CRUCIAL memory prices ABSURD !

[caccamolle]

I guess you haven't installed RAM in a many Macs. I agree that "Bad memory is bad memory no matter the platform." But good memory is not always good memory no matter the platform. Not all RAM is created equal. And Apple computers expect a certain quality of RAM.

you were not even borned when I installed my first memory, so keep guessing
It is not how many times: I have just always done it carefully, not going for the cheapest but the safest and have always used vendors well known in the Mac community. Never had one problem.

I am not so sure that current Apple computers, particularly the ones based on Intel, expect RAM with quality that is any different than equivalent PCs - it certainly used to be the case. We shall see, as the intel based macs become more and more widespread. You may be right, I just don't know.

 

[clayj]

WOW you USA prics from crucial are great. Here that extra 2gb will set you back

€330 + shipping = €340 that's $436.696

http://www.crucial.com/eu/store/lis...0GHz+Intel+Core+Duo+(13-inch+White)&submit=Go

That's what we mean by VERY EXPENSIVE.

Actually, that $201 is for just ONE GB of RAM; the MacBook Pro comes with 1 GB standard.

 

[milozauckerman]

Actually, if you compare apples to apples, instead of mangos to bananas - OWC is more expensive for Samsung RAM, which is what you will get with Crucial.

Memory that works is memory that works - until someone shows me benchmarks that Samsung RAM vs. whatever OWC sells (and guarantees) will have a noticeable improvement on performance (primarily Photoshop), I'm talking apples to apples.

In the past, Crucial was more expensive - but when I was ordering for my G5 and iBook, they were, on average, $20 more expensive than OWC per order - 10%, give or take. In this specific instance, they're 50% higher - a big jump for no explainable reason.

 

[caccamolle]

update !

ok guys, my memory arrived last night. Two sticks, 1gb each.

Installed and all is good, well, there are now flames coming out of the keyboard and the mouse emits some green smoke but other than that all is good

Jokes aside, my brand new iMac is doing very well, no problems whatsoever, as I obviously expected.

As to the roughly $180 that I saved by avoiding Crucial, well, I don't know yet, it won't pay for dinner for two, so I guess I will buy some computer stuff, probably a hard disk (for my glorious dishwasher, I mean my powermac) and another A/X.

ooho .. help help, Kernel PANIC !!!! Kernel panic all over my house !

I think this thread has been great. While some of you are simply defending Crucial for no reason whatsoever (well, it is a sponsor here so I understand some), others have offered advice and recommendations for alternative vendors that are a lot more competitive while offering equal or better service.

My memory was purchased at zipzoomfly and it's Corsair Value Select, first time I purchased RAm from them. I have shopped at this place for many many years, but never Mac specific stuff (they don't have it anyway!), this is the first time and guess why, because I don't think nowadays RAM is Mac specif anymore at all.

 

[iGary]

I think this thread has been great. While some of you are simply defending Crucial for no reason whatsoever (well, it is a sponsor here so I understand some).

Well how could we beat you? You told us to "Do your own search" when you were asked to provide concrete comparisons.

My memory was purchased at zipzoomfly and it's Corsair Value Select, first time I purchased RAm from them. I have shopped at this place for many many years, but never Mac specific stuff (they don't have it anyway!), this is the first time and guess why, because I don't think nowadays RAM is Mac specif anymore at all.

Do you realize that the warranty on this RAM does not specifically cover/guarantee its compatability with Mac systems?

I don't think anyone begrudges you saving some money, but making the blanket statement that "this RAM works in Macs," when it is not specifically warranted to do so is dangerous advice. There are plenty of other lower cost providers (including Corsair) that warrant compatability with Macs.

 

[iGary]

Memory that works is memory that works - until someone shows me benchmarks that Samsung RAM vs. whatever OWC sells (and guarantees) will have a noticeable improvement on performance (primarily Photoshop), I'm talking apples to apples.

Yeah, and at the end of the day, a Mercedes gets you to the same spot in a lot more comfort and saftey...at a premium price...so no, different fruit.

