Maximum RAM Upgrade for G4 eMac 1.42GHz

Good morning All Experts and Mac Faithfull,

This should be a simple question but has been complicated by opposing companys who are equally well respected in the world of memory upgrades.

Problem: My G4 eMac (2005) 1.42GHz was shipped with 256 mb RAM - not unusual when it was manufactured though always a little challenged with a few applications open.
It needs a maximum RAM upgrade now and that type of RAM is getting scarce i.e. there are less companies stocking/selling certain RAM modules; the 1GB sticks specifically.

Both Other World Computing and Crucial have 'configurators' on their sites. I enter my details and get a different answer from each !
Obviously this necessitated emailing both parties for an explanation: both stand by their configurators so, OWC guarantee that their PC2700 DDR 333MHz 184-pin 1GB modules can be fitted as a pair, taking the eMac to 2GB; Crucial were asked if their 1GB modules were identical to OWC [I sent them the OWC link] and they agreed they were the same. Crucial then said this:

"Unfortunately, I have double checked the serial number for the eMac that you have provided, and I can confirm that your computer can only take a total maximum of 1GB of memory over two slots. So the 2GB kit with reference CT2KIT12864Z335 that you have mentioned, will actually not work as it’s more than your computer can support."

Confused !
They can't both be right and as stated; OWC guarantee compatability on the basis that it's well known (especially in Apple circles) the G4 eMac 1.42GHz runs best with 2GB of RAM even though Apple never said so.

Furthermore, whilst the specialists tell me what I've got and what I can/can't do; I've inspected the RAM in my machine and it's not what either of them say: it's a 256mb 184-pin PC3200 400MHz module which seems like a greater spec?
Perhaps I actually need 2 x 1gb sticks of this?

Sorry for all the detail - I can't buy anything until I know the truth and at the moment two companies configurators don't even agree.
Can anyone please shed any light on what's going on here?

My grateful thanks......

The Macludite

2gig of ram is the max. for that computer.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

2gig of ram is the max. for that computer.

- Nick

Click to expand...

Thanks Pigoo3,
So you're in the agree with OWC that 2gb is best and disagree with Crucial that say 1gb is max? Do you have any experience/opinion about why the two companys disagree please?
Thanks again for your prompt reply.

Macludite

macludite said:

Thanks Pigoo3,
So you're in the agree with OWC that 2gb is best and disagree with Crucial that say 1gb is max? Do you have any experience/opinion about why the two companys disagree please?
Thanks again for your prompt reply.

Click to expand...

Officially & originally (according to Apple)...your eMac had a max. ram of 1gig. Many times individual users & professional Macintosh websites..."experiment" with new model computers to see if the actual max. ram is higher. In some cases the "actual" max. ram is higher than Apple states.

In your case...the actual max. ram is 2gig. OWC is stating 2 gig...because you actually can iinstall 2gig & everything works fine. Crucial is just being conservative by stating 1gig max...since this is "officially" what Apple says.

This sort of thing probably happens about 10-20% if the time (max. ram actually exceeds what Apple says).

- Nick

Another reason that sometimes some Apple computer models can exceed the actual Apple recommended max ram is...higher density ram modules may not have been available at the time a computer model is released.

When higher density ram modules become available...then folks & websites experiment with these higher density ram modules to see what happens. Sometimes computers will accept the higher ram modules (and exceed the official Apple specs.)...and sometimes they don't.

This is why (at the time of release) Apples max. ram may be one number...but then 6-12months later (after the release)...a computer model may be found to be able to fun fine & stable with a higher amount of ram.

- Nick

Nick,

Thank you so much for the comprehensive explanation.
Does the 'experimentation' you refer to by websites, other folk and enthusiasts mean that my eMac would run better still with 2gb than the 1gb of ram that Apple 'officially' supports? Would I notice the difference - I assume 'yes' since the ram is being doubled?

thanks,
Macludite

macludite said:

Does the 'experimentation' you refer to by websites, other folk and enthusiasts mean that my eMac would run better still with 2gb than the 1gb of ram that Apple 'officially' supports? Would I notice the difference - I assume 'yes' since the ram is being doubled?

Click to expand...

If the ram doesn't cost an arm & leg...why not max. it out. Also depends on how much you use this computer.

If you currently only have 256meg of ram in it...ANY ram upgrade is going to be a serious improvement!!!

- Nick

Go with OWC and Nick ~ they are always spot on. 2 x 1GB for $40 ain't too dear.


http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=223&type=Memory

harryb2448 said:

Go with OWC and Nick ~ they are always spot on. 2 x 1GB for $40 ain't too dear.

Click to expand...

You're right Harry...$40 for 2 x 1gig for an old eMac isn't too bad at all. Thanks for checking!

- Nick

Nick and harryb2448,

I'm hugely grateful for the explanation, the info and the opinion. I will buy 2gb of ram and bask in the splendour of my eMac running at full capacity ! That price is more than fair for the item offered.
Thank you both for your time.

regards,
Macludite

Lol macludite!

