The MacBook Pro all uses the same kind of RAM. The only differences are the maximum amount of RAM you can install. The earliest models could only handle 3GB max, later on this was increased to 4GB. The differences are in the Intel chipsets.

Beginning with the unibody enclosure, all MacBook Pros require DDR3 RAM. This is NOT backwards compatible with DDR or DDR2 RAM. Please note that the maximum RAM for the 15" is 4GB while the 17" model has a max capacity of 8GB (2x4GB).

In June of 2009, Apple updated the entire MacBook Pro lineup and added a 13" model which now supports 8GB of RAM. Along side, all 15" and 17" models were also upgraded to support up to 8GB of RAM.

MacBook Pro

Intel Core Duo Processor



1.83/2.0/2.16 GHz Core Duo
PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM
Max RAM 2 GB

1.83/2.0/2.16 GHz Core Duo (15/17")
PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM
Max RAM 2 GB


Intel Core 2 Duo Processor



2.16/2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo (15/17")
PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM
Max RAM 3 GB

2.16/2.33/2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (15/17" Late 2007)
PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM
Max RAM 4 GB

2.4/2.5/2.6 GHz Core 2 Duo (15/17" Spring 2008)
PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM
Max RAM 4 GB

Unibody Aluminum Enclosure



15” Model
2.4/2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo (15” Fall 2008)
PC3-8500 DDR3 SODIMM
Max RAM 4 GB



17” Model
2.66/2.93 GHz Core 2 Duo (17” Jan 2009)
PC3-8500 DDR3 SODIMM
Max RAM 8 GB



13” Model
2.26/2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo (13” Mid-2009)
PC3-8500 DDR3 SODIMM
Max RAM 8 GB



15” Model
2.53/2.66/2.8/3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo (15” Mid-2009)
PC3-8500 DDR3 SODIMM
Max RAM 8 GB



17” Model
2.8/3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo (17” Mid-2009)
PC3-8500 DDR3 SODIMM
Max RAM 8 GB



All Models
12/15/17” Models (Spring 2010)
PC3-8500 DDR3 SODIMM
Max RAM 8 GB