 

[caccamolle]

Yeah, and at the end of the day, a Mercedes gets you to the same spot in a lot more comfort and saftey...at a premium price...so no, different fruit.

You really are losing it here, now memory can be more or less confortable ? oh well, at least you are making me smile, truly, thanks. Again, it's a binary state: works or no works. End of story. Stop complaining, welcome to reality.

 

[iGary]

You really are losing it here, now memory can be more or less confortable ? oh well, at least you are making me smile, truly, thanks. Again, it's a binary state: works or no works. End of story. Stop complaining, welcome to reality.

Look, this is pretty much the last I'll say of it, as you really don't want to seem to have at a minumum - a civil - if not courteous - conversation about this.

My point is this:

You say that the RAM you bought is awesome and will work universally, when it is not specifically warranted to do so with Macs. I just don't think it's fair to make that blanket statement, have someone here go buy it on your incorrect assumptions and not be able to return it. The RAM you selected is not warranted to work with Macs. Period.

Good day.

 

[caccamolle]

I don't think anyone begrudges you saving some money, but making the blanket statement that "this RAM works in Macs," when it is not specifically warranted to do so is dangerous advice. There are plenty of other lower cost providers (including Corsair) that warrant compatability with Macs.

Agreed, in part, however I am not making "blanket statements", you are, and it would be great if you paid a bit more attention to what I say before quoting me.

Rather, I am making one factual observation, concerning my very own experience.

I am not even making a recommendation, which I would if I felt it was warranted. I don't make a recommendation because I think other vendors mentioned in this thread are probably better, certainly better known within the mac community, with the exception of Crucial which is simply ripping people off on the false presumption that what ...Macs require Samsung or some fantasy like that.

Also the other vendors mentioned in this and other threads all have prices way way below Crucial, most, in fact, ar the same as what I paid. Which goes to show my whole point.

I am done here.

 

[iGary]

Agreed, in part, however I am not making "blanket statements", you are, and it would be great if you paid a bit more attention to what I say before quoting me.

Your thread title (not mine): CRUCIAL memory prices ABSURD !

I am not even making a recommendation, which I would if I felt it was warranted.

Whats this:

My memory was purchased at zipzoomfly and it's Corsair Value Select, first time I purchased RAM from them

Looks like a recommendation to me.

 

[caccamolle]

Look, this is pretty much the last I'll say of it, as you really don't want to seem to have at a minumum - a civil - if not courteous - conversation about this.

My point is this:

You say that the RAM you bought is awesome and will work universally, when it is not specifically warranted to do so with Macs. I just don't think it's fair to make that blanket statement, have someone here go buy it on your incorrect assumptions and not be able to return it. The RAM you selected is not warranted to work with Macs. Period.

Good day.

Well, I thought I was done, but hey you continue to misquote and don't talk to me about civil and/or courteous discussion, you've got no idea what you are talking about, when you continue to misquote me:

I don't say my RAM is awesome, only retards would make similar comments on RAM. Again, RAM either works or it doesn't (again remember the context, iMac, iMac, not supercomputers, where of course RAM performance becomes a variable).

I have not made any recommendation, not even implicitly. And you stubbornly continue to miss my point. Crucial has absurd prices, regardless of where I bought it. Many other vendors, widely known in the Mac community, have hugely lower prices than them.

Now, I am really done here.

 

[Savage Henry]

... widely known in the Mac community...

If it is so widely known, what was the purpose in making the point it again...


Incidentally, for all concerned parties both in and outside the Mac community, gold bullion is a lot more expensive than small packets of gravel. For lordy's sake, don't mix the two up when re-surfacing your garage roof.

 

[Caitlyn]

Everyone says Crucial is the best, but I have to say that compared to NewEgg and DataMem, it is expensive. In my eyes, buying from Crucial has almost become as bad as buying from Apple. Yeah, it's guaranteed to work, but why not look elsewhere and save the money.

 

[TBi]

Everyone says Crucial is the best, but I have to say that compared to NewEgg and DataMem, it is expensive. In my eyes, buying from Crucial has almost become as bad as buying from Apple. Yeah, it's guaranteed to work, but why not look elsewhere and save the money.

