23 replies to this topic

[RL Nice]

So my MacBook Pro (which is the only computer I use anymore) with Boot Camp doesn't meet the minimum requirements posted for MWO. My CPU is slightly below the minimum, but the biggest issue I have is my RAM, which is 2 GB. Now don't get me wrong, I do fully intend to buy a new gaming PC for this game, but I don't know when I'll be able to afford one, and I want to be able to play MWO until then.

So here's my question. I have an old Dell PC from 2004 which I don't use anymore (it won't even turn on. It's pretty much useless so it's not worth replacing the PSU on it). I was wondering if I could take the RAM out of it and install it in my MBP. Do Macs and PC's use the same RAM? Is this a good idea?

[Viper69]

I dont think Ram from Macs and PCs is interchangeable. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

[Scilya]

a macbook is a laptop it will take laptop stuff now i dont know what mac book you have or what ram is compatible with it but it will use laptop ram which is smaller than desktop ram so your old dell is still useless and to be honest your mac is useless as well. a mac is just a status symbol they suck the only people who use macs that i know there arguments for not using a pc are just silly
ditch the mac get a pc XD

a mac is not special its just to OS some people like it some dont, i dont

Edited by Scilya, 18 July 2012 - 11:45 AM.

[Macromage]

This is not a good idea because the ram in your old computer is likely DDR2 while your MBpro wold have DDR3 if it was made recently.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q...terchangable%3F

[EmptySkull]

I think no. Not only would the ram likely not fit into the DIMM slot. It wouldn't be the right speed nor voltage or have the right number of pins. Laptop ram is usually more compact the desktop ram. I would look up the model of your MBP and see what ram it takes and how much it cost. To see if that is a viable option.

Edited by EmptySkull, 18 July 2012 - 11:53 AM.

[Ronsu]

If both your Laptop PC and MacBook Pro use same type of ram (SoDDR2 or SoDDR3), yes, you can use the same memory modules. Desktop Apple "PC'S" also usually use SoDIMMS while real PC's use DIMMs so deskptop PC -> MAC laptop or desktop usually doesnt fit. It's either SoDIMM DDR 2 or DDR3 you're looking for.

You know, after Apple's Intel deal Apple is using EXACTLY same harware as PC, just for 3x the price...

Edited by Ronsu, 18 July 2012 - 12:02 PM.

[SNOWHOUND]

notebook and desktop RAM are very different sizes.

desktop RAM is a lot larger. (when you say PC im assuming desktop?)

hence no it wont fit.

If its another notebook then you need to find out if its DDR2/DDR3 RAM and it will probs be DDR3 RAM in the MBP

DDR3 can only have DDR3, its not backwards compatible or anything.

Edited by SNOWHOUND, 18 July 2012 - 12:10 PM.

[WVAnonymous]

If you go to the Apple logo in the upper left hand corner and select "About this Mac", the memory type you have will pop up right under the CPU style. For instance it will say 2 GB 1333 MHz DDR3. Unless your Dell has DDR3, it will not work. The speed doesn't have to match. Also per the earlier poster, unless it's also a portable, it's not likely to have the same pin package.

And despite the anti-Mac rhetoric above, there are a lot more people running 2004 Apple products than 2004 Dells. Just saying'.

Edited by WVAnonymous, 18 July 2012 - 12:10 PM.

[pseudolife]

i really dont want to come across as a ***** but this thread makes me chuckle with PC fanboi superiority. market share demographics aside, the fact that you had to ask says a lot.

but enough snobbery, not a apple user myself, but RAM is cheap these days, surely even cheap on macs?

regardless i wish you luck getting a computer ready to enjoy the awesomeness that will be MWO.

[buckaroo]

Viper69, on 18 July 2012 - 11:42 AM, said:

I dont think Ram from Macs and PCs is interchangeable. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

It's completely interchangeable, provided it's the same type.

Your Macbook Pro probably uses either DDR2 or DDR SO-DIMMs. It will detect SPD settings and throttle accordingly, but since Macs are picky about lower-spec memory, I would definitely give it either DDR2-800 or DDR3-1333, and it needs to be spec voltage. (1.5v for DDR3 - none of the factory overclocked 1.6v or 1.7v ****.)

SO-DIMMs are NOT the same as 240-pin desktop DIMMs. But they're the same DIMMs used in most laptops.

Edited by buckaroo, 18 July 2012 - 12:57 PM.

[buckaroo]

pseudolife, on 18 July 2012 - 12:42 PM, said:

i really dont want to come across as a ***** but this thread makes me chuckle with PC fanboi superiority. market share demographics aside, the fact that you had to ask says a lot.

No, it doesn't. There are more PC users still using IE 6 than there are Mac users period.

When a n00b uses a mac, Apple makes their decisions for them. When a n00b uses a WIndows machine, this happens.



So, yeah. Don't strain yourself patting yourself on the back, there.

[Gremlich Johns]

^ f-ing hilarious

[Catamount]

I can't find any difference between RAM for Macbooks, and RAM for any other machine (no mention of them being FBDIMMs like the desktop stuff), and yet, Newegg has a particular section for Apple RAM, including stuff from many companies labelled as "Apple laptop RAM", so who knows.

