Corsair memory

[mike2q]

I'm upgrading the memory in my macbook from the stock 512mb to 2gb's. My question is that I keep reading that the Corsair value select pc5300 chips are "not guaranteed Mac compatible". What does that mean anymore? Don’t I have an Intel processor with an Intel motherboard? How is the Mac box different besides OSX? What good would buying more expensive ram do for me? I've always trusted Corsair in PC's and had great luck with them. Why does this forum always push Crusial?

Thanks for the advice.

-Michael

 

[CanadaRAM]

There is more to Mac compatibility than having an Intel chipset -- in particular, the Apple firmware does much closer checking for standards compliance than most PCs ever do. So cheap RAM that manufacturers cut corners on, because they can skate past most PCs, sometimes cause real trouble in Macs.

So: How can you tell?
Answer: You can't. You simply don't have access to the information you would need about an individual module to determine compatibility in advance.

Choice: You can either take a chance, and spend the time, trouble and shipping charges to test inexpensive generic RAM yourself (and that's what the ValueSelect series is, you cannot put it in the same league as the XMS and TWINX memory from Corsair) -- or you can buy from a reputable seller who has done the testing and is prepared to offer and stand behind a guarantee of Mac compatibility on the RAM they sell. It's up to you.

MR as a group do not push Crucial -- members here are pretty evenly split between being happy with (for USA vendors) Crucial, OWC, and Data Memory Systems


Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com

 

[iGary]

MR as a group do not push Crucial -- members here are pretty evenly split between being happy with (for USA vendors) Crucial, OWC, and Data Memory Systems

Truer words have never been written. All good vendors, especially Data Mem.

 

[navigator]

Has anyone tried the Mushkin PC5300 memory? It's supposed to be MacBook/Pro compatible.

 

[FragTek]

I use the G.Skill memory and it's fabulous. I've trusted G.Skill for some of my cascaded AMD builds for straight benchmarking pwnage and I must say some of the most stable and best overclocking memory I've used has come from them, at a great price tag too I might add. Mushkin however is my all-around favorite memory manufacturer.

The G.Skill can be picked up for like $81.99 / stick @ Newegg.

 

[Nate4747]

I read a report on somewhere about it working, but at 533 MHz rather than the 667 it is capable of. If you want a suggestion, I'm using 2 1gig sticks from OWC and no trouble at all. I got them tested at the Apple Store with one of their proprietary diagnostic apps and it was 100% perfect and compatible.

 

[benthewraith]

Does anyone know if PNY and/or Kingston are good manufacturers? I hate ordering stuff over the internet and do it very rarely if I do, and only when I must. I'm only looking for half a gig...I don't feel like spending a fortune upgrading the memory.

 

[CanadaRAM]

Does anyone know if PNY and/or Kingston are good manufacturers? I hate ordering stuff over the internet and do it very rarely if I do, and only when I must. I'm only looking for half a gig...I don't feel like spending a fortune upgrading the memory.

PNY is a generic manufacturer with a reasonable but not top end reputation. Kingston it depends (again) whether you are looking at the KTA- Apple specific series RAM (pricey but good) or the generic KVA- ValueRAM, which are PC Generic and not guaranteed Mac-compatible.

You don't have to spend a fortune, a 1 Gb of guaranteed compatible memroy from one of the vendors already mentioned, will cost about $20 more than the lowest priced of the not-compatibility-guaranteed generics. You'll blow that savings on shipping the first time you have a problem...

 

[Nate4747]

Does anyone know if PNY and/or Kingston are good manufacturers? I hate ordering stuff over the internet and do it very rarely if I do, and only when I must. I'm only looking for half a gig...I don't feel like spending a fortune upgrading the memory.

Be careful with Kingston. I have heard a lot of reports about Kingston RAM not working properly on Macs. They might be a bit more forgiving now that we have Intel components, but I still wouldn't take the chance. Best to stick with something that has a guarantee to work on a Mac.

 

[CanadaRAM]

Be careful with Kingston. I have heard a lot of reports about Kingston RAM not working properly on Macs. They might be a bit more forgiving now that we have Intel components, but I still wouldn't take the chance. Best to stick with something that has a guarantee to work on a Mac.

You have to make the distinction between the Kingston ValueRAM and the Kingston Apple RAM. What you see at NewBestFutureTigerEggBuyShopComp.com is almost always the generic KVR ValueRAM, which is indeed incompatible with a wide variety of Macs.

 

[Makosuke]

I'm not entirely clear on why people are so hot to use dirt-cheap "econo-RAM" in a $1100 Mac, when the maker doesn't even guarantee compatiblity. For the 1GB Corsair stick mentinoed above, NewEgg will sell it to you for $90, but for $35 more you can get a lifetime warranty, name-brand chips, and guaranteed compatibility from DMS. Or, if you're really a cheapskate, they'll sell you 1GB of EconoRAM (their own name) with only a one year warranty for $96, but even that is at least guaranteed compatible. I'd say worth the $6 to be sure.

Actually, I'd say it's worth the $35 to be really sure (exactly what I bought, in fact), but do yourself a favor and at least get something guaranteed Mac compatible.

The only case I might think of doing otherwise was if I were hot to get some of those sticks with the silly LEDs on them for a G5 tower (which I seriuosly considered a couple years back, but eventually decided against as a waste of money and just went Crucial).

 

[Nate4747]

I'm not entirely clear on why people are so hot to use dirt-cheap "econo-RAM" in a $1100 Mac, when the maker doesn't even guarantee compatiblity. For the 1GB Corsair stick mentinoed above, NewEgg will sell it to you for $90, but for $35 more you can get a lifetime warranty, name-brand chips, and guaranteed compatibility from DMS. Or, if you're really a cheapskate, they'll sell you 1GB of EconoRAM (their own name) with only a one year warranty for $96, but even that is at least guaranteed compatible. I'd say worth the $6 to be sure.

Actually, I'd say it's worth the $35 to be really sure (exactly what I bought, in fact), but do yourself a favor and at least get something guaranteed Mac compatible.

The only case I might think of doing otherwise was if I were hot to get some of those sticks with the silly LEDs on them for a G5 tower (which I seriuosly considered a couple years back, but eventually decided against as a waste of money and just went Crucial).

I agree, it is worth the extra money. I spent 112x2 for 2 1gig sticks at OWC and the lifetime warranty and guarantee of compatibility/quality was well worth it.

 

[benthewraith]

Thanks.

I think I'll take everyone's advise and not getting PNY/Kingston. I've looked and nowhere (CompUSA/Best Buy/Circuit City) sells the compatible RAM anyways.

This is what I'm looking atOCW 512 MB RAM DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz.