Maximum RAM?

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I am thinking about getting an iMac with 2gb of RAM. I know that it is upgradable to 3gb. But how do you upgrade to 3 when you have to put in 2 identical chips? I have not seen 1.5gb chips.
 
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The only way to get 3GB is by adding 1GB + 2GB sticks - which means you lose the dual channel performance benefit.

So it's a trade off - RAM speed performance vs. overall maximum RAM.

Depending on the applications you're using, having 3GB should outweigh the dual channel performance gains.

On the other hand, 2GB sticks are still very expensive at the moment, so I'd go with 2x 1GB personally.
 
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Aptmunich said:
The only way to get 3GB is by adding 1GB + 2GB sticks - which means you lose the dual channel performance benefit.

So it's a trade off - RAM speed performance vs. overall maximum RAM.

Depending on the applications you're using, having 3GB should outweigh the dual channel performance gains.

On the other hand, 2GB sticks are still very expensive at the moment, so I'd go with 2x 1GB personally.

This is what I had planned on doing. The iMac comes with 2 512's so I have to remove them and put in 2 1gb sticks. They sure know how to get your money. Now I will have 2 512 sticks sitting around. Do you know if the mac mini G4 takes those? I bought that for my son because he doesn't use a computer for much. Just IMing, surfing. So he didn't need a lot of power. I am using mine for graphics (adobe suite).
 
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Nope, different RAM types.
 
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soul60s said:
This is what I had planned on doing. The iMac comes with 2 512's so I have to remove them and put in 2 1gb sticks. They sure know how to get your money. Now I will have 2 512 sticks sitting around. Do you know if the mac mini G4 takes those? I bought that for my son because he doesn't use a computer for much. Just IMing, surfing. So he didn't need a lot of power. I am using mine for graphics (adobe suite).

If you haven't already ordered... I would recommend getting the 2GB upgrade direct from apple... Check pricing on what (2) 1GB sticks will cost you, and you'll find that Apple price for the upgrade is VERY competitive.

Just my .02
 
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I would agree

RIDE said:
If you haven't already ordered... I would recommend getting the 2GB upgrade direct from apple... Check pricing on what (2) 1GB sticks will cost you, and you'll find that Apple price for the upgrade is VERY competitive.

Just my .02

I would have to agree. I’m looking at getting an iMac as well, and I thought if I would upgrade the RAM afterwards, then sell the 2 512’s on eBay or something then I wouldn’t take as much of a hit. But once I started pricing RAM for the iMac, and compared it to what Apple charges, the difference was anywhere from $25 cheaper than Apple, to $50 more expensive than Apple. That includes selling the 512’s. So when I order, I’ll probably just upgrade directly from Apple. Unless I stumble upon a smoking deal somewhere. And even though it appears to be a very easy upgrade, there is something to be said to having it all done even before you get the machine and not have to worry about it. It also gives me some peace of mind just incase the aftermarket RAM doesn’t work for any reason, or in the rare case it breaks something else in your PC. At least if you get it directly from Apple, you know it’s gonna be working.
 
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RIDE said:
If you haven't already ordered... I would recommend getting the 2GB upgrade direct from apple... Check pricing on what (2) 1GB sticks will cost you, and you'll find that Apple price for the upgrade is VERY competitive.

Just my .02
2GB RAM from Apple = $250

2GB RAM from NewEgg = $104 (x2 - $208)
or $101 (x2 =$202)
or $110 (x2 =$220)

Apple's RAM simply costs more money and really isn't that competively priced. :black:
 
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D3v1L80Y said:
2GB RAM from Apple = $250

2GB RAM from NewEgg = $229
or $214
or $105 (x2 =$210)

Apple's RAM simply costs more money and really isn't that competively priced. :black:

Yes, it costs more, but what OEM doesn't mark up upgrades? At most it's a $40 difference, which I think is worth it to get straight from Apple and not worrry about getting good RAM later. I would say it is competively priced.
 
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D3v1L80Y said:
2GB RAM from Apple = $250

2GB RAM from NewEgg = $229
or $214
or $105 (x2 =$210)

Apple's RAM simply costs more money and really isn't that competively priced. :black:

Plus you can sell the RAM you take out. I saw a guy sell the 2 x 512 MB sticks out of his 24" iMac on eBay last week for $80. IMO, the Apple price is too high.
 
