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Decided to upgrade RAM for my macbook pro from 2gb to 4GB, and looking around for compatible ones... Technically it should only support 3GB, but I would rather have 1gb inactive and run it in Dual Chanel (when I was testing, dual channel ran at 2350mbps, while asymmetric 1x 1gb and 1x 2gb ran at 2100mbps).
This says it is C4 latency (standard ones are 5-5-5-15). Does lower latency really increase the performance? I have C5 one right now.
There is also "value" kit which is C5 for £8 less than C4(not that much really)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-143-CS
Could anyone advise?
Can't you go Dual channel with 2x1GB and 2x512MB, or are there only two memory slots?
Whoa, I haven't had an OP go that far over my head in years.... 😳
Graham,
There are 2 slots in my macbook, which right now have 2x 1GB modules.
I could do 1x1GB and 1x2GB to get asymmetrical rather than dual channel (or something similar, forgot exact term), however it does impact the performance a bit.
Darcy: sorry, didn't know where else to post for a quick answer 🙂 I know there are a few IT technicians in here which could possibly advise me 🙂
Darcy: sorry, didn't know where else to post for a quick answer I know there are a few IT technicians in here which could possibly advise me
I was only laughing at my own lack of knowledge mate. Here is probably the best place to ask.
Hmm I just found some links with people who couldn't get their Mac's to boot using Corsair ram, so decided to stick to Kingston ValueRam.
Now hoping it will work on my system, which should only recognize 3GB. But would it still boot with 4GB??
There are 2 slots in my macbook
Hmm.. sorry no real idea about mac architecture I'm afraid.
But are you sure that 2 x 2GB would even work? If the motherboard max is 3GB then you'd be straying into unknown territory. It may even work but be even slower than a asymmetric combo.
And to answer you're first question, (IME in PC land) you only really get any gain from CAS-latency on extremely memory-intensive tasks or artificial benchmarks - the boost from just having an extra GB of free memort will be much more noticalble.
Thank Graham,
It appears people had mixed results - some say it still works with 4GB, yet system is only using 3GB. Some say it does not even boot!
The newer Macbooks (santa rosa) that came out few months after mine have P965 which is capable of 4GB.
Ah well, it will have to be 1x2GB and 1x 1GB 🙂