Secret Firmware Update Lets Late '08 MacBooks Use 8GB of RAM
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Posted March 5, 2011 at 1:06am by iClarified · 33458 views
OWC has discovered that a 'secret' firmware update has enabled access to 8GB of RAM on late '08 MacBooks.
In late 2009, an EFI Firmware Update was released to address the buzzing noises coming from the optical drive. However, it seems that somewhere along the line, Apple changed this update without notating it anywhere.
Whether any other elements were affected by this change is undetermined, but it did change memory addressing; with the later version of the update installed, you could address a full 8GB in Snow Leopard. Unfortunately, Software Update doesnt show this version as being different from the previous one, so users wouldnt be notified if they had already updated their firmware to the older version.
This discovery applies to the following MacBook models: ● MacBook 13.3" 2.0GHz and 2.4GHz ● MacBook Pro 15" 2.4GHz (All) ● MacBook Pro 15" 2.53GHz model w/ExpressCard Slot (Late 2008) ● MacBook Pro 15" 2.8GHz model w/ExpressCard Slot (Late 2008)
Check your BootROM version in System Profiler and make sure its MBP51.007E.B05 for MacBook Pros and MB51.007D.B03 for MacBooks.
Saw this post today. Im currently running 2x2GB DDR2 (4 GB total) on my Old Mac Book Pro Core 2 Duo (Silver Keys). Wont let me do the update as it says i dont need it. My bootroom version is MBP41.00C1.B03. So i went to my local computer store today and figured it try my luck...they only had one one 4gb DDR2 chip in stock so i bought it anyways and ordered the second to arrive next week sometime....Happy to say I just put the one 4gb chip along with one of my old 2gb for a total of 6gb and System Profiler is recognizing all 6gb no problem!!!! Computer is considerably faster. Will keep you all posted when i drop the other 4gb in next week for a total of 8!!! YEEEEHAAAAA!!!!
Ok...update....just had my first crash....screen and mouse froze after about two hours of running normally, browsing, watching videos, music, etc. The computer also got quite hot just before the crash so im guessing the processors were working their asses off.... Restarted the computer and everything is fine again. Im guessing the RAM did it but not sure.
I have this system:
Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,1
Boot ROM Version: MBP51.007E.B05
Do i need to flash with this?
MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8
OR just to buy 2x4GB ram?
thanks..
I have been using my Unibody MBP 2.53 w/ express card (Late 08) with 8GB ram for almost a month.. not even a glitch! if u want to know what kind of ram to buy try this one.. its cheap and it works flawlessly =] http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Modules-1066MHz-KTA-MB1066K2-8G/dp/B001PS9UKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299346060&sr=8-1
and YES.. i spent like two days doing research on the web before i bough them, almost everybody said that it would only recognize 6gb... but a couple of people got it to work with 8gb (i'm one of those ;) )
yup! I also swap the original 320 GB 5400rpm drive with a 750 GB 7200rpm drive... so YES i can see a difference. But that's just up to the software u use! i mean do u use photoshop or illustrator for example? in those u can feel the difference right away. but system wise is a little harder to note... specially if u had 4gb of ram before you put the 2x4gb modules. I hope this helps u out.