Memory upgrade question

I have a 1.25 GHz eMac with a superdrive and 512MB of ram. I'd like to upgrade the ram because the machine is really sluggish while running Logic. I'm saving up to get a Macbook Pro which is going to be an audio dedicated machine, but I have to make due with my eMac for now.

I have a couple of questions:
1) I have read that my model can support up to 2GB of ram and not just the 1GB that Apple says. Is this true and has anyone tried it?
2) Do I have to install the ram in a matched pair, or can I just install a single 1GB stick along with the stock 512MB?

This is the memory I was looking at ValueRAM - 1GB PC2700 DDR Desktop Memory Module - KVR333/1GETR

Thanks!

The 1.25ghz eMac can address 2 gig of ram, and you do not have to install in matched pairs.

As far as the ram you linked...it may work just fine, but personally I would go with this:

1GB PC2700 DDR 333MHz CAS 2.5 184 Pin DIMM (OWC2700DDR1024) at OWC

It costs $1.00 more...but OWC is a good place to purchase from, their stuff is guaranteed to work, they have no hassle returns, and great customer service.

Hope this helps,

- Nick

And here are their machine specs. Note it says 2GB memory so that is what it will take. At the time of manufacture 1GB modules were not available, now they are:-

System Specifications at OtherWorldComputing.com

Thanks for the info! I just placed my order with OWC so hopefully I should get the RAM by the end of the week.

+1 for choosing OWC - get all my stuff from them

steelcityrocker said:

Thanks for the info! I just placed my order with OWC so hopefully I should get the RAM by the end of the week.

Click to expand...

Good choice! OWC is a great place to shop. Their business is definitely geared towards Mac users (and they have great prices)...and so you will get the best in compatibility & customer service.

- Nick

And you will get it prior to the end of next week. Here in Australia the service through USPS sees things from OWC in my PO Box in about seven days.

So I got the 1gig RAM, installed it, and the machine is running great!

Now I'd like to upgrade from Pather to Leopard and was wondering if my machine can handle it? I've spent the better part of today cleaning out my hard drive and I plan on doing a custom install of the 10.5 since I don't need all the extra drivers, languages, and some of the included applications. I've got about 10 gigs of hard drive space and am trying to make some more.

Thanks Again!
-Jeremy

Yes your eMac can handle 10.5 from a CPU standpoint...but that 10gigs of free hard drive space is going to make things a bit tight.

One of the system requirements is 9 gig of free hard drive space:

Requirements for Mac OS X v10.5

...free up as much space as you can.

Hope this helps,

- Nick

yeah, thats what i figured. my music collection takes up a good 27 gigs, so i'm going to convert my MP3s, which are mostly 192 kbps, to AAC 160kbps to free up some space because god forbid I actually delete something from my music collection.

Or better still get say a 120GB drive and pop it in an external Firewire box, format Mac OS Extended (Journalled) and partition with Apple Partition Map, even if only one partition selected.. Back up your entire system with SuperDuper, and the external will be bootable as well as having all your music on hand.

Then with Leopard, erase and format the internal and do a clean install. Leopard on its own does, IMHO, use more than the 10GB available.

steelcityrocker, Go for the full 2gb of ram and have fun with Leopard. I run 2gb and Leopard on my 1.25 eMac, and while it does get a little slow sometimes, I've had no real problems to speak of.