Thanfully in the EU we have a law saying that a purchased item has to be fit for it's purpose and if not you can return it. So it doesn't matter if it isn't guaranteed to work with Mac's, you are guaranteed that you can return it if it doesn't. Since it isn't performing as it should.

 

[caccamolle]

update

My Intel iMac is working like a beauty, now a few days after installing the 2gb (Corsair). No problem whatsoever.

I am sorry to disappoint some, but again, the fact is and remains proven that the memory I purchased at 50% the price of Crucial's offering, simply works and does so without a glitch.

I am done with updates, unless my Mac goes on fire due to RAM issues, which I will indeed report


ww

 

[azzurri000]

I decided to look up the prices for a stick of 1gb of RAM for the 17" MacBook Pro. I went to many of the sites recommended here, and I tried to choose the Samsung and non-generic stuff to get a feel for what the prices of RAM are like.
This experiment was a bit subjective, but hopefully it'll give some food for thought (especially since the OP didn't seem willing to do any research of their own.)

Data Mem - $119.00
Newegg - (Crucial) $149
Canada RAM - (Real) $172 CAD = $156.551 USD
OWC - (Samsung) $179
Crucial - $201
Apple - $300

I hope I didn't leave any variables out. If I did, let me know.

 

[livingfortoday]

This thread is... ridiculous. A while back I got a 1GB stick of RAM (Gigaram) for my Intel Mini from newegg.com for $90, knowing full well that if it didn't work right I'd be boned and have to pay the restocking fee to return it. I knew the risk, and I went for it anyways, and it works fine now. Lots of people don't want to take that chance, so they go with brands like Crucial that can guarantee their RAM will work with Macs.

So some people prefer peace of mind and guaranteed performance over taking a chance and getting bad RAM. Big whoop. Let it go, dude.

Eidt: I should also add that my attempt at getting a second 1GB chip (from Corsair, this time), ended with me getting a faulty chip which I had to return.

 

[bill4588]

1GB of Omni ram for the MB/Pro is only $78 shipped.
http://www.omnitechnologies.biz/cgi...=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=APLMBP1GB667O&cat=&catstr=

 

[caccamolle]

it's been nearly 3 months.....my iMac is working like a charm. I just thought I'd give a quick update for those interested in not throwing their hard earned money away

 

[amin]

In general, my experience has been that Newegg is a great place to get RAM. For my Powerbook, I wanted to get the exact RAM that Apple used. I looked inside my brother's Powerbook, saw what Apple had installed, and bought the exact same RAM (same manufacturer/part #) from Newegg for less than Crucial was charging for equivalent RAM. The way I saw it, why not put in exactly what Apple uses if I can get it cheap? My Powerbook has been happy ever since.

 

[apfhex]

Yeah, it's guaranteed to work, but why not look elsewhere and save the money.

......because it's guaranteed to work. Sometimes you'd rather pay more for a guarantee instead of possibly (however unlikely) burning money on a cheaper product. I've been happy with the Crucial memory I've bought in the past and don't regret paying a little more. I haven't personally seen comparisons where their prices were "ABSURD" (something this thread has M I S E R A B L Y failed to accomplish), but I would be weary of a product so much cheaper (again, even if it's unlikely to be bad). 99% of the time you get what you pay for. It's just like buying cars.

Besides, almost anywhere is cheaper than buying RAM from Apple.

(p.s. I didn't realize this was a 3 month old resurrected thread. oh well)

 

[WildCowboy]

......because it's guaranteed to work. Sometimes you'd rather pay more for a guarantee instead of possibly (however unlikely) burning money on a cheaper product.

Of course, many of the cheaper places like OWC and DMS also guarantee their RAM to work in Macs.

Between their uncompetitive prices and shady pricing games, I'm shocked that anyone buys from Crucial anymore...

 

[ksz]

I have never purchased memory from Crucial for the same reasons as the OP: it is overpriced. It may not be as bad as the price charged by Apple, but it's still higher significantly than prices of perfectly good memory from other manufacturers and other retailers. I also don't mind that the OP asked us to do a search for ourselves. It takes only 10 seconds to run the search on a comparative shopping site.