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D3v1L80Y said:
2GB RAM from Apple = $250

2GB RAM from NewEgg = $229
or $214
or $105 (x2 =$210)

Apple's RAM simply costs more money and really isn't that competively priced. :black:

Thanks for the link! 104.99 is a whole lot better. 2 of those are 210.00 compared to 300.00. I am trying to get the iMac online but am not sure what the best price is. I saw it at a good price with windows and parallels installed on macmall but when I called up macmall with a concern, the called was sent to another country, the person there kept pressuring me to buy it on the phone. When I asked about a discrepency<sp> she said she couldn't guarentee anything. I said well what kind of company doesn't stand behind their word and told them I will shop elsewhere.

Any suggestions of where to get it at a good price besides macmall with windows and parallels installed on it?
 
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i would use 2 512 sticks if i were you
 
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D3v1L80Y said:
2GB RAM from Apple = $250

2GB RAM from NewEgg = $229
or $214
or $105 (x2 =$210)

Apple's RAM simply costs more money and really isn't that competively priced. :black:

I have seen listed on various websites 200-pin and 240-pin for iMacs. Which is supposed to be for the 24" intel? I went to the apple site to look but it didn't say. Also, non-ecc or ecc? From what I read it really doesn't matter unless you are big time into gaming and I am not. True???

I also just found on the apple site that you can get the 24" imac with 2gb ram installed for only 175.00 more. That is very interesting.
 
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soul60s said:
I have seen listed on various websites 200-pin and 240-pin for iMacs. Which is supposed to be for the 24" intel? I went to the apple site to look but it didn't say. Also, non-ecc or ecc? From what I read it really doesn't matter unless you are big time into gaming and I am not. True???

I also just found on the apple site that you can get the 24" imac with 2gb ram installed for only 175.00 more. That is very interesting.
I realized that I posted incorrect RAM in my previous post.
I have since fixed that to reflect the correct RAM needed: 200 pin PC2 5300 SO-DIMM
 
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D3v1L80Y said:
2GB RAM from Apple = $250

2GB RAM from NewEgg = $104 (x2 - $208)
or $101 (x2 =$202)
or $110 (x2 =$220)

Apple's RAM simply costs more money and really isn't that competively priced. :black:

These prices are even better. But I just read that iMac is not supposed to have non-ecc. These are non. Geez, I just ordered the computer and I am having a harder time with the RAM. Is a heat spreader necessary? And would it matter what the CAS is since I don't do gaming? I just do graphics.
 
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D3v1L80Y said:
I realized that I posted incorrect RAM in my previous post.
I have since fixed that to reflect the correct RAM needed: 200 pin PC2 5300 SO-DIMM

I have also noticed that the same number (200 PC2 5300 SO-DIMM) is for notebooks and desktops. Is it the same thing or are they different sizes? Do I stay away from the ones that say notebook?
 
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D3v1L80Y said:
I realized that I posted incorrect RAM in my previous post.
I have since fixed that to reflect the correct RAM needed: 200 pin PC2 5300 SO-DIMM


On the apple site:

standard in iMac - 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512
when ordering memory - 2GB 667MHz DDR2 (PC2-5300) 2x1GB SO-DIMMs

aside from one being 2 - 512's and the other 2 - 1gb, shouldn't these be the same? One is SDRAM and the other is SO-DIMM. I don't know the difference.
 
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soul60s said:

I found what you were looking at... The link you should have posted was:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/9.RSLID?nclm=F00C846A

***BUT*** That is for (1) single Stick at 2GB...

The upgrade cost direct from Apple, to have a TOTAL of 2GB of RAM (2 x 1GB) is ONLY $175...

But to each his own.
 
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RIDE said:
I found what you were looking at... The link you should have posted was:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/9.RSLID?nclm=F00C846A

***BUT*** That is for (1) single Stick at 2GB...

The upgrade cost direct from Apple, to have a TOTAL of 2GB of RAM (2 x 1GB) is ONLY $175...

But to each his own.


You are right. It is $175 to upgrade WHEN ORDERING the computer. But when you order RAM at a later time it is very expensive. I even called the apple store and was quoted $600 for 2 1 gb chips to be put in. I thought that was unbelievable so I asked for sure if it was 2 - 1gb chips and he said yes. Although I really don't think the dude knew what he was talking about because I asked him if I bought them separately and not have them put it in how much would it be. He said 600.
 

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