MAC PRO RAM

[Nu-tra]

Where can I get ram for cheaper? What size are you guys using?

[davebl@dircon.c]

For Protools at least 2Gb, I dont know what software your using. its expensive.....

[Diginerd]

The key thing with the Mac Pros is to install in matched lots of 4 modules, 2 per riser. Apple doesn't ship out this way and it hampers system performance..

I bought WinTec RAM from NewEgg, works well.

[junior]

this is like a pricegrabber solely for ram. very low prices:

http://dealnews.com/memory/

[n8tron]

I just put 2 more gigs for a total of 3 in my mac pro. Crucial is back down to a decent price but otherwise try macsales.com or maverickmemory.com

going from just 1gig to 3 gigs doesn't seem like THAT much but it has been a ridiculous help for my system. the ram was the bottleneck and now everything runs great. before I was having trouble loading large samples, now I can have 6gigs of samples in kontakt running just fine. and I still have room to put more of the samples into ram if I need to.

[Nu-tra]

I don't undersatnd how the mac pro uses ram is there 4 sections with two slots each? I am using logic and recording at 96k. Should I buy four 1 gig ram or four 2 gig ram? I'm use to having the powermac g5 so this who core duo thing is alien to me.

V

[AMIEL]

I heard if you want 4GB of RAM on a Mac Pro your only option is to get 4X1GB.

Why not 2x2GB.....don't understand why.?
where can I get good RAM for a good deal.

[junior]

Originally Posted by n8tron

Crucial is back down to a decent price but otherwise try macsales.com or maverickmemory.com

just bought some memory for my dad's mac. dealram.com listed the lowest price for a 2gb stick for $133 at powerlinememory.com.

fwiw, comparable memory was $359 from macsales (1x2gb) and $232 from maverick (2x1gb). crucial was $599!

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by junior

just bought some memory for my dad's mac. dealram.com listed the lowest price for a 2gb stick for $133 at powerlinememory.com.

fwiw, comparable memory was $359 from macsales (1x2gb) and $232 from maverick (2x1gb). crucial was $599!

at Dealram?


2GB there is $269 !! not $133 !!
where did u get 2GB for a MAC PRO at $133 ????

Please tell us!

[FFTT]

In order to take advantage of the Mac Pro's memory bus architecture, RAM
"with proper heat sinks"
should be installed in matches sets of 4 DIMMS.

There's a great article about all this over at barefeats.com

[Reptil]

does it still needs the heatsink?
apple store: 2 gb €700,-
kingston: 2 gb €239,-

[n8tron]

the macpro has 8 total slots on 2 risers. You have to install the ram in pairs. so you can have any combination as long as they are in pairs. so 2x2gig 2x1gig or 2x512mb or any multiple.

amiel, you can definitely put in 2 2gig sticks if you want.

currently at crucial i'm getting $373 for 2x1gig of ram. You can find better prices but crucial is very dependable and they have a good warranty. Their prices do fluctuate alot. In that bast 3 months I've seen 2x1gig of ram for as little as 360 to 450 on crucial.

Just make sure before you buy your ram that you read the companies return policy. Make sure they allow returns!!! Its very easy to get stuck with bad ram, or simply to damage it while installing. Many companies don't exchange for different reasons or past different amounts of time.

[junior]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

at Dealram?


2GB there is $269 !! not $133 !!
where did u get 2GB for a MAC PRO at $133 ????

Please tell us!

dude - chill with the attitude... i'm not affiliated with dealram.com, i'm just trying to help save you a few bucks.

if you pay attention to my post, i didn't say that i bought memory for a MAC PRO. i'm sure you're aware that there is more than ONE type of memory, right? i just used my own buying experience as an example of the pricing variations at different memory vendors (namely crucial, maverick and macsales).

fwiw, i just checked dealram's price finder for mac pro memory. they show 1gb sticks starting at $137 and 2gb sticks starting at $265 (both from 18004memory.com).

by comparison, maverick lists comparable ram at $177.34 (1x1gb), crucial is $202 (2x512mb) and macsales is $284 (1x1gb). if you can do basic math, you'll see that you can save at least $40 by using the price finder at dealram.

good luck.

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by junior

dude - chill with the attitude... i'm not affiliated with dealram.com, i'm just trying to help save you a few bucks.

if you pay attention to my post, i didn't say that i bought memory for a MAC PRO.

You are right! you never said what type of memory you nought...but this thread is about MAC PROs Memory...So I Imagine you were talking about Mac Pros.....also I never said you were affiliated to any store......I Just wanted to know if I was wrong and maybe you got that price for Mac Pro memory...so I wanted to know where did u get that deal!!

