Adding more RAM to Macbook Pro mid-2012

Question

Hi!
I have a question about adding more RAM to my mid-2012 MacBook Pro (without Retina). I've been doing some video editing with Final Cut, and I'm using quite many apps on the daily basis. I have the standard configuration with 4GB of RAM (2x 2GB) but I guess I should upgrade it, shouldn't I?
I had that idea in mind: buying extra 8GB RAM instead of one 2GB, so I'll end up with 10GB of RAM. If it won't be enough and I'll have some extra money, I will add another 8GB instead of 2GB, so I'll have 16GB.
First question - is it worth it?
Second question - can I add any RAMs supported by Macs? For example I'll leave one 2GB that I have already, and add 8GB made by, let's say, Kingston (I guess they are supported and they have good price in my country). Will this work fine? Does it make sense?

Answer 1

Jerroslaw,
since you’re running Mavericks, open up Activity Monitor while you’ve got your usual selection of apps running, select its Memory tab, and look at the Swap Used setting in the lower left. If it’s displaying “0 bytes” as the amount of swap used, then extra RAM won’t make a difference. Otherwise, to answer your first question, whether it’s worth it or not depends upon how frustrated you are running your usual selection of apps with 4 GB of RAM. It might be that the cost of replacement RAM modules outweighs your level of frustration — only you can make that determination of worth. I would recommend that if you do choose to purchase replacement RAM, that you get a pair of matching modules — either 2 × 4 GB = 8 GB, or 2 × 8 GB = 16 GB, to replace the pair that is currently installed.
For your second question, you don’t have to use Apple-brand RAM, but you do have to use RAM with the same characteristics as your factory-installed RAM uses. Any worthwhile purveyor of RAM for Macs will let you easily locate modules that are compatible with your Mid 2012 MacBook Pro.