Max Actual RAM vs Apple RAM

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I've been contemplating maxing out the RAM on my iMac G4 (1Ghz 17" widescreen). I found out via MacTracker that Apple says the max amount of RAM is 1 GB but the actual amount is 2 GB.

Why the discrepancy? If it can actually handle 2 GB why would Apple say 1 GB? Is it risky putting 2 GB in there? Could things go horribly wrong with more RAM than Apple recommends?
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Al iMac 20" 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
Depends what iMac you have. The earlier ones could take 1, the later ones 2.

If Apple says the 1Ghz model can only take 1Gb, that is correct.

Nothing would go wrong, but it wouldn't recognise the second gig, so you will have wasted your money. If you put a 2gig stick in, it might not recognise any of it.
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini Core i7 2012 | White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz | 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver
Check up on your mac specs at everymac.com

It may be that Apple states the max is 1 gig, but people may have had success with 2 gig modules
 
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Quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro, Edge iPhone
It was probably that when the model came out, there were only 512MB and smaller modules out. Apple does not retest after the release. If Mactracker says 2GB, it will handle it nicely. However, getting to that second slot is a chore.
 
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Your Mac's Specs
iMac 17" 1Ghz G4  iPhone 3G  10.5.5
I've been contemplating maxing out the RAM on my iMac G4 (1Ghz 17" widescreen). I found out via MacTracker that Apple says the max amount of RAM is 1 GB but the actual amount is 2 GB.

Why the discrepancy? If it can actually handle 2 GB why would Apple say 1 GB? Is it risky putting 2 GB in there? Could things go horribly wrong with more RAM than Apple recommends?
I have the same model iMac. Louishen & Bryphotoguy are correct. It will take 2 GB. I'm running 1.5 GB, as I was not willing to change the internal ram. Its a chore, as mentioned and not easily accessable.
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Silver M1 iMac 512/16/8/8 macOS 11.6
Similar dated models, including the 1.25GHz eMacs are the same, designed to take 1GB RAM but handle 2x1GB modules nicely.

Go to OWC, www.macsales.com and see what is recommended for your imac. They will have it correct .
 
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17 inch 2 GHz C2D imac (5,1) with 3GB DDR2 RAM, X1600 (128MB memory) GPU - OSX 10.6.3
Delete this post please.
 

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