Mixing RAM in Mac Pro

Hey guys, I got a 2009 Mac Pro with OEM 3gb memory installed! Im planning to install 1333mhz suportive processor eventually, so so I will buys a 1333mghz memory right now. Will it be OK if Ill install 8GB 1333mhz alongside my OEM 3x1GB 1066mhz RAM? And what memory should I get - EEC/non-EEC, Buffered/Registered/Unbuffered?

Do NOT use non-ECC RAM in your Mac Pro. It defeats the best feature of the Xeon processor, memory Error Correction.
Whenever you write a 64-bit word to memory, Hardware calculates 8 additional syndrome bits (parity trees for selected permutations of the bits in the word). These bits are checked when data are read out and are used to detect and correct (with no slowdown) any single-bit errors that have occurred.
Double-bit error detection is also done, but these errors cannot be corrected. Instead, they cause a distinctive kernel panic, machine check, uncorrected error or error overflow. This is done to assure that your data are not poisoned.
As memories get larger and larger, the chances of a single-bit error occurring also get larger.
You may also find that some non-ECC does not fit properly or work properly.
To avoid owning excellent modules that do not happen to work in your Mac, Buy from a Mac-Centric vendor who promises,
"It works in your Mac,
or your money Back."

Similar Messages

Upgrading Ram on Mac Pro (mid 2010) 8 Core

I currently have 8gb ddr3 1066 and 8gb ddr3 1333 both ECC putting me at 16 gb ram. When i purchased them i didn't know there was a difference in ram. To upgrade do i need to buy x2 8gb or can i buy a single. When installing this a few years ago i learned that you couldn't just mix and match ram since i tried to add the stock 2gb ram to the open slots but my mac wouldn't turn on. Is there any advice on how i could effectively upgrade my ram by another 16 gb and does 1066 and 1333 make a difference? is ECC necessary for it to work on mac?

ECC DIMMs are required. If you could get a non-ECC DIMM to fit, it would shut off memory error correction, one of the best features of the Mac Pro with Xeon Processor.
Replacement DIMMs MUST have a large heatsink and Apple approved temperature sensor, because Apple reduces the airflow (based on measured temperatures) for quiet performance. Other manufacturers do not necessarily do this, and if you do not have the correct heatsinks and temperature sensors, the fans may run at full speed, or the DIMMs may die prematurely from overheating.
You can upgrade the DIMMs on each side (group of four slots) by the each. Pairs are not required. Most DIMMs 8GB and under mix readily with others, but some do not. Try the new ones by themselves first, so that you know first whether they work at all, then whether they "play nice with others".
You can spend the next month learning about exactly which DIMMs will and which will not work in your Mac. I do not recommend you do this for a one-off purchase. Instead, buy from a Mac-Centric Vendor who can tell YOU what DIMMs should be used in your Mac, and will stand by them:
"It works in your Mac,
or your money back."

Adding new RAM to Mac Pro

I just got my new Mac Pro. It comes with (2) 1G sticks of DDR2 RAM. I bought (4) 2G sticks of DDR2 RAM from OWC to put in it. Can I just add my 2G sticks and keep the 1G sticks in, or do they all have to be the same size?
I spoke with 2 different Apple reps on the phone today, and they gave me 2 different answers. One said no - they all have to be the same size. The other said I could use different sizes, but they just have to be paired.
Anyone know what the right answer is?

Hi
my Mac Pro configuration in the system profiler only shows 512MB cards in Raiser B DIMM1 and DIMM2, allthough I have added new 2G cards into Raiser A DIMM3 and DIMM4.
The Raiser A DIMM1 and DIMM2 slots are occupied by 512MB cards as well, but these are also not visible in the Memory Slot summary.
Question: It seems I have 6GB memory, but only 1 MB visible in the Memory Slot summary. Is this possible and how can I activate the whole memory?
-Lauri.

Fully Buffered RAM for Mac Pro 8 Core or will non buffered do?

