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I’ve got a MBP 13′ (mid-2010) 2.4 Core 2 Duo (full specs below) that I’m now operating solely under Win7 64Bit. It formerly run as well under OS X 10.6.8, relatively to which the firmware seems up to date (MBP71.0039.B0B).

Would my system recognize 16 GB RAM if operated under Win7 64 Bit? Or would it require the latest firmware (MBP71.0039.B0E) of OS-X 10.7.5 (which was never installed on my MBP) anyway?

As far as I have read elsewhere, using 16 GB RAM under OS X seems to definitely require this later version of OS X (including the respective firmware update); so I'd like to know whether this is an issue of OS X or (as I suspect) the firmware.

  • Modellname: MacBook Pro
  • Modell-Identifizierung: MacBookPro7,1
  • Prozessortyp: Intel Core 2 Duo
  • Prozessorgeschwindigkeit: 2,4 GHz
  • Anzahl der Prozessoren: 1
  • Gesamtzahl der Kerne: 2
  • L2-Cache: 3 MB
  • Speicher: 4 GB
  • Busgeschwindigkeit: 1,07 GHz
  • Boot-ROM-Version: MBP71.0039.B0B
  • SMC-Version (System): 1.62f6

2 Answers 2

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According to Apple your MacBook Pro only supports 8 GB RAM, however Mactracker says it will support 16 GB.

Also at MacSales.com have a look at Upgrades for MacBook and MacBook Pro 'Unibody' Models 2008 – 2010 and 16.0GB OWC Memory Upgrade Kit show your model MBP supporting 16 GB RAM. Or at Crucial, see: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) compatible upgrades

16 GB OWC Memory Upgrade Kit

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Your particular MacBook Pro can, per EveryMac.com, support up to 16GB of RAM.

enter image description here

As noted in the specs, it would need to be updated past 10.7.5 to obtain the latest EFI updates so that it would recognize the 16GB. So, prior to installing the memory, you should install a newer OS Mavericks, Yosemite, etc. should be fine.

Based on your question about the firmware version, according to Apple Support, you have the latest version; so your system should be able to address the full 16GB

enter image description here

As for the memory, I have personally installed a Crucial 16GB PC3-8500 kit in my mid-2010 MacBook Pro with zero issues. My preference is to use branded memory with lifetime warranties; no company is perfect and there will be failures, but I want to know that I am supported for the long haul.

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  • Thanks! But my firmware version is not this latest one (MBP71.0039.B0B - "B" instead of "E"), and I did not get an update suggestion since my latest version of OS-X had been 10.6.8 and not 10.7.5 ff. As I said, at current, my MBP only runs under Win7 64Bit, i. e., I removed OS-X from my machine.
    – Roland
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 15:14
  • ... so the big question is whether my firmware would prevent me from using 16GB RAM under Win7 as well, or whether this restriction is due to a driver issue
    – Roland
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 15:17
  • .. so the big question is whether my firmware would prevent me from using 16GB RAM under Win7 as well, or whether this restriction is due to to an issue pertaining to OS-X rather than the firmware, and would thus not show up under Win7.
    – Roland
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 15:20
  • Why would it not show up in Windows 7?
    – Allan
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 15:24
  • I'm not claiming that the issue wouldn't show up under Win7, but I'm just trying to figure out whether there might be a chance that this is so. There have been related prior postings that indicate that this might indeed be an issue pertaining to OS-X rather than the firmware - e. g, see link: one answer says "If you load Windows 7 onto the MacBook Pro (2010 i5 or i7) with 16GB RAM loaded, Windows 7 will boot OK and be able to see/address the 16GB RAM.".
    – Roland
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 16:05

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