ram prices & Mac Pro desktop

[n2mpujack]

I'm being allowed by my CFO (aka my wife) to get a new Mac. She advocates getting a Mac Pro (which would be a HUGE step up from my G4 PB). Got no complaints with that. What I do have a complaint about is ram prices. If I look at the Apple store for a single quad core @ 2.66 GHz Mac Pro getting the ram upgraded to 8 gig from the base 3 gig costs an extra $250. If I go to the crucial.com site there's really only one option: 8 gig consisting of 2 4 gig modules at a current price of $579.99. They do have a 4 gig package consisting of 2 2 gig modules for $139.95. As I see, the Mac Pro comes stock with 3 gig which I would assume use 3 of the available 4 memory slots. Which means the 4 gig upgrade isn't an option. So, it's the 8 gig option and toss 3 included 3 gig modules.

So, which way do I go? I know as someone said in another thread here about ram in an iMac you can't have too much ram. But also at the same point I can't afford to overspend either. Further, is there someone else that has ram that'll work correctly in a Mac Pro? I've read something about memory modules having to have the correct heatsinking in a Mac Pro. Never worried about memory module heatsinking in any of my other computers (Mac or pc).

I would ask over on macosxhints, but the last time I posted there about some confusion of exactly what processor was in a Mac Pro, and also asked about the possibility of an i5 or i7 cpu in them (ala the new iMacs) I got questioned about why do I need a quad core and that a Core 2 Duo would work for me. I mentioned about having a machine to do Photoshop and music (DP) work, but there's no one there that knows of those disciplines (or cares).

[Phil O]

I've had great luck with these guys:

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/_apple ... y_1534.asp

It seems odd that the new Mac Pros are using memory that works best in multiples of three, but there are four slots. I read something about this recently, but I can't remember where. I'd do a little research on this before you buy. But, it seems to be the general consensus that the best way to go is buy the minimum RAM configuration from Apple and add memory later. Just be sure to get memory that is Apple compatible and from a reputable dealer.

Phil

[n2mpujack]

I've had great luck with these guys:

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/_apple ... y_1534.asp

It seems odd that the new Mac Pros are using memory that works best in multiples of three, but there are four slots. I read something about this recently, but I can't remember where. I'd do a little research on this before you buy. But, it seems to be the general consensus that the best way to go is buy the minimum RAM configuration from Apple and add memory later. Just be sure to get memory that is Apple compatible and from a reputable dealer.

Phil

I don't know that I'd trust these people. If you notice on the page you link to they have a huge error - they state that the quad core Mac Pro takes a max of 8 gig. That's wrong, according to Apple. The single quad core takes a max of 16 gig. Makes me wonder what else they have wrong.

[Dwetmaster]

It's a known fact one should never buy RAM nor HD from Apple

OWC is a good source. Anywhere but APPLE!!!

[dustcoversmyheels]

www.crucial.com

[n2mpujack]

http://www.crucial.com

Ordinarily I'd agree but in this case, if you follow what I wrote in my first post, it seems that in this case Crucial is actually more expensive ($580 for 8 gig) than Apple ($250 for the upgrade to 8 gig) and definitely more expensive than OWC ($218 for 8 gig). Never ordered from OWC - they reliable and reputable?

[Frodo]

Whatever you do, don't let a lower price deter you from getting "Apple APPROVED RAM" from third parties.

My MacPro RAM is from DMS and they have been brilliant! When I had a Memtest fail during a kernel panic, they sent me replacement RAM ***overnight*** with a honor system that I'd return the original RAM within a specified time frame. There was no extra down time as a result. DMS stands by their guarantees most respectably. At the time, the extra RAM (8 GB) came to almost $1000, so not having to shell out extra dough and beg for the difference was wonderful in that they anticipated such an inconvenience.

[n2mpujack]

Whatever you do, don't let a lower price deter you from getting "Apple APPROVED RAM" from third parties.

My MacPro RAM is from DMS and they have been brilliant! When I had a Memtest fail during a kernel panic, they sent me replacement RAM ***overnight*** with a honor system that I'd return the original RAM within a specified time frame. There was no extra down time as a result. DMS stands by their guarantees most respectably. At the time, the extra RAM (8 GB) came to almost $1000, so not having to shell out extra dough and beg for the difference was wonderful in that they anticipated such an inconvenience.

If you read what I said in a previous post here to someone else that also recommended DMS, I don't trust someone (DMS) who has a basic fact wrong on the current Mac Pros (early 2009 Nehalem). They state that the single quad cores only take a max of 8 gig when in fact they take a max of 16 gig. And they're more expensive than OWC. I never let a low price deter me from buying anything, it's just that I want to have some hard facts that I can trust on something before I buy it, especially something this expensive.

