A question about extra Ram.

[Trogledyte Mac]

Dear all.

My question is about upgrading my Mac Pro Dual Core 2.66 with more ram +- 2 gig more!
Now I have 2 gig (512 x4) on the 2 slots!
What can I do with this configuration and keep the 256bit sream?
What type of ram need I?
Where to buy?
Is there somewhere a visual explanation ‘how to do’ about it?

Regards and thanks,
Trogledyte Mac.

 

[hayduke]

Hi. The best answer is to simply search this forum. It has been covered a few times. If you can't find what you need post again.

 

[Trogledyte Mac]

Hi. The best answer is to simply search this forum. It has been covered a few times. If you can't find what you need post again.

Thx, Hayduke!

I did the search for ‘Ram’ before my post... and found a lot of info! But it is too much info about different type of Mac’s and different types of Ram.
So I asked the question ‘above’ for my specified type of Mac and Ram.

I know already that Ram must be placed in matched pairs.. Correct?
Kingston is good.. Correct? Others?
One configuration is to buy 4 strips of 512 and keep the 256 bit.. Correct?
Are there other configurations and keep the 256 bit?
For what type of Ram will I be looking before buying it?

Regards,
Trogledyte Mac.

 

[Oldschoolwax]

You can try this thread... it will get you there in the end. Search Mac Pro Ram for better results. ;-)

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/232151/


~Mike

 

[fivetoadsloth]

You can try this thread... it will get you there in the end. Search Mac Pro Ram for better results. ;-)

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/232151/


~Mike

Search the threads there are many discussions on this. I know CanadaRAM, among many others, has given some really nice posts explaining this question.

 

[Sun Baked]

Matched pairs for dual channels (2 dimms).

2 matched pairs for quad channel (4 dimms).

Don not know if adding 2 dimms to 4 dimms in quad channel mode will bring it back down to dual channel mode.

But the reality is, that more memory will give you better performance than a machine using VM any day.

So as long as the next batch of memory gets you over the pageout hump, performance will be a bunch better with more memory in dual channel mode than a machine running too little memory in quad channel mode plus the VM Manage penalty.

The machine tops out at 32GB using 4GB dimms, so you will likely be replacing dimms down the line anyway.

So whether you get 2 1GB dimms or 4 512MB dimms will be moot if you keep the machine long enough to upgrade to 2GB or 4GB dimms in an attempt to max out performance. Since the new memory will likely be gathering dust at some point anyways.

 

[SMM]

I am chiming in with agreement. Virtually everything you want to know has been well documented here. In fact, I recently had to search for the great diagram posted about how to configure all of the various DIMM possibilities. I saved it, but might be breaking the rules by reposting it. It was not too difficult to find.

 

[synth3tik]

The getting started guild that came with you Mac Pro has some nice illustrations strastions for installing more RAM, it also explains how to get the best performance.

 

[hayduke]

Also, google is your friend.

http://www.barefeats.com/quad09.html

 

[Trogledyte Mac]

Thanks all,

Ok, I’m now a little further than before
I ask all this questions before buying something... because my English is very bad to understand something good!
Working with a Mac is no problem but when it goes about hardware
I have already bad experiences with buying a extreme card for my Mac Pro and ended up with a card for a Power Mac
Also the prices for original Ram via the Mac store here in Antwerp or elsewhere are very high.... Also the info I get via the employees is here very bad. Different story’s from different employees
I asked the question in 3 different stores on seven different people, four of them even didn't known what I was talking about... Hmmmm 256 bit? Quad?
The most believable story:
Add 4 extra strips 512 Ram and place them in slot 3 & 4 of card one and slot 7 & 8 of card 2?
But then are all my slots full and I will lose Ram (money) when I decide for upgrade again.

The other story was.. (other employee but he was not sure of it)

Put the Ram (512 Kb x 2) from slot 5 & 6 on card 2 on card 1 on slot 3 & 4 and put 2 x 1 Gb Ram on slot 5 & 6 from card 2 and you are still able for upgrading.... 2 empty slots!
But what about the 256 bit stream then... No answer here!
Also the question for what type of Ram I was looking.. was ‘be careful and never use other Ram then Mac Ram’?????

So... the more info I get, how better for me

Thanks again....
Regards,
Trogledyte Mac.

 

[Willis]

Put the Ram (512 Kb x 2) from slot 5 & 6 on card 2 on card 1 on slot 3 & 4 and put 2 x 1 Gb Ram on slot 5 & 6 from card 2 and you are still able for upgrading.... 2 empty slots!
But what about the 256 bit stream then... No answer here!
Also the question for what type of Ram I was looking.. was ‘be careful and never use other Ram then Mac Ram’?????

So... the more info I get, how better for me

Thanks again....
Regards,
Trogledyte Mac.

Here is the proper Ram to buy.. Make sure it has the oversized Heat sinks on them. Linky

Theres also extra info on how to install them too on there

 

[Trogledyte Mac]

Here is the proper Ram to buy.. Make sure it has the oversized Heat sinks on them. Linky

Theres also extra info on how to install them too on there

Thanks Willis

 

[Trogledyte Mac]

Again thanks for all the answers!

One question remain to check if I understood it all.....

Now I have 2 x 512Kb on slot one & two on card 1 and 2 x 512Kb on slot five & six on card 2

When I decide to buy 2 matched pairs of 1Gb x 2 do I place them: 1Gb in slot 3 of card one and 1Gb in slot 7 of card two and keep the 256bit?
Or........?


This question for being only sure.....

Thanks for your time!
Regards,
Trogledyte Mac.

 

[CanadaRAM]

If you have 4 1 Gb modules, place them in the first 2 sockets in each riser. Then put your 512s in the third and fourth socket in each riser (3/4, 7/8 in your counting)

There is a very small speed penalty to going to the 3rd and 4th sockets on a riser, so you want to put your large RAM first so you seldom go to the 3/4 socket.

 

[Trogledyte Mac]

If you have 4 1 Gb modules, place them in the first 2 sockets in each riser. Then put your 512s in the third and fourth socket in each riser (3/4, 7/8 in your counting)

There is a very small speed penalty to going to the 3rd and 4th sockets on a riser, so you want to put your large RAM first so you seldom go to the 3/4 socket.

Thx CanadaRAM!
Due the cost and some extra unexpected costs, the setup will be:
Raiser 1: slot 1&2 x 1Gb, slot 3&4 x 512kb.
Raiser 2: slot 1&2 x 512Kb slot 3&4 empty.
Ok?

Thanks for your help!
Trogledyte Mac

 

[Mac709]

Not sure if this link is accurate...but according to it
http://http://peloche.smugmug.com/photos/91749515-O.jpg
I think it should be
Raiser 1: slot 1&2 x 1Gb, slot 3&4 empty.
Raiser 2: slot 1&2 x 512Kb slot 3&4 x 512kb.