Apple MacBook Pro Can Now Sport 16GB of RAM

**Anthony Bouchard** · 11-08-2011, 08:28 PM

Remember when Apple said that 8GB was the max RAM a MacBook Pro could allow?

Apple wasn't exactly lying when they said that 8GB was the maximum. The reason they said this is because there was no such technology available that could allow your MacBook Pro to have more than 8GB. With current technologies, the most you could upgrade to was 8GB because that's all that modern engineers have been able to cram into a laptop RAM module. This is contained within the Apple ecosystem of laptops though. Compatible 16GB modules have never existed. However there have been 16GB RAM laptops in the past.

Until now, that is. Crucial, a factory-direct seller of RAM sports a 16GB RAM upgrade for the MacBook Pro. The 16GB upgrade sports two 8GB modules. This technology is so new that it doesn't come cheap. Cramming that much memory into a laptop RAM stick isn't cheap to make and because of that, even factory-direct, the 16GB upgrade costs $620. Yes, that's absolutely outrageous. People can buy solid state drives for less than that. But this kind of power packed into the small size of laptop RAM is very costly for the manufacturers who make the RAM. The 8GB upgrade from Crucial is what I have in my MacBook pro. The upgrade cost me $54 for two 4GB modules. It seems like a huge leap from $54 to the next best thing; 16GB at $620. Is it worth it? I'd say no. But if you're absolutely crazy and want the most power you can get in your MacBook Pro, then someone will certainly do it. I will be happy with my 8GB for now....

Below is a screenshot of the product from Crucial's Web Site:

If you're interested in shelling out $620 for this absolutely jaw-dropping amount of *MacBook Pro* RAM, then you can purchase it here from Crucial's Web Site. Apple said that 8GB was the maximum amount of memory that a MacBook Pro could have, but only because of current technological advances. Crucial has a company guarantee that this memory will work with your computer. If it does not, it's a money-back guarantee. The pricing is not a typo. You can also buy a single 8GB module of memory here for $310. That's half of what the 16GB cost, so it's certainly on par with the pricing, it's certainly not a typo.

Originally Posted by Crucial

Guaranteed-compatible with the Apple MacBook Pro 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 (13-inch)

They certainly guarantee compatibility. So maybe as this technology grows, Apple will begin offering it in their customizations. Since these are 8GB apiece, this means that iMac users could potentially have up to 32GB of RAM in their computers. That's absolutely nuts. How about having 16GB of RAM for your Mac desktop and sharing the other 16GB with a Windows 7 or Linux virtual Machine at the same time? That virtual machine would be more efficient than the desktop here at my desk behind my MacBook! Absolutely jaw-dropping.

RAM Specs:

Module Size: 16GB kit (8GBx2)
Package: 204-pin SODIMM
Feature: DDR3 PC3-10600
Specs: DDR3 PC3-10600 • CL=9 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1333 • 1.35V • 1024Meg x 64

What do you think of this crazy new availability? Absolutely leave comments about the pricing below! We're interested in hearing what you think!

Sources: Crucial

**spooneditr** · 11-08-2011, 08:44 PM

Insane price! But I'm that type that has to have top notch.

**Daerid** · 11-08-2011, 09:18 PM

I'll upgrade, but I'll wait till demand forces the prices down.

**amangy** · 11-08-2011, 09:33 PM

I'm betting even with 16GB of RAM Lion will still use swap file. I'm not thrilled with swap file usage when I have 8 GB of RAM.

**lincolnstudios** · 11-08-2011, 10:13 PM

I have had 16GB of RAM in my MacBook Pro 17" for almost 6 months now. Of course living in Japan you can have those cool options much quicker than the rest of the world. Only cost me about $450 USD too.

**Stumbows** · 11-08-2011, 10:16 PM

Considering it's the number one choice of laptop for a huge amount of sound engineers and video editors that are looking for portability it's not a bad price point really!But the point of this article is a little pointless as this ram upgrade will affect any brand of laptop that only has space for 2 modules whether it be a HP or an ASUS so I find this article to be quite unrelated to anything Apple except for the mere fact that it can take it. It's like saying Airline X use Boeing planes so any new Boeing plane would only be interesting to Airline X and not any other Airline.Also just want to know what is the point of this comparison "the 16GB upgrade costs $620. Yes, that's absolutely outrageous. People can buy solid state drives for less than that." The 2 components are completely different from one another and therefore the pricing structures are affected accordingly.

**Cellular** · 11-08-2011, 10:52 PM

A Mac doesn't really use up a lot of ram kind of pointless to over upgrade to 16 gb unless you run countless amounts of programs in the background...just saying but I am amazed at the increase in ram size for a tiny laptop ram stick

**JedixJarf** · 11-09-2011, 12:16 AM

Apple said my late 08 could only take 4GB, rocking 8

**dennder** · 11-09-2011, 04:35 AM

Author, OWC (macsales) offers 32GB of RAM for iMac and 16GB for MBP, MacMini for quite some time already...
Where do you guys get these obsolete (from technical point of view) news?

**spazturtle** · 11-09-2011, 04:59 AM

You ran this same story 1 month after the 2011 macbook pro's came out.

**Anthony Bouchard** · 11-09-2011, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by spazturtle

You ran this same story 1 month after the 2011 macbook pro's came out.