Either way, RAM is cheap, so just buying more is an easy solution.

[Shivus]

As long as the ram is the same it should work.

Catamount, on 18 July 2012 - 07:03 PM, said:

Either way, RAM is cheap, so just buying more is an easy solution.

Well, apple charges $300+ for 4gb.

[buckaroo]

Catamount, on 18 July 2012 - 07:03 PM, said:

I can't find any difference between RAM for Macbooks, and RAM for any other machine (no mention of them being FBDIMMs like the desktop stuff), and yet, Newegg has a particular section for Apple RAM, including stuff from many companies labelled as "Apple laptop RAM", so who knows.

Either way, RAM is cheap, so just buying more is an easy solution.

Marketing, mostly.

Like I said above - some macs are a little picky about RAM. But hey, so's my DP45SG. (It won't recognize DIMMs unless the individual DRAM chips are 128MBs or smaller.)

But if you know what you're looking for, you can buy off the shelf anywhere. I got my last Mac memory upgrade on Amazon. Two of these. Work fine.

[buckaroo]

Shivus, on 18 July 2012 - 07:18 PM, said:

As long as the ram is the same it should work.




Well, apple charges $300+ for 4gb.

Apple overcharges more than most. But pretty much everybody overcharges.

Upgrading a Inspiron 620 in the Dell store from 4 to 8 GBs (Dual channel) costs $120.

1stchoicememory.com lists a 4GB DDR3/1333 kit for $17, and an 8GB kit for $35. What's Dells profit margin there?

OEMs will screw you any way they can. That's why people still BYO.

[Toldor]

buckaroo, on 18 July 2012 - 10:07 PM, said:

Apple overcharges more than most. But pretty much everybody overcharges.

Upgrading a Inspiron 620 in the Dell store from 4 to 8 GBs (Dual channel) costs $120.

1stchoicememory.com lists a 4GB DDR3/1333 kit for $17, and an 8GB kit for $35. What's Dells profit margin there?

OEMs will screw you any way they can. That's why people still BYO.

Gladly you are not bounded to them and you can use different kits, even in a mac. Overall it is just pc hardware.

[Blue Fox]

Viper69, on 18 July 2012 - 11:42 AM, said:

I dont think Ram from Macs and PCs is interchangeable. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Not necessarily, but not likely.

RL Nice, on 18 July 2012 - 11:36 AM, said:

Do Macs and PC's use the same RAM? Is this a good idea?

Generally if the slot-type fits it will work (i.e. compatible DIMMs). But again, not likely

SNOWHOUND, on 18 July 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

notebook and desktop RAM are very different sizes.

Nail. Head. BAM!

Assuming they are both notebooks/laptops...
Random Google of a "2004 Dell laptop" brings up probable model or model with comparable specs. Dell Inspiron 8600.
Specs indicate 333MHz DDR (DDR1 wow, 2004 was a long time ago, DDR2 was brand new then.). So probably DDR1 RAM for that.
First gen Macbook Pros indicate "DDR2 667 MHz" (Thanks Wikipedia).

I'd say no. If you wanna pop 'em out and compare 'em that would be the easiest way to know for yourself. Look where the little notch lines up.

I love building PCs, can you tell?

[Blue Fox]

2GB Ram you say? That must mean one in the Intel Core 2 Duo series...the Early 2008 model has the only chance of running it with a Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT with 512 MB of GDDR3 at best (hope that's what you have). It says expandable to 6 GB but it already has 2 filled slots so you'd have to outright replace both. I'd say go for $50 for 4GB in a 2X2GB kit. Looks like a 4GB and a 2GB chip would cost about $100, but I say stick with dual channel. You're still gonna be hurting running this game on a 4-year-old rig with an integrated video card.

http://en.wikipedia...._specifications
http://www.newegg.co...82%20x%202GB%29

[Kaldor]

RL Nice, on 18 July 2012 - 11:36 AM, said:

So my MacBook Pro (which is the only computer I use anymore) with Boot Camp doesn't meet the minimum requirements posted for MWO. My CPU is slightly below the minimum, but the biggest issue I have is my RAM, which is 2 GB. Now don't get me wrong, I do fully intend to buy a new gaming PC for this game, but I don't know when I'll be able to afford one, and I want to be able to play MWO until then.

So here's my question. I have an old Dell PC from 2004 which I don't use anymore (it won't even turn on. It's pretty much useless so it's not worth replacing the PSU on it). I was wondering if I could take the RAM out of it and install it in my MBP. Do Macs and PC's use the same RAM? Is this a good idea?

As others have pointed out, you can use RAM from a PC, providing its the right type. Just pull the RAM, figure out what kind it is, hit your favorite online retailer and buy some.

I think your biggest hangup isnt going to be your RAM or CPU, but what type of video card does your Macbook have? You can have the fastest CPU and 16 gigs of RAM, but if your GPU is horribad, then your gaming experience will be bad. Not to mention you are running BootCamp which only adds to the complexity of the issue.