Macbook Pro 16GB Safe? I know-there's other postings about this.

Question

Hi everybody.  I've read on a lot of posts that the late 2011 Macbook Pros can handle 16GB of RAM.  I haven't, however, seen any sources that site whether this is safe LONG TERM for my computer.  Perhaps this is just because these RAM sticks have not be affordable until recently, but does anyone know (preferably with a credible source) whether this amount of RAM will do any damage to my computer over the next 3-4 years (I'd rather stick to slower speeds if it means it will last longer).
Thanks!

Answer 1

skippy1222 wrote:
Since I don't know any of you guys
Apple staff monitors these posts and users, we have a rating system too.
If anyone gave bad advice they would be flagged immediatly by options us upper level users have available to us.
So no one lasts long around here with bad advice, opinions differ of course. In your case based upon decades of computer use around here, we never have heard of RAM actually hurting a users machine. Everyone is pretty much in agreement that the correct RAM specs in the correct machine, installed properly nearly all the time results in no long term problems.
You could install RAM that is bad or glitchy, but that would show right away and you simply have it exchanged with no harm to the machine, unless you kept it in on purpose to do damage.
What occurs is Apple releases new hardware that can say accept 16GB of RAM, but 16GB of RAM modules isn't availalbe yet (may not come at all), only 8GB, so they standardize on 8GB in their manuals etc, buy huge amounts of 2-4GB modules at discount prices and has to get rid of it.
The savvy computer user knows the machine can handle more RAM and buys it elsewhere when the price comes down to somewhere they can afford. 16GB of RAM is going for about $250, it was well over $1000 a year ago.
This has been the situation for many years with computers and Apple, as long as you buy the quality RAM of the right specs, the machine will handle it because Apple designed it to do so. Also they designed it so you can replace it yourself.
Naturally you will either have to install it yourself or have someone do it for you, Apple won't install 16GB as they need to sell their 8GB off. Also they charge a crazy amount, like $435. LOL!
Believe it or not, you can install RAM and hard drives/SSD in the Mac "Pro" lines yourself and not void the warranty/Applecare as long as you don't break anything, strip the screws and so forth. The replaced RAM and storage isn't covered of course.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1333DDR3S16P/