Static free surface for updating iMac memory?

[Northroad52]

Getting ready to install 64GB memory into my iMac. Instructions say lay it face down on a soft, static free surface. I'm not sure what that would be. Would my office rug be okay? Maybe a damp towel?

 

[RadDave]

Getting ready to install 64GB memory into my iMac. Instructions say lay it face down on a soft, static free surface. I'm not sure what that would be. Would my office rug be okay? Maybe a damp towel?

Hello - please provide some more information, i.e. 1) What iMac are you doing the installation; 2) Is the 64 GB memory internal RAM that your are updating; 3) Have you obtained the correct update hardware and from where; and 4) Have your already taken your device about for this installation? A 'static-free' surface is likely the least of your worries - please let us know all of the details. Thanks - Dave

 

[Rod]

Just FYI. A static free surface would be wood, glass or even metal. Definitely not carpet or any synthetic surface. I'm sure you have a class plate or bit of wood kicking around.

 

[Jimmysb]

Do you have an anti-static band before handling the memory.

 

[Northroad52]

Hello - please provide some more information, i.e. 1) What iMac are you doing the installation; 2) Is the 64 GB memory internal RAM that your are updating; 3) Have you obtained the correct update hardware and from where; and 4) Have your already taken your device about for this installation? A 'static-free' surface is likely the least of your worries - please let us know all of the details. Thanks - Dave

The OWC video says to lay it face down on a soft cloth. I'm installing two 32GB units in my 27" iMac. Just wanted to know what they mean by static free.

 

[pm-r]

Instructions say lay it face down on a soft, static free surface.

Any solid, firm, flat, and well-supported surface would be more than adequate and use a soft preferably cotton, NOT synthetic material that's a good cotton only towel would be more than adequate and make sure there is nothing other than the towel between the Surface and the display screen.
Do not shuffle around on any carpet wearing shoes with insulated soles before you work on the Mac. Wearing a cheap anti-static strap is certainly not a bad idea when


working with RAM on any computer. They contain a built-in resistor to save you receiving any sort of shock and static can supply a good four thousand volts or more which can certainly make your elbows jump.

When inserting the RAM chip, make sure it is firmly seated in the RAM holder. Giving a blast of Dust Off type compressed air, inches and around the RAM slot area before disturbing anything is not a bad idea.


PS: EDIT:
As red Dave mentioned above, what Mac do you have and what applications are you using and what processes might you be needing in order that you actually need 64 GB of RAM. That's one heck of a lot of RAM. Just saying...




- Patrick
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Correct grammar error, i.e. "not synthetic".

 

[MacBiter]

Any solid, firm, flat, and well-supported surface would be more than adequate and use a soft preferably cotton, known synthetic material that's a good cotton only towel would be more than adequate and make sure there is nothing other than the towel between the Surface and the display screen.

I know you have to use dictation software Patrick, but the OP should be aware that what came out as "known" is what you almost certainly said as "non", i.e. it should NOT be a synthetic material.

 

[pm-r]

i.e. it should NOT be a synthetic material.

Thanks for the correction note, MacB, correction made to my post.


- Patrick
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[MacBiter]

Thanks for the correction note, MacB, correction made to my post.

I only did so on this occasion because I didn't want the OP to think they should use synthetic material!.

 

[AndrewDun]

I have often worked inside various (older — 2000 - 2015) iMacs, and never had trouble with static. A suitable soft surface (to protect against scratching the front) can be clean newspaper. Obviously you unplug the computer from everything before starting work. Just make sure that you often touch some of the computer's metalwork before starting work and often during work, especially just before touching anything which might be sensitive.
Never try forcing anything which seems difficult to move — look for another screw, or a catch needing releasing. Do everything slowly, e.g. having released something move it away slowly and gently in case it turns out that a wire is still attached. If possible Sellotape (or similar) each removed screw to a nearby point so that you don't mix up different size screws. If procedures seem lengthy or complicated, take photos at each step as guidance for re-assembly. If the computer misbehaves afterwards, look first for a badly connected (or not connected) plug.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Just be sure to discharge yourself before touching the RAM and you'll be fine. Also, grab the RAM stick by the ends and avoid touching the chips themselves.

It actually takes quite a bit of a discharge to harm the sticks, so those warnings are akin to "Caution: Contents are hot" on your coffee cup.

 

[Northroad52]

Any solid, firm, flat, and well-supported surface would be more than adequate and use a soft preferably cotton, NOT synthetic material that's a good cotton only towel would be more than adequate and make sure there is nothing other than the towel between the Surface and the display screen.
Do not shuffle around on any carpet wearing shoes with insulated soles before you work on the Mac. Wearing a cheap anti-static strap is certainly not a bad idea when


working with RAM on any computer. They contain a built-in resistor to save you receiving any sort of shock and static can supply a good four thousand volts or more which can certainly make your elbows jump.

When inserting the RAM chip, make sure it is firmly seated in the RAM holder. Giving a blast of Dust Off type compressed air, inches and around the RAM slot area before disturbing anything is not a bad idea.


PS: EDIT:
As red Dave mentioned above, what Mac do you have and what applications are you using and what processes might you be needing in order that you actually need 64 GB of RAM. That's one heck of a lot of RAM. Just saying...




- Patrick
=======

Correct grammar error, i.e. "not synthetic".

It's a 2020 imac 27" with 16gb of RAM. I'm running Apple's "photos" for jpg files and Lightroom Classic for RAW files. When I'm uploading to Lightroom I use a USB 3.0 card reader. All of the files go into a WD 8TB desktop drive with USB 3.1 connection. Once a week they back up to a LaCie 10TB drive with USB-C connection. It is typically taking 30 minutes to upload 500 or 600 RAW photos to Lightroom. I've been trying to find a bottleneck somewhere but am coming up short.
In a chat with OWC, I was looking to double my RAM to 32, and they recommended 64 for that particular iMac.

 

[pm-r]

It's a 2020 imac 27" with 16gb of RAM. I'm running Apple's "photos" for jpg files and Lightroom Classic for RAW files.

I just purchased a similar 2020 i9 27 inch iMac at the beginning of the year and it came with 32 GB of RAM already installed, which is certainly more than enough for my usage but it seems that the Intel I am Marcs can and will use lots of RAM if it is available it seems some photos and video can certainly use lots of available memory.

At least you can even double the amount of RAM installed after you get the 64 GB chips installed to a maximum of 128 GB.

And it's nice that the user is actually able to install additional RAM.

iMac "Core i9" 3.6 27" (5K, 2020) Specs (Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020, BTO/CTO, iMac20,1, A2115, 3442): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the iMac "Core i9" 3.6 27" (5K, 2020). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.

everymac.com

I have no idea if adding the additional memory will help speed up the photo processes that you are doing. That's a lot of data to move.




- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

I believe the bottleneck is the write speed to the 8TB external. Or it could be the card reader itself. Reading and writing are usually the causes for speed issues.