Titoist Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Afternoon all, So my Mid-2012 13" MacBook Pro has 4GB of RAM. I have decided to purchase and upgrade up to 8GB but there is a price issue between two RAM sticks... a price difference of $10. Better than buying directly from Apple at $200. A savings of 50%. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=%2D1&IsNodeId=1&Description=4GB%201600MHz%20DDR3%20%28PC3%2D12800%29&bop=And&CompareItemList=%2D1%7C20%2D231%2D695%5E20%2D231%2D695%2DTS%2C20%2D231%2D697%5E20%2D231%2D697%2DTS&percm=20%2D231%2D695%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B20%2D231%2D697%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24 Remove G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model F3-1600C9S-4GSL Remove G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model F3-1600C11S-4GSL In Stock Yes Yes Item# N82E16820231695 N82E16820231697 Model# F3-1600C9S-4GSL F3-1600C11S-4GSL Brand G.SKILL G.SKILL Type 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM Capacity 4GB 4GB Speed DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Cas Latency 9 11 Timing 9-9-9-28 11-11-11-28 Voltage 1.35V 1.35V ECC No No Buffered/Registered Unbuffered Unbuffered As you can see, the only difference is the CAS Latency. The cheaper one has "9" for $39.99 while the other is $49.99 for "11". I thought the lower the CAS Latency, the better. What gives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambroos Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 The difference is neglegible. Especially if your current RAM is CL11 (hint: it probably is), which will mean your new stick will clock itself to CL11 too anyway. Also, get this: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/memory/ct4g3s160bm one or two of those, depending on what's in your laptop now. Crucial is the consumer brand of Micron, one of the world's biggest manufacturers of memory chips (RAM and SSD) and usually the manufacturer of Apple's own RAM. Buying rebranded RAM is never a good idea price-wise. That G.skill-RAM you linked is actually just Samsung RAM, Google the codes on the chips. By buying from Crucial you cut out all of the rebranding and retail channels and get the best quality (really) for the lowest possible price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon H Supervisor Posted January 17, 2015 Supervisor Share Posted January 17, 2015 you are correct that smaller cas latency is better. judging by the links you posted both are the same price, the 9cas is just on sale for 39.99 but is normally 49.99 as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnDom Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 CL9 vs. CL11 will largely be negligible, though CL9 is technically faster... though it may not operate at CL9 (no easy way I know of in OSX to retrieve the information regarding CAS latency). A 2012 MacBook Pro (non-retina) can actually take up to 16gb of RAM (even though Apple says 8gb), and I have installed G.Skill modules in this model (F3-1600C9S-8GRSL) without issue, so what you have listed should work. As for the comment on Crucial vs. other brands... really doesn't matter. Everything else equal specification wise, choose whatever has the best price. Memory labeled as "Mac Compatible" usually commands a premium price, with no actual benefits. The last two Mac's I pulled memory out of were Hynix, but I've also seen Nanya and Samsung as well... I suspect Apple goes for whoever can supply at the correct price + meet demand at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambroos Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Memory labeled as "Mac Compatible" usually commands a premium price, with no actual benefits. Crucial is best price, and their "Mac Compatible" packs are always the same price as the others, they just add a sticker for buyer confidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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