# Changing memory in Mac Pro **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197 "2012-04-08T20:32:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TNWPsycho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/47e85d/32.png) [@TNWPsycho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TNWPsycho)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/1 "2012-04-08T20:32:39Z")
I recently just updated my memory in my Mac Pro I went from 6gb at 1066mhz to 8gb at what should be 1600mhz In the “about this mac” section, 6gb changed to 8gb, but the processor speed stayed at 1066mhz Any ideas what is going on? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/2 "2012-04-08T20:57:21Z")
Your RAM speed is different from your processor speed. You’d have to change the CPU or overclock it (can Macs do that?). Different computers support different max RAM speeds. If you buy too fast it just lowers the speed, ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/3 "2012-04-08T21:56:15Z")
> [@TNWPsycho](#): > > I recently just updated my memory in my Mac Pro > > I went from 6gb at 1066mhz to 8gb at what should be 1600mhz > > In the “about this mac” section, 6gb changed to 8gb, but the processor speed stayed at 1066mhz > > Any ideas what is going on? Your Mac Pro only supports a memory speed of 1066 MHz. Installing higher rated memory won’t change that. The system will run it at the supported speed. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/4 "2012-04-08T22:25:06Z")
> [@TNWPsycho](#): > > I recently just updated my memory in my Mac Pro > > I went from 6gb at 1066mhz to 8gb at what should be 1600mhz > > In the “about this mac” section, 6gb changed to 8gb, but the processor speed stayed at 1066mhz > > Any ideas what is going on? the speed of the bus is fixed by the design. Adding faster memory won’t change that. This is true of all computers, not just macs. ---
**Author:** ![TNWPsycho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/47e85d/32.png) [@TNWPsycho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TNWPsycho)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/5 "2012-04-09T03:38:36Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Your RAM speed is different from your processor speed. You’d have to change the CPU or overclock it (can Macs do that?). > > Different computers support different max RAM speeds. If you buy too fast it just lowers the speed, How would i go about updating RAM speed? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/6 "2012-04-09T03:39:18Z")
> [@TNWPsycho](#): > > How would i go about updating RAM speed? Get a new machine. ---
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/7 "2012-04-09T03:41:16Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Get a new machine. Pretty much. You’ll need a new machine that can support the faster RAM speeds. Or a new motherboard, but Macs aren’t that serviceable. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-memory-in-mac-pro/618197/8 "2012-04-09T04:57:42Z")
If you want to look at overclocking the Mac (or upgrading the processors), wander over to the forums at [www.macrumors.com](http://www.macrumors.com), particularly the “Mac Pro” forum. Depending on your model, there may be a few processor upgrades that will work (or there may be none). However, having looked at this, I can tell you that for most folks it’s going to be way more trouble and expense than it’s worth. Mac Pros are meant to be expandable (i.e. adding hard drives, RAM, PCI cards, Video), not upgradable (changing motherboard components/clocking).