Hi guys,
There are a large number of questions about RAM for the macs on the forum but I can't seem to find the answer to mine any where. Do you think you could help?
Does the new Mac Pro 8 Core require it's DDR3 1066MHz ECC 240 pin DIMM to be Fully buffered or can I use something like this:
http://www.oyyy.co.uk/product.php/79985/kingston-4gb-ddr3-1066mhz-ecc-240pin-dim m-memory-module-with-thermal-sensor?CAWELAID=298234485
since this is considerable cheaper to build up a mac to 32GB than other kits on offer. Also note that none of the kits offered by OWC and other manufacturers mention that they are Fully buffered for the money. Not even the mac store mentions it. Which only adds to my confusion?!
Many thanks in advance for the help
J

Unbuffered.
When in doubt I always look up Crucial memory configuration.
Part #: CT938460 • DDR3 PC3-8500 • CL=7
• Unbuffered • ECC • DDR3-1066 • 1.5V • 256Meg x 72 •
http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=CC3E3949A5CA7304
And because no one but Apple has 4GB DIMMs, I wouldn't buy with someone else, but it might, but that begs why Micron isn't offering any.

Added ram to mac pro, get ecc memory error and 4mem/9/40000006: B:0 C:0 R:0

I recently purchased a 2.8 8 core Mac pro (early '08 model). It came shipped with 2gigs of ram (one gig on riser card a, one gig on riser b).
I purchased 2 1gig sticks from ramjet, i followed a apple tutorial and installed the 2 original sticks in riser card A (slots 1 and 2), and the 2 new Ramjet sticks in riser card B (slots 1 and 2) for a total of 4gigs.
When I powered on the computer everything was fine, clicked the black apple logo to view "about this mac" and the 4gigs total memory showed up. However when i clicked "more info" then "memory"... it showed the status on one of the new ramjet sticks as "ecc error"
I rebooted the computer and the error message was gone, all sticks showed a status of "ok"
a few days went by and i was constantly checking the system profiler and the status would always show the sticks as "ok" and the computer acts totally normal, i run pro tools, logic pro, photoshop and it would run flawlessly.
The fact it showed an error a few days prior was still bugging me so i decided to call the applecare protection and consult with them... they said to remove and re-install the memory, reboot holding down the "option + command + R + P" to reset memory, then to reboot again holding down the "D" to do a Apple hardware Test.
the first test showed pass, i checked the extended test and that showed a 4mem/9/40000006: B:0 C:0 R:0 error, the second and 3rd tests froze and i had to push the power button to reboot.
I contacted Applecare once again and they said that since my computer was not acting funny nor freezing during apps or showing any errors that it should be fine, as long as the status said "ok" in system profiler and all four gigs registered in "about this mac" that no harm is going to happen.
when i asked what that long error code was she said it did not come up in her computer but she thinks its because its not official apple memory.
I tried searching online in forums to solve this but i cant find anything on that specific error code.
sorry for the long post but i wanted to be as detailed as possible to get the best advice
thanks and any help would be much appreciated.
and by the way i did contact ramjet and they are willing to replace my memory but there advice was also not to worry that its only giving that error due to the memory not being "official" apple memory, but if it registers and the computer acts totally normal to just leave it be.
thanks again,
David
Message was edited by: priv510
Message was edited by: priv510

thanks for the reply Kappy,
yes they have heat sinks and ramjet states they are "apple grade"
i downloaded the istat widget (not sure how accurate that is) and it says the apple sticks on A run at 32 degrees and the ones on B run at 31 degrees
the comp is practically brand new and when i opened it for the ram install it still looked brand new (no dust) its only a few weeks old.
I am going to return the sticks for sure to be safe but where im lost is.... yes it did show ecc error once, never again, its been a week now still no ecc error. I ran tech tool deluxe and everything passes, i ran "Rember memory test" and it passes, system profiler registers all 4 gigs and shows status as ok, computer acts totally normal? but the apple hardware test fails i guess im lost to why the comp says the ram is ok nd passes most tests just not the AHT test.
Thanks for your help i hope the new sticks dont show any error
David
O and I forgot to mention i called applecare again and requested a different agent to help me and he said Ecc stands for error correcting? so if it came up once and not again it did what it was suppose to do... corrected itself (now that sounds like more b.s to me but i have no idea about computer stuff )
Message was edited by: priv510

Change ram on MAc PRo

I have a MAC PRo 2x2.66 GHZ
I recently upgraded the RAM and now when I push both trays in the start up light flashed on / off and does not re-boot. I tried each tray alone and each work alone but not the combo of both trays.
I also tried starting up while holding OPTION. APPLE, P, R and again they work seperatly but not together.
WHATS THE DEAL ?