[Frodo]

There could be a very simple explanation...

It's my understanding that the new Quad-Core have only 4 slots. The machines *can* support up to 16GB RAM, but it doesn't look as though DMS sells the 4GB RAM sticks, at least not yet.

I can see how this could be misleading since the way they presented the info makes it look as though it's a limitation of the computer and not a limitation of their inventory. I've asked them clarify this, if possible. They really are good people, imho.

It appears that Kingston makes the 4GB chips, but 4 of them go for over $2k.

Mac Memory Store is selling 4xGB for $1403.60. I've never bought memory from them and could speak to the reliability.

Still, this is quite a price jump with 4x2GB sticks coming in between $200-250.

[Pappy725]

Everything I've ever bought from OWC is still workin'!

That probably just jinxed all my old Macs...
(scattered amongst my children and family)

Oh well, new MBP and I'm a happy man!

Pappy

[n2mpujack]

There could be a very simple explanation...

It's my understanding that the new Quad-Core have only 4 slots. The machines *can* support up to 16GB RAM, but it doesn't look as though DMS sells the 4GB RAM sticks, at least not yet.

I can see how this could be misleading since the way they presented the info makes it look as though it's a limitation of the computer and not a limitation of their inventory. I've asked them clarify this, if possible. They really are good people, imho.

It appears that Kingston makes the 4GB chips, but 4 of them go for over $2k.

Mac Memory Store is selling 4xGB for $1403.60. I've never bought memory from them and could speak to the reliability.

Still, this is quite a price jump with 4x2GB sticks coming in between $200-250.

Just checked Kingston. They have 4 sticks of 2 gig each for $402 US. Also, they too, like DMS say the early 2009 Mac Pro only takes a max of 8 gig ram. Actually Kingston won't sell direct but prefers you go to a vendor of theirs (CDW and others). I know CDW isn't the cheapest on the block (price shopped them on other stuff before). It's enough to drive a geek crazy.

[Frodo]

You know, there was an issue a while back about certain G5s being "limited" to 8GB as per Apple's spec, but some users were able to use 2GB sticks even though Apple didn't say outright that this config was supported.

It makes me wonder what third-party vendors of memory are allowed to publish in the way of specs. I still feel that memory vendors should clarify the 8GB vs 16GB max stipulation so that this at least lines up with what Apple has made public, but they *may* also be bound by what Apple will allow them to advertise since Apple sells its own memory at a premium.

I know-- and since when did computers ever make sense?

[n2mpujack]

You know, there was an issue a while back about certain G5s being "limited" to 8GB as per Apple's spec, but some users were able to use 2GB sticks even though Apple didn't say outright that this config was supported.

It makes me wonder what third-party vendors of memory are allowed to publish in the way of specs. I still feel that memory vendors should clarify the 8GB vs 16GB max stipulation so that this at least lines up with what Apple has made public, but they *may* also be bound by what Apple will allow them to advertise since Apple sells its own memory at a premium.

I know-- and sense when did computers ever make sense?

Exactly. There's enough confusing info out there to make even a seasoned veteran of these machines of ours wary. I've been around computers since IBM punch cards and personal computers from the first MITS/Altair 8800 8 bit machines to the Apple 1 to the first Macs (with pc's thrown in the mix) to Powerbook G4's to the newest top of the line Mac's. I've been burnt a couple of times when given conflicting info so when I see Apple (and OWC) stating one memory spec and DMS, Kingston and others stating a different one, I get more than a little nervous.

You know, I must admit I never even thought about Apple putting on a restriction on what a third party vendor could sell, but I'm not surprised if that turns out to be the case. I wonder what the look would be on an Apple Store sales geek if I even dared to broach the subject of putting in my own expansion memory. And how much pressure thy would put on me to get my memory from them. The reason I would even go to an Apple Store is because I'm not nuts about having something as relatively delicate as a computer delivered to my door. There's a reason UPS is known as OOPS - they tend to have a lot of damage claims against them when mechanical or electronic pieces are delivered by them. FEDEX isn't too bad though.

[Frodo]

Ooops-- for UPS and for my typo (which I corrected)!!

[HCMarkus]

Unless you are rich, 2 GB sticks are currently the way to go. In the case of the Eight Core Mac Pro, the most cost efficient memory scheme is this: Upgrade from 6 to 8 GB from Apple, since this uses four 2 GB sticks, then add four more 2 GB sticks from OWC or equivalent. I haven't done the math on the Quad Core, but regardless, just load it up with 2 GB sticks and use the beast happily until 4 GB sticks get reasonable.