OWC ships 16GB RAM chips for 2009, 2010 Mac Pros
updated 11:50 pm EDT, Wed June 1, 2011
16GB Chips max out at up to 96GB
Other World Computing has launched 16GB RAM chips for Mac Pro 2009 and 2010 models, exceeding factory-shipped maximums by a factor of 1.5x to 3x -- allowing maximums of 48GB or more depending on configuration and available memory slots, with a 12-core 2010 model reaching 96GB of RAM. Kits are available for both 2009 and 2010 models.
For Mac Pro 2009 Quad-Core and 2010 Quad- and 6-core machines, OWC is offering a set of three 16GB chips, maxing the RAM at 48GB, while 2009 8-Core and 2010 8- and 12-Core Mac Pros have the option of six 16GB chips, reaching 96GB of RAM. Though the respective machines offer four and eight slots, at 16GB of RAM per chip the Mac Pro models reach their maximum addressable RAM at three or six chips. For these RAM sets, the fourth or the seventh and eighth slots won't support additional RAM, meaning any current chips in those positions would need to be removed.
The RAM chips are 240-pin SDRAM DIMM 1333MHZ DDR3 ECC rated, which are recognized as 1066MHz in the Mac Pros because of the 16GB chip density. The packages offer Triple-Channel addressing for maximum real-word throughput. The new RAM chips also meet Apple's thermal specifications.
The 48GB (3x16GB) RAM option, for Nehalem 2009 Quad-Core and Westmere 2010 Quad- and 6-Core Mac Pros, costs $1,600. The 96GB (6x16GB) set for Nehalem 2009 8-Core and Westmere 2010 8- and 12-Core Mac Pros is $3,180. Both configurations are shipping today.
