therich123
Level 1 (10 points)

Q: How to upgrade RAM in an iMac G4

I have a 700MHZ iMac G4 and I would like to upgrade the ram to 1GB. The 256mb that was in the unaccible spot has been removed by soimeone and they stripped the head of the T-15. Now I cant get to that spot. Is it possible to stick 1GB in the user accesible so-dimm memory spot or do I have to do 512mb in one and 512mb in the other to get a gigabyte? I really dont want to remove that screw. Please help!

iMac (Flat Panel), Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Oct 31, 2013 1:10 PM

by Niel,Solvedanswer
Niel Niel
Level 10 (313,375 points)
Mac OS X
A:

It takes a 168-pin DIMM.

 

(92020)

Posted on Oct 31, 2013 7:34 PM

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therich123

Q: How to upgrade RAM in an iMac G4

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  • Helpful answers

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Oct 31, 2013 1:13 PM in response to therich123
    Level 9 (66,876 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 31, 2013 1:13 PM in response to therich123

    Those machines were really sensitive to where RAM was installed.  You may have more luck with http://www.crucial.com/ or http://www.macsales.com/ as both sell by vintage and model, instead of just spec.

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Oct 31, 2013 1:13 PM in response to therich123
    Level 10 (313,375 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 31, 2013 1:13 PM in response to therich123

    You need to use two 512MB modules.

     

    (91985)

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Oct 31, 2013 1:26 PM in response to therich123
    Level 9 (66,876 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 31, 2013 1:26 PM in response to therich123

    Accessing the non-user installation slot is very difficult, and could result in a damaged arm holding the display that won't stay up, or insufficient cooling from the pads.   There is a special neck adjuster mechanism that only certain authorized service centers have.   You may have to call them around, once you get the right module.

  • by therich123,

    therich123 therich123 Oct 31, 2013 1:32 PM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 1:32 PM in response to a brody

    I really don't get all the fuss. I have accessed it before it was stripped once, then I stripped it. It's the slot on the motherboard. I forgot to put that RAM stick back in and all I want to do is leave it empty and just stick in a 1gb stick on the user accessible slot. I really don't see why it wouldn't work if the max it will take is 1gb. As for the particular ram it takes, I was going to buy the ram off of ebay due to the ram is take being dirt cheap. I cant live with 256mb in the user accible ram slot, I want at least a gigabyte in there.

  • by a brody,Helpful

    a brody a brody Oct 31, 2013 1:35 PM in response to therich123
    Level 9 (66,876 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 31, 2013 1:35 PM in response to therich123

    Well some people are far less technical than you who can create problems for the cables going into the neck etc...

  • by therich123,

    therich123 therich123 Oct 31, 2013 1:43 PM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 1:43 PM in response to a brody

    But is it possible to just put a 1gb stick in the user accessible slot instead of doing it equally among the 2 slots. I'm not looking for performance, just to give it away to someone who needs a setup, but can't afford one. Is it possible? I don't want to mess with that round headed t-15 screw. I hate screw extraction. Can I just stick a 1gb stick of ram and put it in the user accessible section so I dont have to extract that t-15 or must I be forced to do that? Also, could you tell me the type of RAM that user-accesible stick is? I think its SO-DIMM, but I am not sure.

  • by therich123,

    therich123 therich123 Oct 31, 2013 7:29 PM in response to therich123
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 7:29 PM in response to therich123

    Guys, I got the stripped screw out! Now I can do things properly. Someone please tell what type of ram is used internally as for crucial only tells you the ram for the user accesible opening. I would like to upgrade it to 1gb, its maximum. If you guys can show me where to find that stick, I would be most grateful!

  • by Niel,Solvedanswer

    Niel Niel Oct 31, 2013 7:34 PM in response to therich123
    Level 10 (313,375 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 31, 2013 7:34 PM in response to therich123

    It takes a 168-pin DIMM.

     

    (92020)

  • by therich123,

    therich123 therich123 Oct 31, 2013 7:43 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 7:43 PM in response to Niel

    Thank you Niel and a brody for all your help! I will make sure I buy the right RAM and I will have this computer going to someone who can't afford a basic computer setup in notime!

  • by Jeff,Helpful

    Jeff Jeff Oct 31, 2013 11:02 PM in response to therich123
    Level 6 (11,559 points)
    Oct 31, 2013 11:02 PM in response to therich123

    The memory controller is programmed to recognize a maximum chip density for memory modules soldered on the DIMM or SO-DIMM card.  That's why a 512 MB card in each memory slot is recognized, for a total of 1 GB of installed memory.  A single 1 GB memory card in either slot would contain chips with greater density than the controller can recognize.  For the internal memory slot, a compatible 168-pin DIMM will be PC-133, non-ECC, unregistered/unbuffered, have 16 chips on the card (8 on each side), and preferably be CL2 (although CL3 is OK).