Kingston Apple 4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules) 667MHz DDR2 SoDimm iMac and Macbook Memory (KTA-MB667K2/4GR)
by Kingston H. Corporation
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Kingston Apple 4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules) 667MHz DDR2 SoDimm iMac and Macbook Memory (KTA-MB667K2/4GR)
Customer Review: Worked like a charm
Summary: 5 Stars
I have wanted to upgrade from the 2 gig of RAM in my MacBook Pro for awhile because I run VMWare Fusion so I can work with Windows-based statistical programs that have no Mac equivalent. Running Fusion and Mac programs at the same time brought my system to a crawl. I checked the Apple store for RAM and their price for 2 gb was almost 4 times that of the Kingston RAM. So I took a chance and went with the Kingston after first insuring it was compatible with the Mac (Checked the Mac by clicking on the Apple icon and then "About This Mac" to know what kind of memory was already in the system and then compared it to the Kingston memory specs.)
Through Google, I then found a YouTube video on how to install RAM in a Mac. I had been inside many PCs but the Mac is a different animal. Apple generally does not like you mucking around inside. Excepting that the screws you need to take off to get to the RAM slots are teeny tiny and require an ultra small Phillips-head screwdriver, installation was a breeze. You slide off the battery compartment cover, remove the battery, unscrew the 3 screws holding the RAM latch in place, pop up and pull out the existing RAM, pop into place and rest the new RAM, and close it back up. Took me about 10 minutes tops and most of that time was fiddling with the screws. You just need to be careful when you snap the RAM in place that you do not use too much force.
After installation, the Mac started right up and recognized the new RAM immediately. It has made VMWare run much peppier than before, greatly decreasing the load time and the time to switch between VMWare and MAC apps much shorter. I have been running it for about a month now with no problems to report.
Overall, I recommend this as a good product at a very good price and certainly worth the investment if your machine has been sluggish due to running multiple or memory-hogging apps. If, however, your machine is slow because of a slow Internet connection or slow hard drive reads from, for example, an external hard drive or flash drive, this will not make a difference in performance in those instances.
Customer Review: As advertised: works well, great value
Summary: 5 Stars
USAGE: I love it when things work as expected, and this does. I bought my early-2008 version of a 15" MacBookPro with 2GB RAM; it has and continues to serve me very well. I don't have Photoshop or Aperture, don't use iMovie or other heavy graphics apps, and don't use my MBP for Windows, but spend most of the day in Microsoft Office for Mac, Apple Mail, iPhoto, many tabs/windows of Safari, iCal, occasionally iTunes for iPhone sync'ing, Time Machine, and iBank. I also use Norton Internet Security for Mac and it appears to use lots of system resources, but I've chosen to accept this for the additional security. In Activity Monitor-System Memory I noticed the Page outs number getting pretty high and wondered if more RAM would help, even though Apple's Snow Leopard does a solid job of memory management. So I took the plunge and replaced the existing Apple 2GB RAM with the Kingston 4GB chips. The actual removal and replacement was all of 4 minutes work, and upon restarting the MacBookPro all of the memory was immediately recognized and validated.
RESULTS: In the month since, Activity Monitor rarely shows any Page outs now, and I typically have 1/2GB "wired," 1GB "Active," 1/2GB "Inactive," and the remaining 2GB free until I do some iPhoto work. Have I seen performance improvement? Er, sort of. Certainly iPhoto, with about 10,000 pictures in one of my libraries, once the application is open, runs very noticeably faster for sorting, creating events/albums, and even editing. The rest of my activities do seem a bit faster though I don't have measurements to prove this. For my uses, I am very satisified with the return on my C-note investment.
SPEED MATCHING: The Kingston and Apple memory upgrade recommendations suggest matching computer speeds with memory speeds so I bought the 667MHz memory. Other reviewers have suggested using faster chips, 800MHz or better, but I chose to go with the advice from the two manufacturers. I don't know if I'm experiencing a speed penalty or avoided an incompatibility, but as I mentioned in the beginning of the review, it all works and works well.
Customer Review: iMac users Do Not Hesitate to do this yourself!