[junior]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

You are right! you never said what type of memory you nought...but this thread is about MAC PROs Memory...So I Imagine you were talking about Mac Pros.....also I never said you were affiliated to any store......I Just wanted to know if I was wrong and maybe you got that price for Mac Pro memory...so I wanted to know where did u get that deal!!

amiel: sorry if i came across a little peeved. i was just trying to help and i thought you were being critical. i think i had too much caffeine today!

in any event, i know this thread is about mac pro memory. that's why i suggested the price finder at dealram. i've used it many times and saved lots of money with it. hopefully someone else finds it useful.

[neon]

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by junior

amiel: sorry if i came across a little peeved. i was just trying to help and i thought you were being critical. i think i had too much caffeine today!

in any event, i know this thread is about mac pro memory. that's why i suggested the price finder at dealram. i've used it many times and saved lots of money with it. hopefully someone else finds it useful.

Junior no problem!!!

I totally knew you wanted to help us! that is great!! ...if one of the great things about gearslutz!!



As I said i was thinking..mmmmmmhh 4 GB of Ram for $266!!! wow I have to get that!!!

[FFTT]

I would check with Datamem.com for their Mac Pro approved RAM.

You MUST buy your RAM with the proper oversized heat sinks too.

This is not some generic Wintel Boxen you're adding RAM to.

It all has to be high end server grade ECC RAM.

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by junior

amiel: sorry if i came across a little peeved. i was just trying to help and i thought you were being critical. i think i had too much caffeine today!

in any event, i know this thread is about mac pro memory. that's why i suggested the price finder at dealram. i've used it many times and saved lots of money with it. hopefully someone else finds it useful.

Originally Posted by FFTT

I would check with Datamem.com for their Mac Pro approved RAM.

You MUST buy your RAM with the proper oversized heat sinks too.

This is not some generic Wintel Boxen you're adding RAM to.

It all has to be high end server grade ECC RAM.

! I am checking OWC Memory seems to be great totally tested with the heat sinks and is like $569 for 4x1gb

By the way why I can not put 2 x 2 GB instead o 4x1GB of Ram on a MAC PRO?

[mpr3]

I would not put cheap ram in your mac pro!

these machines do require server grade ram with approved heat spreaders.

OtherWorldComputing.com

[n8tron]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

By the way why I can not put 2 x 2 GB instead o 4x1GB of Ram on a MAC PRO?

you can

[PlatinumSamples]

We use OWC RAM in our Mac Pro and it's worked perfectly -- and their prices have dropped since we paid $900 for 4 gigs.

Rail

[FFTT]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

! I am checking OWC Memory seems to be great totally tested with the heat sinks and is like $569 for 4x1gb

By the way why I can not put 2 x 2 GB instead o 4x1GB of Ram on a MAC PRO?

It's not that you can't run 2 single 2 GB sticks, but the memory bus architecture
calls for matched set of 4 sticks be it 512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB in order to run in quad
core mode.

From what I understand, you run 2 of your 4 sticks in the top riser and 2 in the lower riser.


Here's what the experts have to say.
In brief..

DUAL CHANNEL vs QUAD CHANNEL
In order to get the full benefit of the Mac Pro's 256 bit memory data path, you'll want to populate both memory riser cards, each with at least one matched pair. If you put your memory on only one riser, you are dropping from quad channel to dual channel mode.

Great article......
Getting memory upgrades right on the Mac Pro

RAM Expansion Developer Note: RAM Expansion Product-Specific Details

[AMIEL]

Cool! so in order to maximize the quad memory is better 4 stick memorys than 2!!

[FFTT]

Important,

Even though OWC, Datamem and Crucial RAM is certified, tested and guaranteed to work in your Mac Pro, you'll want to keep the original factory Samsung DIMMS just in
case your machine needs to go to the shop.

This helps you and Apple rule out the possibilty of faulty 3rd party RAM.

It's great to hear that these RAM prices are finally coming down a bit.

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by FFTT

Important,

Even though OWC, Datamem and Crucial RAM is certified, tested and guaranteed to work in your Mac Pro, you'll want to keep the original factory Samsung DIMMS just in
case your machine needs to go to the shop.

This helps you and Apple rule out the possibilty of faulty 3rd party RAM.

It's great to hear that these RAM prices are finally coming down a bit.

Yes! I thought about it!! Thanks so much FFTT for being so kind and giving with your advise! !! totally makes sense!