MacBookPro3,1 RAM upgrade issues

I have a 2008 MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" , running OS 10.11.6, that according to documentation, can be upgraded to 6GB of RAM (it currently has 4GB of RAM, 2x2GB chips) After inserting the correct 4GB RAM chip, the mac goes into this reboot loop!


Is there anything I need to do post RAM install to resolve this issue? Is this a known issue with these RAM upgrades for this mac laptop? Appreciate any insight. Thank you.


[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Aug 4, 2025 08:41 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 4, 2025 03:01 PM

John Ghadimi wrote:

I have a 2008 MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" , running OS 10.11.6, that according to documentation, can be upgraded to 6GB of RAM


According to whose documentation? Apple clearly specifies 4 GB is the maximum. Assuming that title is correct, it conflicts with the description because a MacBookPro3,1 is a 2007 model.


MacBook Pro: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support


Aside from that, it is unclear to me what you installed:


(it currently has 4GB of RAM, 2x2GB chips) After inserting the correct 4GB RAM chip, ...


What is installed now? 4 GB? 8 GB? Or something else?


In any event revert to a supported configuration, whatever that was. As Grant Bennet-Alder wrote RAM must be exactly what is required by that documentation. 2, 3, and 4 GB configurations are supported.

5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 4, 2025 03:01 PM in response to John Ghadimi

John Ghadimi wrote:

I have a 2008 MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" , running OS 10.11.6, that according to documentation, can be upgraded to 6GB of RAM


According to whose documentation? Apple clearly specifies 4 GB is the maximum. Assuming that title is correct, it conflicts with the description because a MacBookPro3,1 is a 2007 model.


MacBook Pro: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support


Aside from that, it is unclear to me what you installed:


(it currently has 4GB of RAM, 2x2GB chips) After inserting the correct 4GB RAM chip, ...


What is installed now? 4 GB? 8 GB? Or something else?


In any event revert to a supported configuration, whatever that was. As Grant Bennet-Alder wrote RAM must be exactly what is required by that documentation. 2, 3, and 4 GB configurations are supported.

Aug 4, 2025 03:22 PM in response to John Ghadimi

<< I got a 4GB DDR2 667 MHz PC2-5300 chip. >>


That is the same top-level description. Some sellers push faster parts or slower parts and sell them as that spec. But in a Mac that is NOT good enough. There are also additional internal timings that are very important.


IF you choose to go off the path Apple has specified, you must buy from a dealer who can support you. That is why I asked, ¿Where did you get this RAM from? Department store RAM is usually perfectly good, but often does not work in your Mac.


Did this come from a dealer who knows Macs -- where you send them your model Mac, and they provide devices that would work, or your money back?


Did you try it in each of the two slots, by itself?

Aug 4, 2025 08:56 AM in response to John Ghadimi

2 GB. Maximum RAM:6 GB*

Details:2 GB installed as two 1 GB modules. No slots free.


*Apple officially supports a maximum of 4 GB of RAM but third-parties have been able to upgrade the system to 6 GB of RAM using one 2 GB and one 4 GB memory module.

from:

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.2-15-santa-rosa-specs.html


Readers report that MacBook Pro RAM must be EXACTLY the correct spec in all parameters, not slower than required, and surprisingly NOT faster either.


Where did you get the module you added?

How do you know it is the correct spec for your Mac?

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MacBookPro3,1 RAM upgrade issues

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