MP 1,1-5,1 Buy RAM in kits or can I get sticks as I go

[Sossity]

Is it better to buy my RAM all at once in a kit from the same vendor, type and date? or can I buy RAM sticks individually even if they are the same brand/type, but just a different date.

Say I bought 24 GB of RAM a couple of years ago, same brand type, and vendor, and want to add a little more, say 8 GB now to make it 32 GB, and get the same brand type and vendor, but just now as a later date, is this ok? am I better off buying a whole new kit?

Will this affect compatibility and performance?

 

[tsialex]

This is one of the things that you can, but you really shouldn't, and for consistency and performance, it's better to only use identical DIMMs. If you can find/buy an identical DIMM as the model you already have, go for it.

It's easy to find identical DIMMs if the memory you already have is manufactured by one of the big OEMs, like Samsung/Micron/Hynix, just get the same part number from the label (also visually check the DIMM itself is identical as the one you have, no different chips/PCB design). Not so much with the sellers that re-label DIMMs, like OWC and friends.

 

[Sossity]

Ok, thanks, so is it ok, if I buy a single stick from OWC, and then buy a kit a week later from OWC as well to get the four sticks?

 

[tsialex]

Ok, thanks, so is it ok, if I buy a single stick from OWC, and then buy a kit a week later from OWC as well to get the four sticks?

OWC don't manufacture DIMMs, they just buy from the real OEMs and then re-label it. Also, they re-label used DIMMs.

I suppose that it's possible to get a matched DIMMs kit from OWC when you buy it one time, but the next time you have zero guarantee that you will get an identical DIMM.

I even use OWC as an example of sellers that you shouldn't buy.

 

[Sossity]

Is there some ram you can recommend from one of the big players, like Samsung?

 

[tsialex]

Is there some ram you can recommend from one of the big players, like Samsung?

One thing I learned a long time ago, memory availability is very different around the globe and what I can find relatively easy may be impossible for another person that lives on a different region. Memory for Mac Pros stopped being produced years ago and the majority are server/datacenter pulls or extremely expensive old stocks.

Samsung/Hynix/Micron are the big memory OEMs and probably all 2Rx4 1333MHz RDIMMs will work fine. My suggestion for you is to use the search and see what people is buying on the memory threads, there are some very active like the 16GB DIMMs, and use the part numbers on the search box of eBay/AliExpress/etc.

 

[EvilMonk]

You can but shouldn’t mix ram sticks… the best is to get a kit with the same spec sticks from the start… I got 6x16Gb for max performance in my MP 12 cores 2012 (I got a kit on eBay, 6x16Gb Samsung 2Rx4 ECC 1333 triple channel) it’s working great and I got the same in 3x16Gb for my 6 cores 2009 Max Pro as well. I had mix stick before in my 2009 and it wasn’t as fast, in fact I can say it slowed the machine down with 4Gb, 2Gb, 2Gb and 8Gb.

 

[Sossity]

You can but shouldn’t mix ram sticks… the best is to get a kit with the same spec sticks from the start… I got 6x16Gb for max performance in my MP 12 cores 2012 (I got a kit on eBay, 6x16Gb Samsung 2Rx4 ECC 1333 triple channel) it’s working great and I got the same in 3x16Gb for my 6 cores 2009 Max Pro as well. I had mix stick before in my 2009 and it wasn’t as fast, in fact I can say it slowed the machine down with 4Gb, 2Gb, 2Gb and 8Gb.

My 5,1 Mac is a 2.80 ghz quad core intel xenon, what would be a good fit for this?

 

[EvilMonk]

My 5,1 Mac is a 2.80 ghz quad core intel xenon, what would be a good fit for this?

To make it futureproof in case you get a 6 cores you should get a Samsung (or SK.Hynix, 3x8Gb or 3x16Gb 2Rx4 1333 Registered ECC kit) so that way if you decide later to upgrade your Max Pro with a dual cpu board later you’ll still be able to reuse that kit

 

[Sossity]

To make it futureproof in case you get a 6 cores you should get a Samsung (or SK.Hynix, 3x8Gb or 3x16Gb 2Rx4 1333 Registered ECC kit) so that way if you decide later to upgrade your Max Pro with a dual cpu board later you’ll still be able to reuse that kit

Would https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Pc3L-10600R-1333Mhz-Registered-Memory/dp/B00UO0SCW4, this work?

or this https://www.amazon.com/4x16GB-DDR3-1333MHz-PC3-10600-Registered-Workstation/dp/B07WZWC8J8?th=1

Which of these would be best?

 

[EvilMonk]

Both are good ? I’d get 3 of the first one for best performance ?
48Gb total 3x16Gb in triple channel

 

[Sossity]

What should I do with the RAM sticks that came with my 5,1 Mac Pro? They were Hynix 3x 2 GB.

I also have had 3x 8G B in it now of which I am about to upgrade, what should I do with these?