How do you upgrade the RAM in the 17-Inch "Early 2009/Unibody" MacBook Pro? How much RAM of what type does it support?

Please note that all Macs mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. The "Early 2009/Unibody" 17-Inch MacBook Pro was replaced by the "Mid-2009" 17-Inch MacBook Pro on June 8, 2009.

Upgrading the memory in the 17-Inch "Unibody/Early 2009" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 17-Inch (Early 2009/Unibody) -- is not quite as easy as it is in previous 17-Inch MacBook Pro models, which didn't even require a screwdriver, but it is still pretty straightforward.

The Apple Support Site has posted a detailed article on "How to Install Memory" in the 17-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro and covers the same material in pages 45-49 of the 17-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro User Guide (PDF). This likely will provide everything you need to upgrade the stock memory.

The support document starts by reporting that the 17-Inch "Unibody" MacBook Pro:

Has two memory slots that you access by removing the bottom case. Your MacBook Pro comes with a minimum of 4 gigabytes (GB) of 1066 MHz Double Data Rate (DDR3) Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (SDRAM) installed.

Each memory slot can accept an SDRAM module that meets the following specifications:

• Double Data Rate Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module (DDR3) format
• 1.25 inch (3.18 cm)
• 2 GB or 4 GB
• 204-pin
• PC3-8500 DDR3 1066 MHz type RAM

You can add two 4 GB memory modules for a maximum of 8 GB of memory. For best performance, fill both memory slots and install an identical memory module in each slot.

The Apple document goes on to provide installation instructions complete with drawings, which absolutely should be read in their entirety before one installs memory, but perhaps even better, site sponsor Other World Computing provides a convenient step-by-step video of the process:

In addition to providing upgrade videos, as you would expect, site sponsor Other World Computing also sells memory and hard drive upgrades for all "Unibody" MacBook and MacBook Pro systems.