Can a MacBook Pro accept 32 GB of RAM now?

[superriku11]

I have searched years ago, and recently, and come across this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/can-you-put-32gb-in-a-macbook-pro-9-1.1736888/

I also have a MacBook Pro 9,1 and I'm interested in revisiting this topic, in light of new hardware.

At the time, the stated issue in that thread was that there were no 16 GB RAM modules on the market. As there are only 2 slots, you would need 2x16 GB to get 32 GB total.

There is now a 16 GB RAM module that should fit this MBP though: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct204864bf160b

And there are more companies (though not many) that also manufacture them: https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Description=16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM&Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007609 600000279 601275424 600559388 600006178

According to Intel, for the processors included with this model, i7-3820QM, i7-3720QM, i7-3615QM, all of them are capable of supporting 32 GB of memory.

However, I can't find any reports of anyone trying it at all. I've found talk here and there that the slots are limited to 8 GB each, but I can't find any technical information that confirms this. I'm not able to find any actual technical reason as to why it shouldn't work. But Apple does claim the maximum memory for this model is 16 GB.

I'd like to know for sure before I pull the trigger on $300 of memory. But maybe someone else would like to try it out with this new memory that's available today?

 

[keysofanxiety]

No, you can't in the 2012 13" or 15". Although the CPU itself supports up to 32GB RAM, it only supports up to 8GB per DIMM. 16GB sticks just won't work unfortunately.

 

[treekram]

I think that the reason why these 16GB memory modules won't work is because they're they have a memory rank of x16 and the Ivy Bridge CPU's don't support x16, (they support x8). I have an explanation in the last post of this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...mory-in-late-2012-mini.2001702/#post-24496038

The Crucial memory you link is x16. They don't show that on the site but if you look up the comparable Micron specs (Micron/Crucial only have one 16GB DDR3 SO-DIMM that they sell), that's where it's mentioned. So MAYBE, if one of the other 16GB modules are x8, it could work. But I doubt that they are x8.

Some time ago, there was a poster (English wasn't their first language) who was reading the Mac Mini forum and in a thread, there was a post expressing a wish there would be a 16GB module would work. This poster misinterpreted that to mean that the 16GB would work and they bought the 16GB modules and it didn't work. (The Mini in question also uses an Ivy Bridge CPU.)

By the way, if you haven't already noticed, Crucial does not list the 16GB DDR3 module as being compatible with the mid-2012 15" MBP.

 

[ZapNZs]

No, you can't in the 2012 13" or 15". Although the CPU itself supports up to 32GB RAM, it only supports up to 8GB per DIMM. 16GB sticks just won't work unfortunately.

Crucial Support told me this as well, noting explicitly that 16 GB DIMMs are not compatible with any of the MBPs with upgradable RAM.

 

[kelison05]

I think that the reason why these 16GB memory modules won't work is because they're they have a memory rank of x16 and the Ivy Bridge CPU's don't support x16, (they support x8). I have an explanation in the last post of this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...mory-in-late-2012-mini.2001702/#post-24496038

The Crucial memory you link is x16. They don't show that on the site but if you look up the comparable Micron specs (Micron/Crucial only have one 16GB DDR3 SO-DIMM that they sell), that's where it's mentioned. So MAYBE, if one of the other 16GB modules are x8, it could work. But I doubt that they are x8.

Some time ago, there was a poster (English wasn't their first language) who was reading the Mac Mini forum and in a thread, there was a post expressing a wish there would be a 16GB module would work. This poster misinterpreted that to mean that the 16GB would work and they bought the 16GB modules and it didn't work. (The Mini in question also uses an Ivy Bridge CPU.)

By the way, if you haven't already noticed, Crucial does not list the 16GB DDR3 module as being compatible with the mid-2012 15" MBP.

I know this topic is old, but thanks for the explanation. I've seen no one else explain why the 2012 MBP would not accept 32Gb. That said, I found below Ram from A-Tech, which says it is x8 DDR3L SODIMM in the 16Gb stick config. Just in case anyone wants to pull the trigger and try. It does have a hefty price tag.

BTW 01.16.22 and my Mid-2012 MBP is still going strong! Wish they still made them like this...

16GB DDR3L-1600 (PC3-12800) SODIMM DR x8 Memory RAM for Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-576-392H) DDR3

Certified Compatible Memory (RAM) Upgrades for the Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-576-392H) DDR3

atechmemory.com