14 DAY TRIAL // Apple's many products are known for many things, one of them being the general lack of easy upgradeability, but there are exceptions, like the 2013-launched Mac Pro, which has four user-upgradeable memory slots.
Transcend has just released a dual-channel memory set for the Mac Pro, one that can allow owners of the Apple computer to reach 64 GB, 96 GB and even 128 GB total capacity.
The reason this is possible is that the new Registered DIMM (RDIMM) modules, themselves, come in 16 GB and 32 GB. Multiply that by four, or mix things up (16 GB modules with 32 GB) and you get those options.
The Apple Mac Pro is the best consumer/business/professional system that Apple has, with mighty CPU options like 6-core, 3.5 GHz Intel Xeon E5, 8-core 3.0 GHz chips, or a 2.7 GHz 12-core model.
The Xeon E5 line of processors is normally used in high-end workstations, so they can always use more RAM backing them up.
Sure, you don't need more than 16 GB or 32 GB for normal operations, but when you start performing 2D graphics design, photo retouching and HD video editing, things go slower and slower. More RAM is the easiest way to make it all go faster.
That goes doubly so for 3D graphic design, 4K video editing. Gaming is another thing, but at least that area is well covered, since current-generation technology is more than good enough to run even the latest titles at max settings, even with just 8 GB or 16 GB of DDR3 available, or less if you don't need multi-monitor setups.
The new 16 GB Transcend DDR3 modules have a frequency of 1866 MHz, while the 32 GB ones run at 1333 MHz.
For those who want to know the difference between RDIMM and normal DIMM, the former has a register between the DRAM modules and the system's memory controller. They place less electrical load on the latter, improving system stability and making it possible to use more modules safely, all in exchange for a higher price.
Finally, RDIMM and normal DIMM memory cannot be mixed, so if you, say, buy just two of these new Transcend modules, you won't be able to just put normal RAM in the remaining ones. The default RAM (12/16 GB with ECC) should work in combinations though, so you'll be covered.
All in all, the new modules from Transcend are the equivalent of the RAM products periodically released for Windows servers and high-end workstations, both single- and dual-socket variants.