Want to upgrade iMac's RAM

Rhypht · Rhypht #1 (**permalink**)

03-10-2012, 10:31 AM

I bought one of the new iMacs recently, but at the time I only got 4GB RAM in it. I'd like to up the RAM now to 8, and eventually 16GB. When I contacted Apple about it, they told me that 8GB of the RAM that my computer takes (1333MHz DDR3 memory) was going to run me $400. Now, I haven't ever messed with RAM upgrades, but that number seems a bit ridiculous. With about two minutes of looking online, I found a set of two 4GB sticks of that same exact RAM for $29.

Why do they charge so much for it? Is the RAM that Apple tries to sell you vastly superior to this other stuff in any way? Would there be any difference at all between shelling out for the $400 RAM and just going with cheaper memory online?

louishen · louishen #2 (**permalink**)

03-10-2012, 11:12 AM

Make sure the spec is the same and do the upgrade yourself.

Never buy the extra RAM from Apple unless you have money to burn

Rottie · Rottie #3 (**permalink**)

03-10-2012, 02:54 PM

I totally agree with louishen's comment. Apple really and truly are extortionate when it comes to pricing on RAM.

There are two main sites I would recommend for buying RAM, depending on your location.
If you're in the US, I would suggest Other World Computing (OWC) and if you're in the UK, I would suggest http://www.crucial.com.

I hope this info helps.

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #4 (**permalink**)

03-11-2012, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhypht

Is the RAM that Apple tries to sell you vastly superior to this other stuff in any way?

To be brutally honest, it's just Samsung, Nanya, or any other number of largely Chinese manufacturers RAM. As has been said before, OWC/Crucial etc. You can get 2 8gb sticks for less than Apple charges for 2 4gb sticks.(OWC)

Demapples · Demapples #5 (**permalink**)

03-11-2012, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rottie

I totally agree with louishen's comment. Apple really and truly are extortionate when it comes to pricing on RAM.

There are two main sites I would recommend for buying RAM, depending on your location.
If you're in the US, I would suggest Other World Computing (OWC) and if you're in the UK, I would suggest http://www.crucial.com.

I hope this info helps.

In Canada: CanandaRam folks in BC very helpful.

pharealmac · pharealmac #6 (**permalink**)

03-11-2012, 06:06 AM

I just upgraded my 2011 iMac 2.7 I5 to 12gb for $87 + postage - 4+4 +2+2 sticks of ram
I agree with the other posters,apple ram is way to expensive,& i had it installed within 10 min,s

Krzykat · Krzykat #7 (**permalink**)

03-13-2012, 11:50 PM

Just bought 8GB of Crucial RAM from Amazon for $39. Hopefully I will have it by the end of the week so I can do the upgrade. Hoping it's the right memory, but it matched the specs Crucial got after scanning my system.

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #8 (**permalink**)

03-14-2012, 12:05 AM

If it's matching the Crucial scanner, it should be good. As long as the packaging was labelled correctly (it happens), of course.. Amazon's great about replacing things.

louishen #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Location: London Posts: 8,682 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core i7 2012 \| White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz \| 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver	03-10-2012, 11:12 AM Make sure the spec is the same and do the upgrade yourself. Never buy the extra RAM from Apple unless you have money to burn Member of the Month September 2008 & August 2012 \| Found advice useful? – use the rep system
	QUOTE Thanks

Dysfunction #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 17, 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 6,588 Mac Specs: 2008 and 2011 15" mbps, late 11 iMac, iPhone 4s, and too many ipods and other stuff	03-14-2012, 12:05 AM If it's matching the Crucial scanner, it should be good. As long as the packaging was labelled correctly (it happens), of course.. Amazon's great about replacing things. mike This machine kills fascists Got # ? phear the command line!
	QUOTE Thanks

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Rhypht #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 13, 2011 Posts: 6	03-10-2012, 10:31 AM I bought one of the new iMacs recently, but at the time I only got 4GB RAM in it. I'd like to up the RAM now to 8, and eventually 16GB. When I contacted Apple about it, they told me that 8GB of the RAM that my computer takes (1333MHz DDR3 memory) was going to run me $400. Now, I haven't ever messed with RAM upgrades, but that number seems a bit ridiculous. With about two minutes of looking online, I found a set of two 4GB sticks of that same exact RAM for $29. Why do they charge so much for it? Is the RAM that Apple tries to sell you vastly superior to this other stuff in any way? Would there be any difference at all between shelling out for the $400 RAM and just going with cheaper memory online?
	QUOTE Thanks

pharealmac #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 29, 2009 Location: Sydney,Australia Posts: 50 Mac Specs: Imac 27 I5-MBP 13-Ipad 2 Iphone 4 -ATV 2G	03-11-2012, 06:06 AM I just upgraded my 2011 iMac 2.7 I5 to 12gb for $87 + postage - 4+4 +2+2 sticks of ram I agree with the other posters,apple ram is way to expensive,& i had it installed within 10 min,s
	QUOTE Thanks

Krzykat #7 (permalink)
Member Since: May 05, 2011 Posts: 41	03-13-2012, 11:50 PM Just bought 8GB of Crucial RAM from Amazon for $39. Hopefully I will have it by the end of the week so I can do the upgrade. Hoping it's the right memory, but it matched the specs Crucial got after scanning my system.
	QUOTE Thanks

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