Summary: 5 Stars
My iMac "Agatha" is almost 4 years old now. When I first hired her she was lightning fast. At least it seemed that way to me.
But after I've learned to use her better and for more things to do all at once she seem to be taking a little more time to think things over between applications.
We considered (she and I) getting her "implants" to boost her confidence and make her feel younger again. I assured her that I loved her and she would always be good enough for me, and more than I really deserved, but you know how they get when they feel old.
I was worried about the cost of the surgery down at the Genius Bar, but it didn't seem like a do it yourself project to me, I was afraid of damaging her.
We bought the Kingston kit 4GB size.
I lay her on her back propped up on a book, removed two phillips screws from the center bottom panel, revealing two boards and two levers.
Popped the levers open with my fingers, wiggled the boards loose, put in the two kit boards, closed the levers, replaced the panel (two screws), and the job was done.
plugged her in and now she the fastest thing on the planet again (or it seems that way to me).
The only ill effect is that I seem to have lost that little spinning wheel that used to show up when I asked Agatha to do something different than what we were doing.
I'm not sure where it went, but its okay I never knew what it was for anyway. She doesn't seem to miss it.
Now she moves from task to task, almost before I ask her, and seems quite pleased with herself about it.
I recommend this to anyone who wants to give a special Christmas present to the one they love, in my case Aggie.
And don't be afraid to do it yourself. It is "me" proof and doesn't need anymore instructions than the simple few I've just shared.
Edward M. Cline Raleigh NC.
Customer Review: Jumpstart your MacBook Pro
Summary: 5 Stars
Purchased this RAM for my 2007 Macbook Pro. After years of great use out of my machine, things were slowing down and crashing every so often - even with frequent OS updates to Snow Leopard. Decided to get the Kingston RAM since I've used some of their products before and have never had a problem.
Pros:
- Speed Boost! The payoff is immediate. Upon first re-boot of the system ( 1st reboot is the only thing that will take longer as the computer sees the new RAM) you will see much faster load up times across all programs (iTunes, iPhoto, all office apps, Photoshop, etc.). Even using Safari and Chrome is noticeably faster. Using programs such as Powerpoint you will start to see the big improvements in slide loads and overall speed. Great system stability with multiple programs running and video playing, seems I can't crash it anymore.
- EASY install. All you need is a small phillips screw driver (jewelry type) and that's it. Great guide at www.ifixit.com, pick your appropriate model and you'll see the steps. Just three steps to install in my case and all with big pictures, can't be easier.
Cons:
- None really. Have a short time using it so I don't know how the product will have any future problems but that seems unlikely.
Only thing to note is that I could have purchased a generic RAM brand and probably have gotten the same results. However, I feel this is a reliable brand and I've used them before so the premium was justified to me. Package is 1st class and everything worked right away - would HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking to breathe new life into an older mac.
Customer Review: Cheap and easy upgrade
Summary: 5 Stars
There's an old adage in the computer world: "Buy more memory -- it's cheaper than therapy." This upgrade kit is the exemplification of that!
Open your Activity Monitor, and check your System Memory -- if you're starting to see "Page Outs" greater than 20% of your "Page Ins" during normal use, you should consider this ultra-cheap remedy! For those folks who want the ultimate in performance and consider this price to be "pocket change", if you're seeing *any* Page Outs, go for it!
To make sure this is the right memory for your Mac, open your System Profiler and look at your existing "Memory" entry to make sure that your system will use the 667MHz DDR2 RAM. Paying extra money for RAM that's spec'd faster than your system can take advantage of may not be the best use of your money!
The installation is a breeze on a MacBook like ours. Power down, remove the battery, remove 2 (really small!) screws and the shield they hold in place, pop your old memory out using the two levers, then reverse the process with your new memory. Power on, and check it out! Get back into Activity Monitor to see your RAM usage, or check with System Profiler to make sure it's all there.
You should be careful handling the RAM -- don't touch the metal contacts, only pick it up by the edges, and always make sure your other hand is in contact with the metal in your MacBook when handling these SoDIMMs to prevent any static jolts to the chips.
Pop out, plug in, and rock on!