I usually refer to eMacs as great kellicks but I refrained so as not to offend you!

harryb2448 said:

Lol macludite!

I usually refer to eMacs as great kellicks but I refrained so as not to offend you!

Click to expand...

You Sir, are far too kind! Thanks again.

Mac-Experts, I'm back !

Haven't bought the RAM yet because of a spec. discrepancy that really concerns me.

OWC say a pair of 1gb sticks is way to go; the spec is this:
"# Size: 1.0GB
# 184-pin
# 64x8 device based 128x64 Module
# 8 Non-Stacked TRUE PC2700 Devices per side
# Data Rate = 333MHz
# CAS = 2.5"

Crucial disagree [for reasons we know] and insist this is what I need:
"512MB DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR333 • 2.5V • 64Meg x 64"

The keen-eyed will notice that one stick is a '128 x 64' module and the other is a '64 x 64' so this difference may be bloody important - I don't know.
The 256gb pc3200 that's in the eMac now is a '64 x 64' too.
Perhaps the '128 x 64', whatever that refers to, is an incompatability/conflict?

Can anyone help with this please; unwise for me to buy until I understand the differences?

Hugely grateful as ever.....

The Macludite

macludite said:

Can anyone help with this please; unwise for me to buy until I understand the differences?

Click to expand...

Firstly...Please reread the thread...especially posts 2, 4, and 5.

Secondly...some of the OWC ram specs are different because the ram is higher density (1gig sticks from OWC vs. 512meg stick from Crucial).

Your eMac only has two ram slots...and the only way to get 2gig of ram in there...is to use the 2 x 1gig ram sticks from OWC.

- Nick

Hello again Nick and thanks for jumping in once more,

I'm not trying to exasperate you; I re-read the whole thread before posting...and 2, 4 and 5 again at your suggestion. Nonetheless I don't know what '64 x 64' is and therefore have no idea whether ignoring it and putting in '128 x 64' would render my operating system useless! My eMac may be slow.....but at least it's stable.
So, '64 x 64' what v '128 x 64' what ?
If I understand you correctly, to paraphrase, you are saying: trust OWC, they've done the testing and it works perfectly - don't worry about these numbers and their differences; all will be well ?
Is that fair ?......and of course thanks for the patient explaining.

Jules

macludite said:

So, '64 x 64' what v '128 x 64' what ?

Click to expand...

I hate to say it...but you're not putting A + B together and getting C.

- Crucial ram is 64 x 64...and is 512meg per stick.
- OWC ram is 128 x 64...and is 1gig per stick.

Do you see that the OWC ram is 2x the density of the Crucial ram?? Do you also see that 128 x 64 is 2x of 64 x 64?? That's the difference.

BELIEVE ME...JUST ORDER THE RAM! Once you install it...and everything is fine...you're not going to give a "hoot" what the ram specs are.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

I hate to say it...but you're not putting A + B together and getting C.

- Crucial ram is 64 x 64...and is 512meg per stick.
- OWC ram is 128 x 64...and is 1gig per stick.

Do you see that the OWC ram is 2x the density of the Crucial ram?? Do you also see that 128 x 64 is 2x of 64 x 64?? That's the difference.

Click to expand...

Well I noticed the difference and that one was double the other but I didn't know if that was potentially detrimental or whether I was shopping for a 64 x 64 1gb. I guess there ain't such a beast :Blushing:
It has been my pleasure to amuse you Nick ;P

Thank you once again.

The Macludite [sic]

A simple explanation copied from the web.

Simplified, AxB

A = Datapath width in bits
B = Number of megabytes of A bit memory locations

so in your case the 2nd number (64 in both cases) refers to the datapath width in bits (64 bits or 8 bytes). The first number refers to the number of megabytes of 8 byte memory locations. Multiply the 2 and you get the size of the DIMM (64x8 = 512MB, 128x8 = 1024MB)

I used to own a 1.42GHz eMac with 2GB installed. It also takes DDR400 RAM, easily obtainable from scrap iMac non eyesight G5's that had the max 2GB installed, but runs at the slower 333MHz. The newest OS they run is 10.5.8 Leopard.

techiesteve said:

A simple explanation copied from the web.

Simplified, AxB

A = Datapath width in bits
B = Number of megabytes of A bit memory locations

so in your case the 2nd number (64 in both cases) refers to the datapath width in bits (64 bits or 8 bytes). The first number refers to the number of megabytes of 8 byte memory locations. Multiply the 2 and you get the size of the DIMM (64x8 = 512MB, 128x8 = 1024MB)

I used to own a 1.42GHz eMac with 2GB installed. It also takes DDR400 RAM, easily obtainable from scrap iMac non eyesight G5's that had the max 2GB installed, but runs at the slower 333MHz. The newest OS they run is 10.5.8 Leopard.

Click to expand...

Thank you so much Steve,

I'm most grateful for the demystification and words on the 1.42GHz eMac.

Jules......Macludite [sic] obviously.