Take a look at these instructions and the RAM specs they mention:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4433
What type/brand of RAM did you install? Usually your symptoms mean that it is either not seated correctly or you have incompatible or faulty RAM module(s).
FWIW, you did say you have a Mac Pro? (You posted in the iMac forum).

After Effects reports only 2GB of RAM for Mac Pro AMD D700 GPU

Using After Effects CC 12.2 on Mac Pro 2013.
When I go to After Effects>Preferences>Previews>GPU Information the app reports that my system has an AMD D700 GPU for OpenGL. This is fine, however, it also states that the Total Memory is 2.00 GB, which is well below the 6GB of VRAM the GPU is supposed to have. Any ideas why this is happening?

I found an interesting post about enabling the GPU in CS6, the GPU Sniffer application embedded within Adobe Premiere CC reports the new Mac Pro video cards as:
--- OpenGL Info ---
Vendor: ATI Technologies Inc.
Renderer: AMD Radeon HD - FirePro D700 OpenGL Engine
OpenGL Version: 2.1 ATI-1.20.11
GLSL Version: 1.20
Monitors: 2
Monitor 0 properties -
   Size: (0, 0, 2560, 1440)
   Max texture size: 16384
   Supports non-power of two: 1
   Shaders 444: 1
   Shaders 422: 1
   Shaders 420: 1
Monitor 1 properties -
   Size: (2560, 0, 2560, 1440)
   Max texture size: 16384
   Supports non-power of two: 1
   Shaders 444: 1
   Shaders 422: 1
   Shaders 420: 1
--- GPU Computation Info ---
Found 2 devices supporting GPU computation.
OpenCL Device 0 -
   Name: AMD Radeon HD - FirePro D700 Compute Engine
   Vendor: AMD (Apple platform)
   Capability: 1.2
   Driver: 1.2
   Total Video Memory: 6144MB
OpenCL Device 1 -
   Name: AMD Radeon HD - FirePro D700 Compute Engine
   Vendor: AMD (Apple platform)
   Capability: 1.2
   Driver: 1.2
   Total Video Memory: 6144MB
Running the same GPU Sniffer application embedded in After Effects CC reports the video card specifications as:
Texture memory: 2047
Vendor string:    ATI Technologies Inc.
Renderer string: AMD Radeon HD - FirePro D700 OpenGL Engine
Version string:   2.1 ATI-1.20.11
OpenGL Version:   2.1
Has NPOT support: TRUE
Has Framebuffer Object Extension support: TRUE
Has Shading Language support: TRUE
Started compilation of GLSL shaders
Successfully finished compilation of GLSL shaders
Ignoring SM4.0 check for cards on mac
Return code: 3
Is it a problem with the GPU Sniffer application?

Final cut pro make Mac pro kernel panic with RAM from other manufacturers

hi all
if i installed RAM For mac Pro from 667MHz DDR2 fully buffered ECC RAM from other manufacturers
final cut pro (just final cut)
make the machine kernel panic messege
all programs working good (like adobe and other compositing program) but final cut freez the machine and kernel panic
the standard RAMs good

Ahmed:
You can try visiting/searching the Expanding your Power Mac G5 forum. You'll find A LOT of help about RAM issues.
Any RAM brand must work but you maust be sure it follows the MAc specs. Some brand sites have good product locator by computer manufacturer/model (i.e. Kingston and Crucial). In fact there is no Apple branded RAM, they use a lot of different ones.
Inside FCP settings you'll find how to manage the memory that the program use, but that settings depends on the total quantity of memory you have installed, and you didn't post that information.
Alberto

Mac Pro 8-core RAM Configuration question

I know there is a lot of questions about Ram fro Mac Pro on this site but I got a brand new Mac Pro 8-Core today, didn't buy RAM from Apple because of the obvious reason, 1GB (2x512mb) is what I have right now. I am interested in upgrading to 8GB...SO... my question is, What is the best RAM configuration for my Mac Pro? Read the list below. Keep in mind that I am a web/graphic designer so Photoshop is one of my main tools along with Aperture, DreamWeaver, Flash, Final Cut, Illustrator, etc...
My options:
2x4GB
4x2GB or...
8x1GB ???
Please advise. Thanks in advance.

