MBP Memory Upgrade from 2 to 4 GB

[MVines]

Hey All,

I know I have read it on here before about upgrading the RAM on the MBP, I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Is this something I need to apple do, or can I do it. Also where do you all get your mem from?

Thanks,

MV

[Tony-S]

Which MBP do you own? There have been four versions and the first can only take 2 gigs. The second can take 4 gigs, but only 3.2 gigs will be available. The third and fourth versions can take 4 gigs (perhaps even 8 gigs).

Memory is user replaceable. I buy my RAM from Other World Computing (www.macsales.com) but many others produce it as well. OWC also has videos for replacing RAM under their support page.

[Steve Beck]

If it is a intel based MBP, then any of these ram upgrade 2x2gb kits will work just fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010260381+1309121118&name=4GB+(2+x+2GB)

OWC is a great company but generally memory for laptops is a little higher than getitng it elswhere. I definatley used them for my Mac Pro desktop.

It is simple to replace. Three screws under the battery and thats it. Here is videos on how to do it.

http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/installation.cfm

[Tony-S]

If it is a intel based MBP, then any of these ram upgrade 2x2gb kits will work just fine.

Steve,

All MBP have Intel cpus. However, the first iteration (Core Duo) could not take more than 2 gigs of RAM due to a firmware restriction of the Calistoga chipset. If you put anything more than a 1 gig SO-DIMM in either of its slots, it will not boot.

[Steve Beck]

Yea i forgot the old 17/15 were called powerbooks or whatever, kind of before my Mac time.

[MVines]

It can take up to 4 GB, it is a new model.

[Double Negative]

You can do it yourself, it takes all of five minutes.

Take out the stock 2x 1GB sticks, drop in the 2x 2GB sticks and off you go. How? Power down, remove battery. Remove four phillips head screws on cover. Click out SO-DIMMs, click in new SO-DIMMs. Replace cover and four screws, plus battery. Boot.

I use Mushkin brand - inexpensive, does the trick. Running 4GB now.

[col4bin]

very simple to do yourself. I upgraded mine with memory purchased from OWC. Whatever you do DO NOT BUY RAM FROM APPLE. Way overpriced.

[ToddziLLa]

I jumped from 1 GB to 2 GB of RAM and noticed a huge difference. People that have gone from 2 GB to 4 GB - does it make that much of a difference? Would you do it again or just stick with 2 GB?

btw...not uncommon for me to have LR, PS CS3, iTunes, Safari, Mail, and other programs open at one time...

[MVines]

Again, thanks for the help guys.

MV

[Double Negative]

I jumped from 1 GB to 2 GB of RAM and noticed a huge difference. People that have gone from 2 GB to 4 GB - does it make that much of a difference? Would you do it again or just stick with 2 GB?

btw...not uncommon for me to have LR, PS CS3, iTunes, Safari, Mail, and other programs open at one time...

That first jump, from 1GB to 2GB is a biggie. The one from 2GB to 4GB not so much - unless you regularly use Photoshop, Aperture, Lightroom, Bridge, etc. Things start to add up here and the more RAM the better.