For power users, one of the big disappointments of Apple’s otherwise high-power MacBook Pro line is that users can’t max out the RAM the same way they can with, say, an iMac. Apple may claim the latest pro notebooks top out at 8GB, but a major Mac outlet begs to differ -- assuming you have the money to pay for 16GB in the first place.
MacRumors is reporting that popular online Mac vendor Other World Computing debuted new aftermarket RAM upgrades for the latest MacBook Pro models on Wednesday, maxing out with a 16GB option that will have power users rushing for their credit cards. That is, until the sticker shock sets in.
OWC is offering a 16GB RAM replacement for a whopping $1599.99. Despite Apple’s claims that the notebooks are only capable of 8GB max, OWC does extensive “MaxRAM” testing of various memory configurations in order to verify their compatibility prior to releasing them to the public.
While $1600 for 16GB of RAM may give MacBook Pro users pause, the good news is that prices generally fall over time. Assuming you won’t be upgrading again next year, the more frugal among us could hold out and see what happens with the pricing, which is offered in the following configurations:
- 4 GB (Replace one existing 2 GB module with a 4 GB module for a total of 6 GB): $59.99
- 8 GB (Replace existing 2 GB modules with 4 GB modules): $112.99
- 12 GB (Replace existing 2 GB modules with one 8 GB module and one 4 GB module): $879.99
- 16 GB (Replace existing 2 GB modules with 8 GB modules): $1599.99
OWC also recently discovered that an Apple firmware update for late 2008 MacBook Pro models, coupled with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, allows those popular models to upgrade to 8GB of RAM, also twice Apple’s recommendation. OWC previously had been offering a 6GB upgrade, which was believed to be the maximum capability for that era notebook.
As always, OWC also offers trade-in rebates on your old memory modules, which could bring your prices down just a bit.
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(Image courtesy of MacRumors and OWC)