2GB X 4 is best due to the combination of benefits of performance, cost, power consumption, thermal profile.
Performance: groupings of four FB-DIMM allow 256 Bit memory access
Cost: 2GB FB-DIMM are less expensive and more generally available than 4GB
Power consumption: 4 FB-DIMM use 1/2 the power of 8
Thermal Profile: fewer FB-DIMM generate less heat and allow more airflow

XP 64 bit constant crashes on Nehalem Mac Pro 8 core

We have recently purchased 4 additional Mac Pros to add to our existing render farm of older 8 core Mac Pros. We run both Mac OS and XP 64 bit on all of our Mac Pros so that each machine can be used for our Motion Graphics artists running After Effects as well as by our 3D artists. For the last 3 years we've had no problems with the 64bit XP installs on the older Mac Pros.
Now we are unable to get a stable install of Windows XP 64 bit on any of the new machines. It constantly crashes especially on any Acrobat application such as Adobe Reader 9.
We have tried this on 3 of our 4 new Nehalems so its not a hardware fault. We have even gone back from 16gb RAM to the original 6gb Apple RAM.
We have used an XP 64bit SP2 disc and the Bootcamp x64 Ethernet and Intel Chipset drivers on the MacPros system disc. We then tried to download alternative Ethernet and Chipset drivers from the Intel site. Still the same crashes. All of this happens before we even bother trying to install the graphics drivers so we know that its not that.
The blue screen error we get is:
Disk.sys
Page fault in nonpaged area
Surely we're not the only ones trying to run 64 bit XP on the Nehalem MacPros?
Message was edited by: martyn pot2

Did you try W7 x64? Apple never provided XP x64 drivers so it was always something you had to find for yourself. And seems you were successful there.
Seems like just building some Core i7s would have been suitable for your needs.
I have found that extended disk testing and zero/long formt is essential anymore with hard drives.
PCs can be fussy and tempermental with RAM though Mac Pro you are pretty much forced to use qualified chips.
I would do all your driver updates first, before anything from Apple. And try to live w/o any Boot Camp. Always install graphics drivers, ethernet chipset from Intel. BC does add some help to power management, or did.
You may just need to wait and see if those Snow Leopard DVDs have anything good on them, and hopefully bring drivers into the present instead of early 2008 era.

Which Mac Pro to buy for Studio 3

Guys, I'm in the process of upgrading my trusted Power Mac G5 Quad to a Mac Pro.
I will also upgrade to FCS 3.
My question is, which Mac Pro to buy? Quad 2.93 OR Octo 2.26?
Will FCS 3 along with Snow Leopard utilise ALL the Octo's processors? Or am I better off saving the money and sticking with a Quad?

If your income depends on this work, then buy the biggest, baddest, most RAM-filled Mac Pro you can.
At least get the octo 2.66. Put 12GB RAM in it, if you can, but put a minimum of 6GB in there. The concept is that as a professional editor, editing for clients, you must be as time efficient as you can afford to be.
Compressor will use that RAM to compress your stuff a lot faster. Also, Motion can make use of as much RAM as you throw in there. Final Cut Pro itself, not yet.

FCS 2 -- Mac Pro 4-core or 8-core?

Been reading both the FCP forum and the MacPro forum and still not unsure which way to go.
I'm an avid Avid user (sorry about that) for many years and now making the switch to FCS2. My confusion lies in which configuration to get to best maximize FCS2-- Mac Pro 4-core with maximum RAM or Mac Pro 8-core with 6 or 8 GB RAM? The machine will be used 90% for FCS 2 so that's the main decision-making factor here.
Been reading articles about bottlenecks that make having 8-cores benign, but I find them hard to believe. Either way, the cost is about the same (the $$ saved buying the 4-core would be spent on more RAM).
Thanks for your time and advice.