Finally, I also don't care that the memory I bought for a family member's iMac was not specifically guaranteed to work with Macs. Memory modules are built and tested against published specifications. As long as Apple adheres to those specifications, you should be able to buy memory from any vendor. If for whatever reason a non-specifically-guaranteed memory module fails to work on a Mac, I will just return it.

Memory is a commodity item.

 

[erikistired]

the wise person would get the best of both worlds. hit up newegg.com and get the crucial alternate sku memory for much less (100 bucks for my powerbook). exact same QUALITY memory, cheaper price. people pay more for crucial because 1) it works. i've never had a problem with crucial ram and i've bought for some obscure systems before (regardless of what someone might say, ram is not always ram in some cases with some system boards) and 2) because if you ever have problems crucial has GREAT customer service. my pc has mushkin in it because the board is very easy on ram, but i read so many horror stories about putting memory into the g4 powerbook i didn't feel like screwing around with generic stuff and went straight to crucial (in this case via newegg).

 

[caccamolle]

......because it's guaranteed to work. Sometimes you'd rather pay more for a guarantee instead of possibly (however unlikely) burning money on a cheaper product. I've been happy with the Crucial memory I've bought in the past and don't regret paying a little more. I haven't personally seen comparisons where their prices were "ABSURD" (something this thread has M I S E R A B L Y failed to accomplish), but I would be weary of a product so much cheaper (again, even if it's unlikely to be bad). 99% of the time you get what you pay for. It's just like buying cars.

Besides, almost anywhere is cheaper than buying RAM from Apple.

(p.s. I didn't realize this was a 3 month old resurrected thread. oh well)

well, sorry to note that you cannot read, since in this very thread there are many many references to places that sell RAM for much less than Crucial. Crucial is riding an old wave and those of you who choose to pay much more on the false basis of "safety", just do so !!!

I am addressing only those who are smart enough to note that things have changed and 100s of dollars can be saved. Again, I am not for cheap stuff, never have been, but I am all for spending money wisely.

By the way, I have not checked prices currently, so things might have changed since.

Of course, many of the cheaper places like OWC and DMS also guarantee their RAM to work in Macs.

Between their uncompetitive prices and shady pricing games, I'm shocked that anyone buys from Crucial anymore...

oh ! here's an example of those smart people, they are indeed around

I have never purchased memory from Crucial for the same reasons as the OP: it is overpriced. It may not be as bad as the price charged by Apple, but it's still higher significantly than prices of perfectly good memory from other manufacturers and other retailers. I also don't mind that the OP asked us to do a search for ourselves. It takes only 10 seconds to run the search on a comparative shopping site.

Finally, I also don't care that the memory I bought for a family member's iMac was not specifically guaranteed to work with Macs. Memory modules are built and tested against published specifications. As long as Apple adheres to those specifications, you should be able to buy memory from any vendor. If for whatever reason a non-specifically-guaranteed memory module fails to work on a Mac, I will just return it.

Memory is a commodity item.

beautifully put.

the wise person would get the best of both worlds. hit up newegg.com and get the crucial alternate sku memory for much less (100 bucks for my powerbook). exact same QUALITY memory, cheaper price. people pay more for crucial because 1) it works. i've never had a problem with crucial ram and i've bought for some obscure systems before (regardless of what someone might say, ram is not always ram in some cases with some system boards) and 2) because if you ever have problems crucial has GREAT customer service. my pc has mushkin in it because the board is very easy on ram, but i read so many horror stories about putting memory into the g4 powerbook i didn't feel like screwing around with generic stuff and went straight to crucial (in this case via newegg).

great points.

And let me just stress, my point, originally, was not about buying cheap RAM, or advise people poorly. To the contrary ! My advise was only to stay away from Crucial because ...."their prices are absurd".

by the way guys, I cannot believe that my iMac has not crashed once, I mean not once ! This, apart from the memory thing, is quite a change from my FW800 dual PM !!! Well, great great computer Apple !!! Now I need a new laptop