OWC Offers Mac Pro Memory-Upgrade Kits

By John Laposky On Apr 6 2009 - 6:00am

Other World Computing (OWC) is now shipping a full line of memory-upgrade kits for Apple's recent Mac Pro Nehalem models.

The kits feature high-performance multichannel 1,066MHz DDR3 72-bit ECC memory upgrades of up to 32GB.

OWC claimed the upgrades provide Mac Pro users up to 70 percent in savings from Apple factory upgrade options, as well as up to three 4GB module-based upgrades not offered by the factory: 12GB (three 4GB), 16GB (four 4GB) and 24GB (six 4GB, 8-core models only).

As an example, OWC sited the 32GB factory memory upgrade for the Mac Pro 8-core costs $6,100, compared with the OWC 32GB Memory Kit priced at $1,799.

In addition to the savings offered by OWC upgrades, Mac Pro owners also have the option of retaining their original factory memory modules to be set aside for future use or sending the modules to OWC for a cash-back trade-in of up to $20 per Apple factory memory module.

OWC's kits are engineered to meet, if not exceed, Apple Design specifications, including the use of Apple required thermal sensor-equipped board design and chip components. The chips sets are fully RoHS and JEDEC compliant.

Like all OWC memory upgrade options, the Mac Pro kits are backed with a money back guarantee and OWC's lifetime advance replacement warranty.

Pricing for kits compatible with 2009 Mac Pro uad-Core 2.66GHz and 2.93GHZ models are as follows:

• 6GB (three 2GB matched memory modules), $109;

• 8GB (four 2GB matched memory modules), $145;

• 12GB (three 4GB matched memory modules), $749; and

• 16GB (four 4GB matched memory modules), $979.

Pricing for kits compatible with 2009 Mac Pro 8-core 2.26GHz, 2.66GHz, and 2.93GHz models are as follows:

• 8GB (four 2GB matched memory modules), $145;

• 12GB (six 2GB matched memory modules), $218;

• 16GB (eight 2GB matched memory modules), $289;

• 12GB (three 4GB matched memory modules), $749;

• 16GB (four 4GB matched memory modules), $979;

• 24GB (six 4GB matched memory modules),$1,399; and

• 32GB (eight 4GB matched memory modules), $1,799.

To assist both existing and new model Mac Pro owners in selecting the correct memory upgrade for any 2006 to 2009 Mac Pro model, OWC has created a guide that shows what RAM type and speed each Mac Pro model utilizes at http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Mac-Pro-Memory

OWC cited independent memory benchmark testing on a wide variety of Mac computers that consistently demonstrated system performance gains when memory was upgraded. In a battery of tests conducted with 2009 Mac Pro models that utilized as much as 90 percent of installed memory, OWC found that they could improve even “the fastest Mac ever” performance by up to 51 percent with the addition of an OWC kit.

The company said performance gains are even more apparent when using memory intensive applications, such as audio/video, photo and 3-D modeling simultaneously with other regularly used workflow processes, like downloading a large file, replying to an email, and having several Web browsers open.

For complete benchmark test results on the 2009 Mac Pro Quad-Core and 8-Core models, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/reviews/benchmarks/nehalemTests.html

The kits are supported with a free online instructional video to simplify user installation. They are available at http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/installation.cfm.