RAM gouging -- PLEASE help

[imported_wired247]

My very good friend has a nice Mac Pro system. He needs Mac OS for certain audio editing software that doesn't run on windows.

In any case, his system is pretty well spec'd and only about 1 year old. However he is lacking in the RAM department. He has 1GB, and needs 4GB desperately.

The Apple store quoted him $1000 for the upgrade.

**KEEP IN MIND THIS IS "slow" DDR2-667 RAM**

I told my friend that 4GB of DDR2-800 can be had for about $70!!


What is his best course of action? I told him to just install it himself, since installing ram couldn't possibly be easier... however I have no idea how BIOS works on Mac Pro's.

Thanks in advance!!

Edit: forgot to say, he is very paranoid about voiding warranty etc! So, can this be done at home without voiding warranty? Or, in the event that warranty service needs to be done, the ram sticks could be removed possibly, bringing it back to stock?

 

[timswim78]

The MacPRo uses FB-DIMM's which are different from your standard desktop and laptop dimms. However, you can do better than $1000. Crucial is about $640 for 4 x 1GB

 

[timswim78]

Also, Apple posts installing RAM as a do it yourself. So, you will not void the warranty unless you screw things up. e.g. Pour a glass of milk into the Power Supply.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/...Pro_MemoryDIMM_DIY.pdf

 

[Illusio]

I've bought mac compatible ram from crucial before and it's worked perfectly.

 

[randomlinh]

buy ram elsewhere. but as stated, the mac pro uses FB-DIMMs, far more expensive than your run of the mill desktop memory. It really doesn't have to do w/ speed, it's more you can slap 32GB of it in there.

 

[imported_wired247]

looks like macmall is the place to go. Thanks for the help, I have passed the info along.

looks like I saved my friend about $700-800 ... maybe I can get a nice dinner out of it

 

[Kaido]

OWC is always a good choice:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Mac-Pro-Memory

For $1,000 he can get 16 gigs of ram and have $150 leftover to take you out to a fancy dinner

 

[KeithP]

I just bought 8GB of RAM for a new Mac Pro from Trans International. It works great. For his machine, depending how he wants to go, 4GB can be had for as low as $160.

http://www.transintl.com/store...648&RequestTimeOut=500

-KeithP