RAM in a Macbook

[Bootsie]

I am thinking about selling my notebook and making the switch to Macbook Pro, but they charge $700 to get 4gb of RAM, so I would like to do it myself. What else could I upgrade myself, considering I have never built a computer, but I do know how to operate a screwdriver, and I at least know what most components look like.

Where do you recommend buying RAM?

And what brand?

Do you have to reinstall anything, or mess with programs at all when you replace RAM?

[Moppie]

Buy a PC!


(sorry, it had to be said).


Kingston have a Ram finder built into thier website which should tell you what you need, and newegg seems to be the best place to buy bits in the states.

[Bootsie]

Buy a PC!


(sorry, it had to be said).


Kingston have a Ram finder built into thier website which should tell you what you need, and newegg seems to be the best place to buy bits in the states.

I have a PC, that is why I want to switch. :p :)

[eternally_bored]

As Moppie said, newegg.com is one of the best places to find deals on computer components. As far as brands go, I would stick to well known names like Kingston, Crucial, or Corsair ValueSelect. All of those makers have RAM finders on their site where you can input the model of your computer to find the correct RAM. I have never upgraded the RAM in a macbook, but Apple made it to be very straightforward. Here is a step by step guide from Apple on how to install RAM in the Macbook.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303721

[cosworth]

You most likely need PC-5400 200 pin 667mhz ram. Cheaply found everywhere.

[carianoff]

Newegg, yeah and never get a mac from apple and let them upgrade the ram. NEVER!

I'll think of some more if i can.

http://www.newegg.com/

[Tony-S]

I get mine at Other World Computing. Their selection matrix will lead you to the chips you need. Also, the hard disk is an easy replacement on the MacBook as well - it takes about 5 minutes. If you think you want a larger or faster drive, you can buy the MacBook with its minimum drive size, then replace it. The old drive can go into an enclosure for extra storage.

[smcclelland]

You most likely need PC-5400 200 pin 667mhz ram. Cheaply found everywhere.

That is correct and exactly what I am running in my Macbook, I purchased the Kingston version as it was dirt cheap (got 4gb of it for ~200 cdn).

[DozerLYP]

you can check also tigerdirect.com for good price on parts...

[deadpass]

newegg is king for sure and you can get a 4gb kit for about 90 bucks of good ram, way better than 700. also hard drives are very cheap and easy to put in yourself, but i don't know right off hand how much you could save. those are the two easy things, everything else is either difficult or cost prohibitive.

[Pete]

Go to www.crucial.com

Use the system finder. It'll tell you exactly what RAM fits your machine, the speed, and also give you a good price to buy it from them.

[tombrooks]

I got the crucial ram for my macbook, it's great and very cheap, for 2x1gb sticks it was only £30/$60 but I'm not sure about 4GB. Applications like Photoshop are the most effected by this increase from my previous 1GB imo, they open a lot faster.

[Pete]

I have 4Gb in my Macbook and it just flies. Well worth spending on. Sure, CS2 can't adress a whole lot of ram, but having more frees up resources for the rest of the system.

[Tony-S]

I have 4Gb in my Macbook and it just flies. Well worth spending on. Sure, CS2 can't adress a whole lot of ram, but having more frees up resources for the rest of the system.

Yeah, but if you're running CS2 on a MacBook, that means you're running Rosetta as well. It's quite a hog and prone to leakage. One reason why you need 4 gigs. :)

[Pete]

Yeah, but if you're running CS2 on a MacBook, that means you're running Rosetta as well. It's quite a hog and prone to leakage. One reason why you need 4 gigs. :)

I'm running with CS3, which runs on Leopard as a native application. (I was assuming that many people are still in CS2)

[lakiluno]

Wait. The new model macbooks/pro's will likely be announced within a few weeks.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook_Pro

[Bootsie]

Wait. The new model macbooks/pro's will likely be announced within a few weeks.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook_Pro

I am planning on waiting, but I will still probably want to upgrade whatever I get, if I get it.

[undergrad.]

This is quite the great deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134560

[Bootsie]

This is quite the great deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134560

Nice find thanks.

[undergrad.]

No problem.
Dam them not sending parcels to Canada.