Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

gmisz88

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 21, 2007
19
0
WHATS THE DIFFERANCE BETWEEN APPLE'S AND CRUCIAL'S?

Apple Memory Module 4GB 667MHz DDR2 (PC2-5300) - 2x2GB SO-DIMMs
vs.
CRUCIAL MEMORY

im planning on upgrading my memory for the new macbook pro 2.4ghz sr but i want to know whats better?
 
If the RAM works, it's all the same. Buy RAM from a third-party vendor with good prices, quality RAM, and a lifetime guarantee. DMS and OWC come highly recommended here.
 
They will both do the same thing with the same performance. Apple's RAM is a ripoff. Just go for the best price as all ram is pretty much the same, it just comes from a different manufacturer.
 
There isn't really much of a difference. Crucial's memory comes with a lifetime warranty, which is nice. You can also get crucial memory off of NewEgg for quite a bit less than off of Crucial's website, and they have friendlier policies about returns and refunds than Crucial themselves. In fact, I have some Crucial RAM in the mail from NewEgg right now. :)

$112 from crucial, $79 from NewEgg. On newegg the crucial memory was also only $4 more than some generic brand.
 
Apple's RAM is highly overpriced. When Apple was charging $500 for 2GB of RAM, I got 2GB of RAM from Patriot for $200 and it's worked great.
 
but if its all the same why is apple charging $1100 and crucial is charging $300
 
I've bought Crucial memory for all of my computers and it's always been problem-free. The Crucial website makes it easy to select the correct memory.
 
The only advantage to Apple's RAM is that if you need to send in your machine for service, you don't have to take it out to prove it isn't the RAM or risk them not putting it back in your machine when they ship it back. Regardless, I've had Crucial RAM in my iBook for 3 years without ever having a RAM problem.
 
if i decide to upgrade with crucial what is apples policy on that? will they fix my computer if there is a problem?
 
if i decide to upgrade with crucial what is apples policy on that? will they fix my computer if there is a problem?

What you do is take out the crucial RAM and put in the Apple RAM and take it in for repair, that way they're none the wiser. I'd suggest getting 2 of this Patriot RAM, the Patriot RAM in my MacBook Pro has been working great since I got it in October of 2006.
 
I've bought RAM from Omni Technologies for both my MacBooks Pro's. I've had zero problems and one of the only companies that I've called where you talk to a real person right away. I haven't ever had bad RAM from them, however they will work with you and send you a new stick. They pop up as one of the cheapest on Ramseeker.com ... and I took a chance. So far it's worked out great!

Here is their link:
http://www.omnitechnologies.biz/
 
The difference? A purdy sticker on the other side of the module that has teh Apple logo. Does that make a difference? No.

Crucial RAM is made by Micron, as Micron owns them. Apple RAM is Micron RAM as well, just with the Apple sticker instead of the Crucial sticker. Same exact stuff.

Just hold onto your original set of Apple RAM, in case you need to have your Mac serviced. Apple will not even touch it with 3rd-party RAM inside.
 
The difference? A purdy sticker on the other side of the module that has teh Apple logo. Does that make a difference? No.

Crucial RAM is made by Micron, as Micron owns them. Apple RAM is Micron RAM as well, just with the Apple sticker instead of the Crucial sticker. Same exact stuff.

Just hold onto your original set of Apple RAM, in case you need to have your Mac serviced. Apple will not even touch it with 3rd-party RAM inside.

Apple uses RAM from Micron, Hynix and Samsung pretty much interchangeably, with Nanya and Elpida sometimes showing up. They buy on wholesale contracts, and always have second sourcing in place.

Interestingly, while Micron makes the vast majority of Crucial RAM, Crucial also sells some RAM under their name that was made by Samsung or Swissbit (for example PowerBook G4 RAM -- yes, I have held these in my hand. We are a Crucial dealer.)
 
so apple ram is made by crucial?

^ Look up one post.

Apple does not install any Crucial brand RAM - never has and never will.

Apple buys RAM from several different major manufacturers, one of whom is Micron. Micron, besides being a manufacturerm also owns Crucial, which is a retail brand seller. Crucial sells Micron modules (and in select instances, other brands) online and through resellers.

So in some cases the RAM Apple installs may be the same Micron module that Crucial sells under the retail brand Crucial. And in other cases, it is not.
 
stay off Apple ram (to expensive) and stay off Crucial (weird pricing techniques) you should check OWC (at least they're honest) :D
 
Apple uses RAM from Micron, Hynix and Samsung pretty much interchangeably, with Nanya and Elpida sometimes showing up. They buy on wholesale contracts, and always have second sourcing in place.

Interestingly, while Micron makes the vast majority of Crucial RAM, Crucial also sells some RAM under their name that was made by Samsung or Swissbit (for example PowerBook G4 RAM -- yes, I have held these in my hand. We are a Crucial dealer.)

Ah, didnt know that. :eek:

Someone defnitely knows their RAM. ;) Though I suppose you better for your namesake and job, huh? :D

Still, for memory, its best to go somewhere other than Apple. I recommend listening to what CanadaRAM recommends, as hes a genius with this stuff.
 
Apple's RAM is overpriced, I can't dispute that.

I do still buy it though. I'm probably just crazy, and/or lazy, but it's totally a piece of mind and convenience thing. This way, if anything goes wrong with my machine I've only one port of call: Apple. I know it's expected given the high price, but I've always found their RAM to work very well and have never had problems, which is particularly notable in the Mac Pro where a lot of users have issues with third party RAM. The 4GB in this MBP also seems flawless, though I haven't used it all that heavily yet (I am surprised, though I shouldn't be, at how little RAM this MBP eats compared to my MP running OS X Server).
 
I like Crucial RAM, never a failed stick from them dating a long time back. Wish I could say the same for the generic G.Skill crap I got on new egg.

In any case, if you do decide to buy from Crucial - help MR out and click the Crucial link at the top of every page - I am sure they get some sort of click through revenue.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.