Hi all.
My new Mac Pro is on the way and I'm looking into upgrading the RAM up to 6 or 8GB total.
- It seems to be accepted that the official Apple RAM is overpriced.
- Crucial RAM is often recommended as reliable.
- In the USA, OWC are often recommended and are even cheaper than Crucial.
So my options were to either buy from Crucial in the UK or import from OWC (still cheaper than Crucial, even with added import duty etc).
However... I've also found that Thomann stock RAM that is compatible with the new Mac Pros:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/dimm_ddr2_2gb_800mhz_ecc.htm
Does anyone have experience with this RAM from Thomann? The price seems to be in line with the likes of OWC, so perhaps they use the same supplier?
What are the potential pitfalls when buying cheaper unbranded RAM? Is it simply a case of increased liklihood of failure, or are there more complicated performance and compatibility-related issues?
Full Version: Mac Pro RAM from Thomann
Being very familiar with Macs and how they work; be very careful what you put in these new machines as far as RAM is concerned. Crucial RAM is not doing good as of late and I would not place any of their RAM into any of my machines. That company used to be one of the best, no, let me restate; it was the best -until they started to stop checking the quality of their RAM in order to stay competitive. They now sample a small number and base a lot of X amount and that's what's shipped. I have seen horror stories along with a recall for all their stuff since I got the first 8 core and they still have issues that I find alarming. Damaged machines for starters. Yeah, it was pretty bad.
Moving on. Now, that RAM that your talking about looks just like the OEM Apple RAM but, it's a crap shoot as to what chips are being used. It indeed may be the real deal from the same supplier, but again, without being able to remove the heatsink, note the vendor ID along with all the chip identifiers, there's no way to know. The only way is to buy it, take it apart and examine it.
Warranty is extremely important. The longer it is, means the company who made it knows just how good or bad it is and what the expected life is. So, see what the warranty is, if there's no warranty, steer clear.
There's one thing that should be made clear about how much RAM that the machine can handle. With the Intel chipsets being used currently, the MAX RAM is 4GB. Anything over that is not going to be used as REAL ram but is used as virtual ram. Now, I can go into detail later if need be, but, the idea here is to examine what you will be doing and then ask if your going to need all that RAM for what your doing. I had 8GB in my old PPC machine but not in my new one as I am aware that there is no performance benefit to running more than 4GB on my machine due to the chipsets. Now, I most certainly could benefit just like you with more RAM for certain power apps that need it. Just a thought not to persuade you or anything like that. OK
Lastly, if I were going to place RAM in my machine, my number one choice and really only choice; is OCZ hands down. Second to that, OWC for the cost break over Apples inflated ego priced RAM. OWC works from what I have heard.
Hope that helps.
Moving on. Now, that RAM that your talking about looks just like the OEM Apple RAM but, it's a crap shoot as to what chips are being used. It indeed may be the real deal from the same supplier, but again, without being able to remove the heatsink, note the vendor ID along with all the chip identifiers, there's no way to know. The only way is to buy it, take it apart and examine it.
Warranty is extremely important. The longer it is, means the company who made it knows just how good or bad it is and what the expected life is. So, see what the warranty is, if there's no warranty, steer clear.
There's one thing that should be made clear about how much RAM that the machine can handle. With the Intel chipsets being used currently, the MAX RAM is 4GB. Anything over that is not going to be used as REAL ram but is used as virtual ram. Now, I can go into detail later if need be, but, the idea here is to examine what you will be doing and then ask if your going to need all that RAM for what your doing. I had 8GB in my old PPC machine but not in my new one as I am aware that there is no performance benefit to running more than 4GB on my machine due to the chipsets. Now, I most certainly could benefit just like you with more RAM for certain power apps that need it. Just a thought not to persuade you or anything like that. OK
Lastly, if I were going to place RAM in my machine, my number one choice and really only choice; is OCZ hands down. Second to that, OWC for the cost break over Apples inflated ego priced RAM. OWC works from what I have heard.
Hope that helps.
QUOTE(cmcken1 @ Apr 1 2008, 05:22 PM) 
Crucial RAM is not doing good as of late and I would not place any of their RAM into any of my machines.
Interesting. Thanks for the warning. They are usually the first to be recommended, but as you point out, perhaps that's due their quality in the past.
QUOTE(cmcken1 @ Apr 1 2008, 05:22 PM)
Now, that RAM that your talking about looks just like the OEM Apple RAM but, it's a crap shoot as to what chips are being used. It indeed may be the real deal from the same supplier, but again, without being able to remove the heatsink, note the vendor ID along with all the chip identifiers, there's no way to know. The only way is to buy it, take it apart and examine it.
Warranty is extremely important. The longer it is, means the company who made it knows just how good or bad it is and what the expected life is. So, see what the warranty is, if there's no warranty, steer clear.
Warranty is extremely important. The longer it is, means the company who made it knows just how good or bad it is and what the expected life is. So, see what the warranty is, if there's no warranty, steer clear.
OK - understood. I'll email Thomann and see if they can provide any manufacturing and warranty info.
