Anyone in the market for one of Apple's new Thunderbolt-equipped 2011 MacBook Pros would be forgiven for thinking the machines only support up to 8GB (2 x 4GB) of RAM since that's what's listed on the tech specs and is the maximum build-to-order option available through Apple. However online store OWC says the new 2011 MacBook Pro models can actually support up to 16GB (2 x 8GB) and is selling the 8GB sticks you'll need to make it happen. The only catch is the price, which is more than the asking price for either of the two 2011 13-inch MacBook Pro models currently available.
All the 2011 MacBook Pro models come with 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory as standard, which should be fine for most applications. But if you're a power user dealing with video editing, high resolution images or the like, then shelling out an extra US$200 to bump the RAM up to 8GB can be a wise investment – and sourcing the RAM from someone other than Apple can bring the price down to almost half that.
But if at 8GB you're still thirsting for yet more speed, then OWC is happy to oblige with a 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1333MHz Memory Upgrade Kit that sells for US$1599.99, with the high price tag attributable to the scarcity of 8GB modules. However, at this price you'd have to do a serious cost/benefit analysis and ask yourself whether you actually need what, for most users, would probably amount to a minimal speed increase. For the slightly more budget conscious OWC also sells a 12GB (8GB + 4GB) Upgrade Kit for $879.99.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_1333MHz_SDRAM
\"The different in price makes no sense until you think who dumb some people can be about spec so I can see where Apple is really selling it to those people not because of any performance gain but because there is a fool born every day.\"
Sure, there\'s a fool born every day. Without even commenting on your lack of proper English(considering English probably isn\'t your native language), Apple isn\'t selling the 16GB kit for their Macbook Pros, OWC is. Reading before commenting usually helps.
Not sure why people are talking about no increase in performance - for me the benefit is not performance but the ability to run multiple virtual machines at the same time.
I am seriously considering the 16GB upgrade for a new Mac Mini Server that will be connected to a 12TB Thunderbolt array - and I may end up running several VMs with email, web, FTP, etc on that Mac Mini - at a fraction of the price and physical size (and weight and power and noise) of a full Mac Pro Tower.
I already have the 8GB upgrade in my MacBook Pro 2011 - and very often run close to the edge of using it all but have to be careful that I don\'t run all my VMs for test and dev at the same time.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_1333MHz_SDRAM
So as of this writing, it\'s a default of 2gbs -- and either $200 for apple to upgrade it to 8gb, or $400 to custom install 16gb. Given the laptop\'s price, I think the extra $200 would be worth it :P.