When I get back in town Monday I have to max out the memory on the 8proc Nehalem.

8 slots and filled with 2GB 1066mhz DDR3 memory will cost around $800 from memory stores but Apple is only $500 extra (but this doenst take into account the removal of 6 -1GB chips so like around the same price)

So 16GB for 800 is not bad but the program I am running might really get done with 32GB. But either no one sells the 4GB DDR3 or I am not looking in the right place. Apple add on to get it to 32 GB is $6,100 which is a tad pricey.

Anyone know where they sell the 4GB stix for cheaper? They have to be DDR3 and 1066 mhz. (I think those are the two specs I have to have.)

Try this.

OWC has 32 Gig kits at $3950.00.

At those prices wouldn't it be better to split the work between 2 new machines with 16 GB o'ram? Or can you not split up the work?

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Two machines, identical specs, each with 16 Gb of RAM. As long as your app can recognize nodes/do the distributed computing thang.

You do realize since you're on the front edge of the technology trend you'll pay through the nose. Give 4G chips a few months and you'll get them for about 10% of what they are now.

Are the sticks ECC?

Crucial has 12GB kits (4GB x 3) for $560.

8 slots for DDR3 seems odd. Usually you see multiples of 3 on motherboards.

Ive had the same issue tho with a mac pro dual quad core, searched all over the net, finally my boss had some cheap ones laying around

The Mac Pro Only takes ECC ram chips (older or latest), and than again only in pairs of two equal size on each board, installing em is easy

Keep in mind, there`s nowadays three kinds of Mac pro memory, 667 mhz, 800 mhz, and the latest 1066, if you happen to get a cheap deal, check the frequency speed, it might be a old version

Some I can split, some I can't. I might have to try one machine at 32GB to see if I can get a dramatic cut in the job time. But you're right, for the dollar, just better to buy more boxes with 16GB.

The gun just went off on the project and I have 6 months to deliver. Can't wait, have to fix the data pipeline this week, two weeks max.