QUOTE(cmcken1 @ Apr 1 2008, 05:22 PM)
With the Intel chipsets being used currently, the MAX RAM is 4GB. Anything over that is not going to be used as REAL ram but is used as virtual ram. Now, I can go into detail later if need be, but, the idea here is to examine what you will be doing and then ask if your going to need all that RAM for what your doing. I had 8GB in my old PPC machine but not in my new one as I am aware that there is no performance benefit to running more than 4GB on my machine due to the chipsets. Now, I most certainly could benefit just like you with more RAM for certain power apps that need it. Just a thought not to persuade you or anything like that.
I'm currently using Logic 7 on a 5 year old Dual867 G4 with 1GB of RAM, so I'm not totally up to speed with the performance of the new Mac Pros. I have read about the 4GB-per-application limit in the past.
However, I will be using it for Logic 8. It was my understanding that Logic has now been coded in such a way that the EXS sampler can address more than 4GB of RAM. Since I use a lot of multisampled instruments, I was thinking that perhaps 6 or 8GB of RAM might be more useful, but on reflection, I suppose I could start with 4GB and then add more later if I find it's not enough, or until there's more concrete evidence that the EXS24 can access extra RAM.
QUOTE(cmcken1 @ Apr 1 2008, 05:22 PM)
Lastly, if I were going to place RAM in my machine, my number one choice and really only choice; is OCZ hands down. Second to that, OWC for the cost break over Apples inflated ego priced RAM. OWC works from what I have heard.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
Very helpful - thanks! Especially since OCZ seems to be more readily available (and affordable) through my normal channels here in the UK than the other brands I was looking at.
Am I correct in thinking that these two models would be suitable for the new Mac Pro?
http://www.dabs.com/4L2VWS
http://www.dabs.com/4KZCWS
DDR2 / 240pin / 800Mhz
The main difference I have noticed compared to RAM I have seen listed as compatible is that this OCZ RAM is "non-ECC". Is this an issue?
ECC is a newer type of RAM that is only supported with certain Intel chipsets. So, if your not running Intel chips, ECC is of no use and, on some systems, ECC will not even work. I will bet that for sure with the G4 and the G5s.
I had a G5 and it ran PC3200 400 non ECC and would not run ECC RAM if I remember correctly.
I had a G5 and it ran PC3200 400 non ECC and would not run ECC RAM if I remember correctly.
I think you misunderstood. I'm buying this RAM for a new Mac Pro (due to arrive tomorrow). Is there any disadvantage when using non-ECC RAM? Will there be any potential conflicts if I am mixing non-ECC RAM with the stock RAM that comes with the machine?
Which model of OCZ RAM are you using in your Mac Pro?
Which model of OCZ RAM are you using in your Mac Pro?
Heck, I did misunderstand as well as misread. I have been helping someone else to find RAM for a G5 and; my mind was stuck in PPC mode. ECC is the ONLY RAM that will run in Mac Pro and it will not run properly. Sorry for the confusion there.
That is the wrong RAM that was listed above. Good thing I checked as those are for nForce SLI motherboards (winblows) and not for Mac. For Macs, check the speed, the clocking and the voltage that your machine is running. With each new Mac that comes out, sometimes they may make changes in specs.
To find the spec for RAM voltage: Specs/Memory, CPU/RAM and it should be listed as the correct type to use. I am not sure what your machine is running.
Last I knew, some were running the following:
DIMMs for Mac Pro must fit these specifications:
667 MHz, FB-DIMMs
72-bit wide, 240-pin modules
36 devices maximum per DIMM
Error-correcting code (ECC)
Use of any other RAM may result in a smoked Logic Board and Power Supply as well as toasting the RAM.
That is the wrong RAM that was listed above. Good thing I checked as those are for nForce SLI motherboards (winblows) and not for Mac. For Macs, check the speed, the clocking and the voltage that your machine is running. With each new Mac that comes out, sometimes they may make changes in specs.
To find the spec for RAM voltage: Specs/Memory, CPU/RAM and it should be listed as the correct type to use. I am not sure what your machine is running.
Last I knew, some were running the following:
DIMMs for Mac Pro must fit these specifications:
667 MHz, FB-DIMMs
72-bit wide, 240-pin modules
36 devices maximum per DIMM
Error-correcting code (ECC)
Use of any other RAM may result in a smoked Logic Board and Power Supply as well as toasting the RAM.
Here's the latest specs for early 2008 machines: 800MHz DDR2 ECC fully buffered DIMM
Already it's upped from the previos machines as you can see.
Already it's upped from the previos machines as you can see.
Forgot to update here.
In case anyone is interested - the Mac Pro RAM listed on Thomann's website is from CSX:
http://www.csx-memory.com/?site=show_info&...;article_id=593
They offer a lifetime warranty (although it's restricted to 30 years in Germany for some reason).
One of the pieces I originally ordered produced ECC errors, but Thomann have replaced both sticks, so I'm happy.
In case anyone is interested - the Mac Pro RAM listed on Thomann's website is from CSX:
http://www.csx-memory.com/?site=show_info&...;article_id=593
They offer a lifetime warranty (although it's restricted to 30 years in Germany for some reason).
One of the pieces I originally ordered produced ECC errors, but Thomann have replaced both sticks, so I'm happy.
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