Upgrading the ram on a Late 2015 27" iMac

[flyboyy]

What would you suggest for upgrading my iMac RAM?

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5, 8 GB 1867 MHz DDR3

 

[Slydude]

If I'm right about your iMac I have that same machine as a backup system. Check out this page. It has an installation video and explains how to identify which iMac you have. If ours is the same the installation is dead simple.

The kit to upgrade to 32 GB is just over $75.00 US. IIRC I got an even better deal because I caught one of their "garage sale" deals which their email newsletter tipped me off to.

With those memory specs, you can check other vendors for the same memory. Memory Upgrades for iMac w/ Retina 5K Display Late 2015

 

[IWT]

Looking at your iMac specs, I would have thought that improving your storage from 250GB might be more advantageous??

Here are a couple of videos showing how to upgrade RAM, as that is what you actually asked for

Ian

 

[Slydude]

I neglected to mention something in my previous post. My original system shipped with 8 GB of ram. The upgrade raised the total to 16 GB. Although I noticed a difference, I don't think it was as much of a difference as I expected.

Depending on how you use your computer and factors such as how many apps are open at once and which apps you use extra storage may be a better investment. I haven't tried that swap. It's a bit more daunting to me than the memory swap.

 

[Slydude]

Here's one method that might help users decide whether additional memory might be needed/beneficial for you. If you're not using Ventura change the setting to your OS before reading.

This page also gives you the means to determine whether your Mac has upgradeable memory.

Check if your Mac needs more RAM in Activity Monitor

Use Activity Monitor on your Mac to see if memory is being used efficiently and if you need more memory (RAM).

support.apple.com

 

[IWT]

The OP has not got back to us yet.

One thing I mentioned was the storage on the iMac of 250GB (as shown under the OP's name). That seems very low these days and putting this into context along with an 8 year old device, I'm wondering if an increase in RAM is worth the effort?

Ian

 

[Slydude]

So am I. Hence the post on how to use Activity Monitor to determine whether additional memory is needed.

 

[flyboyy]

Not sure what happened but somehow I was not getting replies to the post. I have that option selected in my profile.

Thanks Slydude and IWT for the valuable info. I checked out the activity Monitor, quite interesting. I'd used one before as a widget but didn't realize the purpose of it. It was in the green for the operations I do.
I am thinking that I will get a larger SSD, or maybe a Mac mini and use the current one for a screen, but that is another thread.

 

[flyboyy]

When you upgrade the RAM do you

1. just add the new RAM or

2. do you remove the original and then install the new?

Also can you put one - sixteen GB ram module in, or do you have to put in two ?

Two separate questions.

 

[ferrarr]

For the first question, the answer is either or both. If you have 4 slots (2 full, 2 open), just add the extra ram to the original.

As for the second, yes, you can just add one stick, But I usually find a pair much more reasonably priced,

 

[flyboyy]

Thanks ferrarr. The salesman told me I had to buy pairs and discard the originals. He told e you might get some sort of interference.. ????

 

[ferrarr]

He told e you might get some sort of interference.. ????

Well, if there is no interference with the original ram, then there will no interference, except from the newly added ram. They may just trying to cover their lack of knowledge.

 

[flyboyy]

That sounds like a better explanation. He was more familiar with PCs.

 

[ferrarr]

I would go to either Crucial.com, or Macsales.com (OWC) and check their pricing. Their ram is definitely compatible with Macs. I couldn't trust a brick and mortar store, unless it was an Apple store.

 

[pm-r]

The salesman told me I had to buy pairs and discard the originals....

I would suggest the salesman you were talking to is a bit confused and is going on older Mac information and not really aware of your iMac model and what Mac operating system it is using or what type of hard drive you are using and how full it is can all affect the speed of your iMac.

An old article give some information but I would look for more current supporting information on your particular situation:

Do you have to upgrade in pairs? - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

More modern Mac Operating System versions tend to use memory quite differently than they did with older versions. Speed will also depend on what software and applications you happen to be using at the time and how they use memory.



- Patrick
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[flyboyy]

Thanks ferrar and Patrick for the excellent info !
The work I am doing requires a lot of RAM because of the Google Docs and programs I have open and I went past the RAM limit so I splurged and bought some.

Al

 

[flyboyy]

I should have finished that post; It now works better with no stopping with 24 GB of Ram. Thanks Everybody !

 

[pm-r]

It now works better with no stopping with 24 GB of Ram.

Good to hear and thanks for the feedback, it sounds like the investment was worthwhile and made some improvements to your Mac's operation.



- Patrick
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