be purchasing 8GB on monday then! Are you running your 8GB along with any 1GB sticks you get as stock from Apple? If so what slots are you using them in - 3 & 4?

I ordered mine from him too, agree with J1nxy, he's pretty good!

duncsharp · 24 Feb 2008 at 22:47

what is the standard RAM that apple ship with?

is it better to use 1g in all 8 slots and does it matter that my new RAM will be a different kind to the ram shipped with the Mac pro?

J1nxy · 24 Feb 2008 at 23:10

dannyraul said:
Nice one, will be purchasing 8GB on monday then! Are you running your 8GB along with any 1GB sticks you get as stock from Apple? If so what slots are you using them in - 3 & 4?

The new 2GB FB-DIMMS go into slots 1 and 2 on each of the boards and then the original 1GB go into the 3 and 4 on the top board.

J1nxy · 24 Feb 2008 at 23:15

duncsharp said:
what is the standard RAM that apple ship with?

is it better to use 1g in all 8 slots and does it matter that my new RAM will be a different kind to the ram shipped with the Mac pro?

The ones in mine I think are Hynix but not 100% sure, doesn't matter about any difference at all, the OWC stuff is 100% certified for the Mac Pro. There is meant to be an improvement with all 8 banks filled but its only small. I'd rather use 2GB FB-DIMMS and have the potential to put another 4 in to get to 16GB than have 8 x 1GB and have to dump potentially all of them to increase my memory significantly.

dannyraul · 24 Feb 2008 at 23:21

what is the standard RAM that apple ship with?

is it better to use 1g in all 8 slots and does it matter that my new RAM will be a different kind to the ram shipped with the Mac pro?

Mac Pro's ship with Apple memory, but you can mix Apple memory with Crucial, OWC, Trans etc but you need to make sure that whatever you using is rated at 800Mhz. You can also mix 1,2,4GB sticks together as well, however, if you do you need to match whatever you put in the top riser with what is in the bottom rise, all this is explained here:

Link

EDIT: yea what J1nxy said!