Can macs use regular laptop RAM? Or can they only use Apple specialized parts for everything?
Although Macs tend to be more finicky. You can use third party RAM. It just has to be more exact to specifications. Such as timing and voltage. You can find your memory on Crucial.com for a guaranteed match. Then search for that match on Amazon. As you can usually save a few dollars on the same set from Crucial on Amazon. You can also search for RAM on Amazon and include your Mac model in the search. Then look through the description to make sure your model is a match. As you do say laptop. If it is any Macbook Air, Macbook Pro Retina or the new 2015 Macbook. The RAM cannot be upgraded. What you get at the time of purchase is what you are stuck with. Only the Non-Retina Macbook Pros and old Core 2 Duo Macbooks can have their RAM upgraded.
Can you mix and match apple ram with crucial ram?
Hey, that is a great question, thanks for posting on Yahoo Answers. Log into your apple account on this site and ask the question in the advanced apple supporters. https://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa Good Luck Source: (s) CompTIA A+ Certified Computer Professional
How do I know if I can upgrade my laptop ram or if it's capatible/match?
Enter your PC model here and it'll tell you exactly what you need.Crucial.com - DRAM, solid state drive (SSD) memory upgrades for Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS
What specifications of the new RAM should match with the old, while upgrading RAM?
RAMs come in different flavours like DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, etc… But the motherboards support one kind of a RAM only. PC Memory for Desktop and Notebook | Kingston will help you to find the right upgrade for your PC -> RAM. Remove the cabinet and look out for the RAM and check the Data rate, clock speed patched/sticked/written on your RAM. At least the same piece of another stick will work for you. Crucial.com - DRAM, solid state drive (SSD) memory upgrades for Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS will also help you to find the right upgrade.
What's the downside of mixing differently sized RAM modules?
The answer stream is correct to the best of my understanding. Mixing memory modules of different sizes and capacities is generally a bad idea. The memory controller would have to default to the speed of the lesser module and if its a dual channel setup, it may not work at all - BSOD.You would be better served, IMHO by the matched pair. It even sounds like something better to do instead of the option of an unmatched pair.However, ( I dont know if you need both slots populated for your mac to work) you could plan ahead and run the one 8GB, then when finances allow get an additional matched 8GB for 16GB total. This would only work if it will run with the single slot filled.If you get the 8GB, there is little reason, if you are willing to experiment a lil, try the 8+2 combination since you already have the 2GB on hand. Download a free memory utility and see the differences. This would be the best of both worlds as long as it will run with the single 8GB.I wouldnt recommend such an attempt with older memory which can be testy as far as switching in and out. Memory has better protection today, so a few tests are doable as long as you dont get crazy. I also wouldnt run the unmatched set long term unless the utility and your experience showed that everything was stable. Data corruption is what would be possible if the unmatched pair dont cohabitate nicely.
Can a 2GB and 4GB DDR-3 RAM be installed in the same computer/laptop? Will it work?
Yes it will. Hoping it is of the same manufacturer and same speed with timings(if they differ in speed, the mobo should auto set the speeds and volts accordingly else set it manually). As far as mixing size is concerned, the memory will work in what is called a "Flex Mode" - 2GB out of the 4GB and the present 2GB module which will run in Dual channel mode, while the remainder of the 4GB module (which is the other half of 4GB) will run in single channel mode. My laptop uses 2+4 setup. Same ram kits are always preferred.
Can I mix different brands of RAM if they both have the same speed and voltage?
In theory, if all specifications are the same, mixing brands of RAM should work fine.In practice, many times it does, but many times it does not.I have personally experienced where different brands with supposedly identical specifications do not work reliably together. The system will appear to boot and run, but then randomly experiences memory related errors.Testing individual RAM sticks reveals them each to work properly alone, but when brands are mixed, errors are seen.So you're certainly welcome to try it, and it may work, but don't be surprised if it doesn't.
What happens when you place more RAM than is stated on the Apple website?
Ever heard of Hackintosh? (non-Apple PCs running MacOS)Hackintosh builders put RAMs whatever size they want. Then, when they install MacOS, it simply detects all of it.Back to the question, what happens if you put more RAM on your already factory made Macs?No different than an upgrade. Your RAM capacity will increase.Here's some information from Apple website regarding a RAM upgrade:Install memory in an iMacMacBook Pro: How to remove or install memoryOr this, from CNET: How to add more RAM to your MacBook Pro
Help with macbook pro RAM!!?
There are many different types of ram: RDRAM SDRAM DDR DDR2 DDR3 Make sure you buy the same kind of ram memory as what is already installed. I use PC, but I do believe that if you go to the apple in the upper left hand corner and click "About this Mac", It will tell you some were what type you have. (Like I said though, don't know about Mac's) Now, you can mix ram memory amounts, however: Two matching 5gb ram chips (If they existed) Would be faster than 2 and 8, because they are more efficient when matching, even though both amount to 10gb. I do not believe this difference is significant though. So ultimately, yes, you can.
Upgraded iMac Mid 2007 RAM, Will Not Start-up?
PC2-5300 Unbuffered 200-pin 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM SO-DIMM (2007 iMac 4GB limit) So I purchased (2) 2GB RAM's from Crucial. They appear to look similar and fit in the memory compartment completely (double checked but removing and replacing several times). I'm having several problems: 1). When I put the two new 2GB RAMs in, iMac will not boot, beep or flash white on the screen, I can hear a noise but it isn't as loud as the normal fan running. 2). When searching for these requirements listed above, I could only find RAM's that also described their product as/for 'notebook memory modules,' I assumed that since my computer was older it took a smaller format / reading of memory chip / RAM like that of a notebook and went on and purchased. The black boxes on the memory cards from the original 1GB RAM and the two new 2GB RAM's are not quite the same size. 3). iMac does start up when I insert originating 1GB RAM card in alongside 2GB RAM, iMac is telling me I have 3GB of RAM now and also a bus speed of 800 MHz (which it didn't claim before) which now does not match with my new 2GB of RAM I just purchased... Do I need to return the RAM's I purchased and find some that aren't labeled 'notebook memory modules'? Will the combo of 1GB and 2GB hurt the computer? I checked, the original 1GB (hynix) matches info of new 2GB (crucial) RAMs. (also recently upgraded OS X from its original 10.4.11 to 10.8)