Macbook and Macbook Pro Can Handle 6 GB RAM

[Cody Overcash]

Back when the new Macbooks and Mabcook Pros were first dissesembled it was pointed out that the chipset looked like it could handle 8 GB or ram. Unfortunately after testing the theory it was discovered that no, they can't.

More testing has proven that the Macbook/Macbook Pro can handle a healthy 6 GB of RAM; two GB more than the 4 GB that Apple says it can handle.

When 8 GB was tested there were a lot of stability problems in OS X when the extra RAM was accessed. With 6 GB there don't seem to be any problems, just a healthy amount of RAM ready to be put to good use at any time.

The reason OS X has issues over 6 GB hasn't been determined yet but with a fix from Apple it's possible that the new Macbook and Macbook Pros could definitely handle a whopping 8 GB. Maybe Snow Leopard is the ticket.

To get to 6 GB you have to use one 2 GB and a 4GB 1066 SO-DIMM. If you want 6 GB of RAM in you shiny new laptop it isn't going to be cheap when you go shopping at Ramjet at the tune of $675.

[via macrumors]

[buckeye826]

how many ports does it have?

[Cody Overcash]

how many ports does it have?

ram slots? two.

[Poseidon79]

Thats just a crazy amount of memory for the average user, haha.

[cjgonzales1900]

hello this will be cool when i buy a new macbook in about a year hope they will come with more ram by then lol

[dennder]

Stability issues with >6 gb? Hmm... sounds like the system is not fully 64 bit, rather 32 bit extended. But still, it should be able to handle at least 64 gb of ram - Xserve or MacPro is a proof. I don't think it has smth to do with the OS itself. So cash, snow kitty won't a problem solver. IMO.

Maybe firmware limitations (EFI)?

Unless... I do remember problems with >3.2 gb of ram under hackintosh because of a JMicron.kext, which caused stability issues under first versions of HackOS 10.5.

[bekochu]

i just got a new macbook. cant wait to test this out

[sziklassy]

Does this mean that the hardware can handle 8 gigs but OSX can only handle 6?

[KartRacer]

Is this only on the new models of the MacBook and MacBook Pro? I want a 17 inch MacBook Pro refurb from the Apple Store, not one of the new ones with the horrible glossy screen. Will the previous 17 inch model support 6 gigs of ram? And $675 for 6 gigs? Can't you use regular DDR2 667 PC5300 memory? Cause if that's true it won't cost you that much.

[djrbx]

I just have to say for the record. I love my new macbook. I bought the 13" 2.4 macbook last week and never looked back. It works wonderfully next to my hackintosh VAIO. Out of the box, it runs final cut studio wonderfully. Although I have yet to render large video files, I have no doubt it wont have a hard time just as long as I upgrade to 4 gigs, much more if it supports 6 (still wishing for 8 though)

[andrewe13]

what specific type of ram is needed to take it to 6gb. Anyone find any good cheap ones yet? newegg.com perhaps?

[LilJohn]

Stability issues with >6 gb? Hmm... sounds like the system is not fully 64 bit, rather 32 bit extended. But still, it should be able to handle at least 64 gb of ram - Xserve or MacPro is a proof. I don't think it has smth to do with the OS itself. So cash, snow kitty won't a problem solver. IMO.

Maybe firmware limitations (EFI)?

Unless... I do remember problems with >3.2 gb of ram under hackintosh because of a JMicron.kext, which caused stability issues under first versions of HackOS 10.5.

i think the kernel is 32 bit. It would be interesting to install Ubuntu 64 bit on one of these with 8 Gigs of ram and see how it runs.

[Cave Man]

Is this only on the new models of the MacBook and MacBook Pro?

The previous gen MBP (Santa Rosa, including the current 17" MBP) can take 6 gb RAM, but have the same issue with 8 gb, namely, once you breach the 4 gb used RAM, the system slows to unusable. I tried the 8 gb using 2x4gb SO-DIMMs and had the problem. However, once I brought mine down to 6 gb, there is no problem whatsoever. I've had 5.2 gb of RAM used once and it was perfectly fine.

The 4 gb stick you want to buy is this one and is for Santa Rosa only (NOT NVidia chipset MB/MBP). It's likely that the Santa Rosa MacBook and iMacs can take 6 gb as well.

[Cody Overcash]

if you have a ton of cash around you can pick up the upgrade kit here:

Apple MacBook Memory, Apple MacBook Pro Memory; MacBook and MacBook Pro Hard Drive Upgrades - up to 4.0GB DDR2 or DDR3 Memory, 500GB Internal HD! at OtherWorldComputing.com

[KartRacer]

The previous gen MBP (Santa Rosa, including the current 17" MBP) can take 6 gb RAM, but have the same issue with 8 gb, namely, once you breach the 4 gb used RAM, the system slows to unusable. I tried the 8 gb using 2x4gb SO-DIMMs and had the problem. However, once I brought mine down to 6 gb, there is no problem whatsoever. I've had 5.2 gb of RAM used once and it was perfectly fine.

The 4 gb stick you want to buy is this one and is for Santa Rosa only (NOT NVidia chipset MB/MBP). It's likely that the Santa Rosa MacBook and iMacs can take 6 gb as well.

Thanks! Just the info I was looking for!

[lolote]

do you guys think i could put on the the pc2 5300 4gb ram in my imac?