With FCS the trick to maximising your performance is balance. Getting the balance right between processor performance, GPU performance, RAM and drive performance can often be a tricky thing. Unless you consider your system as a whole, any improvement in one area will often have little value.
At the price of the 8-core upgrade (more than 50% of a whole new one!) I would think you'd get far better value by going with a 3GHz 4-core system and maxing out everything else.

FCS2 - Mac Pro 4-Core or 8-Core

Been reading both the FCP forum and the MacPro forum and still not unsure which way to go.
I'm an avid Avid user (sorry about that) for many years and now making the switch to FCS2. My confusion lies in which configuration to get to best maximize FCS2-- Mac Pro 4-core with maximum RAM or Mac Pro 8-core with 6 or 8 GB RAM? The machine will be used 90% for FCS 2 so that's the main decision-making factor here.
Been reading articles about bottlenecks that make having 8-cores benign, but I find them hard to believe. Either way, the cost is about the same (the $$ saved buying the 4-core would be spent on more RAM).
Thanks for your time and advice.

If you become a "power user" i.e. running more than one app at a time all the time.... The 8 processor machine will be faster than the quad... if not, they'll be similar in speed.
See: http://www.barefeats.com Rob there comes up with much the same conclusion. There are certain apps though that really shine on the octo... AE for example... and Certainly Compressor 3... big time...
I'd go with the faster machine figuring Leopard will make a big difference in the way it handles mulitple processor machines.
Jerry

Mixing RAM speeds in Mac Pro 3.1

I recently bought a used Mac Pro 3.1 early 2008 2xquad core 2.8 gHz. It came with 6 1 Gig 667 MHz in RAM. This Mac takes 800 MHz- can I fill one of the risers with 4x4 Gig 800 MHz while temporarily keeping 4 1 Gig in the other riser? I realize all will (should?) be running at 667 until I switch to all 800 MHz; but can they be mixed as long as they're on their own riser card? I can't afford to replace all the RAM at once, and am hoping to upgrade in waves. An extra 4 Gigs isn't much but it would really help for a short time.

I thought I/we already went through this a day or two ago, not you? then someone else.
Check it out.
Same over on MacRumors and links to ebay and Amazon
Mac Pro 3,1 memory question
And yes you can mix and match - as long as each paired set and if even one set is 667 then the memory controller will downlclock for all.
http://www.barefeats.com/harper5.html

1st Generation Mac Pro 2.66 dual Core(4 cores total) 5gigs of RAM

I'm still on Logic 8/Tiger. All running very well. Typical projects run about 30 tracks. Use lots of Vi's Omnisphere, Trillian, and RMX included.
Wanting to move to 10.6.2/Logic 9.1. Is my first generation Mac Pro up for the upgrade? Will I still have plenty of juice?
4 drives(OS, audio, samples, and backup)
Thanks for any input!
Message was edited by: Gearjunkeee

I also have a similar set-up but with 8 GB's RAM. I kept the old HDD with the Leopard 10.5.8 and Logic 9.02. Installed a new HDD then did the upgrade. To be honest, it was a PAINFUL process re-loading in all of the software plus updating the software! But, for me at least (knock on wood), I've had no problems with Snow Leopard and Logic 9.1. My first "test" was to run my lastes sequencing project which has a total of 30 virtual instruments and plug-ins from various companies (Kontakt 2.5 Player, Music Lab, "External Instruments", Audio Ease's Altiverb, Universal Audio plug-ins) and all worked well. Now, to be very clear, please realize that this was only 1 "test". But I noticed right-away better usage of the CPU than the previous version. For the previous versions (Leopard 10.5.8 with Logic 9.02) of this one "test" I had to set the buffer to 512 in order to do a problem-free mix-down. But with the upgrade of Snow Leopard/Logic Pro combo, I was able to mix down this project with a buffer setting set to 128. (I'm quite happy with that setting.)
FYI, I'm using Logic Pro 9.1 in 32-bit mode. I tried the 64-bit mode, but some of my plug-ins didn't work in that mode (Music Lab's RealStrat and RealLPC, which I tend to use frequently.) But I'm happy using 32-bit mode, especially using Native-Instrument's Kontakt 4.04. Again, all works well.
Just thought I would share a positive experiece with the upgrades. Good luck with your decision.

Mixing RAM in Mac Pro

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