How could I have done that? ;P I've been writing for a month!

Originally Posted by Cellular

A Mac doesn't really use up a lot of ram kind of pointless to over upgrade to 16 gb unless you run countless amounts of programs in the background...just saying but I am amazed at the increase in ram size for a tiny laptop ram stick

A Mac can use as much RAM as a PC can. Out of 8GB, my Mac machine uses 2.4GB-3GB in an idle stance. The desktop PC I have has 1GB of RAM and uses 500MB-650MB in an idle stance.

**PatrickGSR94** · 11-09-2011, 08:15 AM

I don't understand why RAM costs this much when you can get a 64 GB solid-state SD card for under $200 or so ($400 for the really fast ones).

That being said, if you run lots of graphics-intensive stuff (Photoshop, Illustrator) along with Parallels or other virtual PC with memory-hogging design apps like Autodesk AutoCAD or Revit, then yeah 16 GB would definitely be useful. My office PC has 12 GB of RAM and it pretty much flies, even using Revit and Photoshop at the same time.

**SirDude** · 11-09-2011, 08:20 AM

I dont know where you guys are getting your prices from...? I used MacTracker yesterday to see what memory to get for my Mac and the app said it supports 16GB. checked around and found the following! NewEgg - 3 varieties much lower in Price! Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Memory, Laptop Memory, 16GB (2 x 8G) Crucial single 8GB at $170 = $340 for 16GB CT102472BB1339 - 8GB, 240-pin DIMM , DDR3 PC3-10600 from Crucial.com OWC 16GB Memory upgrade at $233 OWC 1333D3X8M16K 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 ECC PC10600 1333MHz SDRAM... at OWC Lastly I wouldnt even consider this almost No-Name Brand - but $160 for 16GB W1333RX16G Super Talent DDR3-1333 16GB(2x8GB) ECC/REG Server Memory Kit - DDR3 SDRAM Server - 240 Pins - SuperBiiz.com

**Cellular** · 11-09-2011, 09:09 AM

A Mac can use as much RAM as a PC can. Out of 8GB, my Mac machine uses 2.4GB-3GB in an idle stance. The desktop PC I have has 1GB of RAM and uses 500MB-650MB in an idle stance.[/QUOTE]

Wow I thought Mac used less ram not more than pc.
My pc uses around 1gb - 1.5gb max idle. On (8gb if ram win 7 black)
What are you running on idle?

**dennder** · 11-09-2011, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by SirDude

I dont know where you guys are getting your prices from...? ...

Dude, are you mocking the author and others? This is about SO-DIMM modules.
Link to OWC you provided is for older mac pro upgrades, as for super talent - like hell it is no-name brand, one of the best out there, yet again these are not only classic-size, but server purpose. Crucial link is as well classic-size...

**SirDude** · 11-09-2011, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by dennder

Dude, are you mocking the author and others? This is about SO-DIMM modules.
Link to OWC you provided is for older mac pro upgrades, as for super talent - like hell it is no-name brand, one of the best out there, yet again these are not only classic-size, but server purpose. Crucial link is as well classic-size...

No intend on mockery. I was just referring to the fact that those were the ones I found yesterday. I am assuming we are talking about late/Early 2011 MBP which all should run on the PC3 10600 204 pin DDR3 Memory. If the selection shown were posted for different applications the my apologies.

Still Check NewEggs link. All three of the 16GB Laptop Memory Modules are bellow the posted price of $600
Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Memory, Laptop Memory, 16GB (2 x 8G)
Consider it the main reference.

Nevertheless, as for the No Name brand - Not all brands one can be aware off. So my bad if it didnt fit the products you liked

**zadereus** · 11-09-2011, 03:30 PM

Uhm, I don't mean to be rude... but 16GB upgrades for Macbook Pro's have been around since early 2011, OWC first released them at around $1500......

**dennder** · 11-09-2011, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by SirDude

No intend on mockery. I was just referring to the fact that those were the ones I found yesterday. I am assuming we are talking about late/Early 2011 MBP which all should run on the PC3 10600 204 pin DDR3 Memory. If the selection shown were posted for different applications the my apologies.

Still Check NewEggs link. All three of the 16GB Laptop Memory Modules are bellow the posted price of $600
Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Memory, Laptop Memory, 16GB (2 x 8G)
Consider it the main reference.

Nevertheless, as for the No Name brand - Not all brands one can be aware off. So my bad if it didnt fit the products you liked

About SuperTalent, it's not the brand of liking, but rather statistical data from several countries in comparison to other "well known" brands. As for someone incapable of knowing about everything, true, i once thought of Zotac as of no-name.

As for the link to so-dimm modules (and btw i did not forget about it in the previous post), if you watch closely, you'll find out that the last and most expensive is just the module author is referring to in his initial post, just 30$ cheaper. So the price IS steep anyway (just check OWC for so-dimms for example)

**Anthony Bouchard** · 11-09-2011, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by zadereus

Uhm, I don't mean to be rude... but 16GB upgrades for Macbook Pro's have been around since early 2011, OWC first released them at around $1500......

Sure. But not from the well-known company, Crucial. :P

**NictraSavios** · 11-09-2011, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by amangy

I'm betting even with 16GB of RAM Lion will still use swap file. I'm not thrilled with swap file usage when I have 8 GB of RAM.

Then why not change your swappiness in /proc?

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