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

RAM--how important is brand?

sunsnewmac

sunsnewmac

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 3, 2007
263
0
Thank you for all of your help on the "how important is parallel RAM" thread
now I want to know how important the brand of RAM is because I am ready to buy. Here is a link from a local non-Mac oriented store in Vancouver BC. They only sell a few brands that meet the RAM specs for the MB and only Kingston makes a 1 GB stick that meets the stated specs for the MB. The link is below and I would greatly appreciate it if y'all could comment on the brand and verify that this is the appropriate RAM for my MB. If not I can look elsewhere but price-wise this seems like a good buy:

http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=LongDesc&sku=34468

Thank you so much!!
 
D

deadpixels

macrumors 6502a
Oct 30, 2006
913
0
Seems like the correct chip, apple uses samsung chips in their machines but kingston is a known brand so you should be just fine :D just check if it has lifetime warranty.
 
CanadaRAM

CanadaRAM

macrumors G5
Oct 11, 2004
12,417
6
On the Left Coast - Victoria BC Canada
<Disclaimer> I'll state right away that I am biased because I am directly involved in the RAM business.</Disclaimer>

The Kingston KVR (ValueRAM) is Kingston's generic line - they do not guarantee compatibility with Macintosh one way or the other. Kingston's Mac guaranteed RAM is KTA-MB667/1G

The KVR667D2S5/1G is the correct nominal spec and may work fine -- but it's left to you to do the testing. Check the policies of the seller to find out whether you can get a refund if it doesn't work, or whether you can only get a store credit, and whether or not you can return goods for reasons of incompatibility.

If you do a bit of detective work, you will find some Canadian sellers who have Mac-compatibility-guaranteed RAM, with better return policies and guarantees and prices competitve with that.
 
sunsnewmac

sunsnewmac

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 3, 2007
263
0
thanks for the info.
The only apple store near me that sells that guaranteed Mac compatible RAM sells it for over 50% more than the generic Kingston, a difference $65.
 
M

MaaseyRacer

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2005
160
0
San Francisco, Ca.
branding does not mean anything. It is all about speed, buffer, and latancy. You really have to match spec for spec with the machine. There are few brands that go out and get ram that works spec for spec. I go with a company called Lifetime that garuntee's the RAM will work, and gives a Lifetime warranty. I have had really positive experiences with them.
 
W

whateverandever

macrumors 6502a
Nov 8, 2006
778
8
Baltimore
MaaseyRacer said:
branding does not mean anything. It is all about speed, buffer, and latancy. You really have to match spec for spec with the machine. There are few brands that go out and get ram that works spec for spec. I go with a company called Lifetime that garuntee's the RAM will work, and gives a Lifetime warranty. I have had really positive experiences with them.
Click to expand...

Branding does mean quite a bit... because RAM goes bad quite a bit.

I just did a RMA with Kingston and I can tell you that their service is quite wonderful. You can do an advance RMA where you give them your credit card info and they'll ship you out replacements prior to you shipping the bad RAM back, that way you're not without a computer in the meantime.

I like OCZ ram as well. I've also had good experiences with Geil, who actually sent me back two sticks of ram when my one stick broke.

I think Corsair/Muskin and other really great-name brands are a bit overpriced, but if you have money to throw around, they'll probably give you the best reliability/service combo.
 
iBookG4user

iBookG4user

macrumors 604
Jun 27, 2006
6,595
2
Seattle, WA
I buy whatever RAM is the cheapest and is compatible with the Mac I'm using it in. I've bought Kingston, Patriot and OCZ and haven't had a problem with any of them, so brand name in RAM doesn't mean a thing to me.
 
M

MaaseyRacer

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2005
160
0
San Francisco, Ca.
whateverandever said:
Branding does mean quite a bit... because RAM goes bad quite a bit.

I just did a RMA with Kingston and I can tell you that their service is quite wonderful. You can do an advance RMA where you give them your credit card info and they'll ship you out replacements prior to you shipping the bad RAM back, that way you're not without a computer in the meantime.

I like OCZ ram as well. I've also had good experiences with Geil, who actually sent me back two sticks of ram when my one stick broke.

I think Corsair/Muskin and other really great-name brands are a bit overpriced, but if you have money to throw around, they'll probably give you the best reliability/service combo.
Click to expand...


There are less than half a dozen manufactures out there. Most ram comes from the same place. All you get with branding is support. Not reliability. I use Lifetime for support, other than that half the time their ram say hymix, samsung, or unlabeled. If I have a problem I email them a copy of the receipt and they send me new ram.
 
W

whateverandever

macrumors 6502a
Nov 8, 2006
778
8
Baltimore
MaaseyRacer said:
There are less than half a dozen manufactures out there. Most ram comes from the same place. All you get with branding is support. Not reliability. I use Lifetime for support, other than that half the time their ram say hymix, samsung, or unlabeled. If I have a problem I email them a copy of the receipt and they send me new ram.
Click to expand...

If you mean RAM chip manufacturers; you're correct. There are only a few.
 
cubbie5150

cubbie5150

macrumors 6502a
Mar 4, 2007
716
224
I'm new to Mac, but I know that if I ever need to buy RAM, I'll probably go w/ Crucial. I have always bought directly from them for all my previous Windows PCs, and never had an issue. Guess I'm willing to pay a bit extra for the peace of mind....
 
Father Jack

Father Jack

macrumors 68020
Jan 1, 2007
2,481
1
Ireland
Over the years I have known of "cheap" ram to cause problems.
Personally I always use Crucial and so far no problems.

FJ
 
L

Lancetx

macrumors 68000
Aug 11, 2003
1,991
619
Even Apple themselves uses various brands of RAM in new Macs. I've seen Samsung, Micron, and Hynix among others used as stock RAM by Apple before. The main thing is to find something compatible with your particular Mac for the price you want to pay. And for just in case you ever do have any problems, look for RAM that has a lifetime warranty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom