MacBookPro RAM Quirk

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:27 pm

I don't have one of these yet, but for those who have the MBP, you might want to check out this article, which is a puzzling as it is informative:

One of the big new features in the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro is the new 3GB RAM maximum that it supports. But 3GB is a funny number for a machine with 2 RAM slots. Why not max that puppy out with two 2GB sticks - for a total of 4GB?

MacFixIt has learned that it's not a physical space limitation and that both of the new MBP's RAM slots are large enough to accommodate the bigger 2GB modules.

Although the Intel 945PM chipset can physically handle 4GB of DDR2 RAM, there is the potential for "memory overlap" when more than 3GB of RAM is installed.

Read more:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=321

gregwhartley · Post by **gregwhartley** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:23 pm

Lousy Intel! Even with all this great stuff they're making (quad core coming soon, maybe, ehem) they continue to have issues with "memory overlap." Wouldn't having a 1 GB stick and a 2 GB stick negate dual channel capabilities too...?

-Greg

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:04 pm

gregwhartley wrote:Wouldn't having a 1 GB stick and a 2 GB stick negate dual channel capabilities too...?

-Greg

Yup-- it would have to be a pair of 1G's plus a pair of 512s or maybe even a pair of 256s to stay within the margins.

I have a feeling it's going to be a firmware fix more than anything else. But I would keep in touch with Macfixit for further reports.

But, I sort of expected things like this to crop up. That doesn't make me happy about it because I've always expected a little more from Apple. As they increase productivity, so does some aspect of quality control decrease. They just can't give the same attention to every machine the way they did 10 years ago-- unless they also increase their QC team accordingly.

I have no idea what's going on in that dept., but there do seem to be a lot more reports of defects out there (short of recall-worthy product).

Some iPods recently shipped with a Windows virus. Some G5s are only now getting a much needed factory power supply replacement. Some PBs suffered their Sony batteries bursting into flames. Of course, there were the noisy fan issues on MDD G4s and some G5s. But worst of all, imho, are those units that go through 2 weeks of Apple Care repeatedly and come back unfixed each time.

However, I've not seen reports of more than 2% product failure of one degree or another-- but then again, 2% today constitutes a much bigger number than it did when the G3s appeared.

KarlSutton · Post by **KarlSutton** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:14 pm

My G5 has been at the apple store now for a week for the noisy fan problem (this is the third time) if they don't get it right this time I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to spend a ton of cash engineering the thing out of the control room. I was hoping a MBP could eventually be its replacement since they are much quieter, but only 3GB ram, hmm.

Any reports on how noisy the Mac Pros are?

gregwhartley · Post by **gregwhartley** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:16 pm

It just seems like lazy engineering. Why design a chipset that has lower specs than its 945 predecessor/counterpart? Especially on Apple's latest and greatest! I think some brave soul out there should try to put 4 gigs in their machine. Any takers? I would try it in my MacBook (even though it says it can only support 2GB) but um... I've got a... um, I need to... there's a roast in the oven... and, um... PREOW! {smoke cloud left where I just was standing}

-Greg

P.S. - Yea, speaking of quality control, my MacBook's got those wear spots that got all that press when they came out - but there's no way in hell I'm sending it off for them to break more stuff on it. Better off looking dirty than having loose plastic clips or a broken "so and so." I'm just going to live with the dirt, or paint my Mac. Hmmm... Maybe black and blue with a MOTU unicorn where the Apple's supposed to be...

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:51 pm

KarlSutton wrote:Any reports on how noisy the Mac Pros are?

I hear that the Core 2D's that just came out needed more fan power for the heat, and that they are louder than the Core D's. PC Mag did a review of them-- surprisingly. I think the heat issue and fan were part of the reason why they gave it 4.5 out of 5 points... but then they cited that comparable laptops ran roughly 10 degrees hotter than the new MBP's.

Still, Mac users expect a little more. If you're comparing an Apple to a Dell, goodness. What has this world come to?