Plugee

Q: iMac G5, different ram speeds

My iMac G5 (2004) currently has 2GB ram. One stick is PC3200, the other PC 2700.
Is it safe to run it with RAM of different speeds?

 

Which combination will be faster:
1GB PC3200 + 1GB PC2700
or
1GB PC3200 + 512MB PC3200?

Posted on Mar 31, 2014 5:59 PM

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Q: iMac G5, different ram speeds

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Apr 1, 2014 2:24 AM in response to Plugee
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 1, 2014 2:24 AM in response to Plugee

    All iMac G5 models spec to run with some sort of PC3200 RAM;

    none of them list PC2700 as compatible; so that would likely be

    a problem as well as slow down the overall data bus speed.

     

    {Earlier G4 iMac (DDR333) USB2.0 models could use PC2700

    and in a pinch, use PC3200 (standard 184-pin) in the factory

    slot, but it would be seen not as 400MHz, only 333MHz in G4.}

     

    So to mix up these in a G5 iMac would not be wise, or practical.

    The RAM chips should also be matching pairs for best use of

    the data path threading from through the processor, at speed.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!