How can I install 2.5 Gigs of memory in an iMac G5/iSight?!

Hi Mr Sween-

512MB is soldered to the motherboard.

You can add 1 2GB DIMM to make 2.5GBs.

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

You have no choice here: 512 is built in, soldered to the motherboard, so all you can do is to buy one chip to add to it.

Hi Mr Sween-

You are correct. One slot.

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302505 Mac G5 (iSight): Memory specifications

In part:
+"Mac G5 (iSight) comes with a 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM module built into the logic board that can't be removed or replaced. It also has one additional RAM slot that can support up to 2 GB of memory (you can install a 512 MB, 1 GB, or 2 GB module in this slot)."+

Hi Mr Sween-

You are quite welcome and I appreciate the stars.

Thanks-

-DaddyPaycheck

i am also looking to install a 2 gig stick which will make it a total 2.5. Can this version of IMAC hold that much or will it slow it down?

Yes, the iMac G5 iSight model can support 2.5Gb, you need more detail though.

Here's some instructions: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302506

You can buy a 2GB card from Crucial Memory for £79 (uk sterling) or buy the same memory from Apple for £800.

I believe the tiny 512Mb card that comes soldered in to your iMac is PC4200 flavour so you should really get the same, though Crucial say that PC5300 can do just as well.

I too have a G5 iSight, and bought a 1Gb stick to add to it when it first arrived. Now I'm reading (elsewhere on these boards) about the importance of pairing, and have run that Terminal test to check the speed of my bus. It seems my memory is running slower because it's not paired.

Is this a problem? It seems strange to manufacture a computer with 512 Mb soldered in, and another slot which can take up to 2 Gb, and then suggest pairing!

Your RAM does not have to be paired in any G5 iMac model after the first (Rev A). Whatever you read was wrong, logic dictates that pairing is impossible in the Ambient Light and iSight G5s.

I bought my G-5 second-hand a year ago with a 512 chip in the slot. I went ahead recently and got me a 2 gig chip and added it, had a few problems with it. The new chip was not exactly right, er some such.
But the company I delt with were way cool about it an even mentioned they had heard of my issues before, so they had me ship back the chip I got originally and they replaced it with the one I have in there now.
I have more than enough Ram now for anything I'll ever do with my iMac
Just wanted to mention the fact I had a tad of trouble going threw the up-grade, but it all worked out well. And I only got around $10.00 for the 512 chip I put on Ebay.

shrimperchuck, what chip did you end up going with? I too am having trouble getting my iMac to reconize the 2GB stick I bought.

I have a IMAC g5 with 512mb. I would like to install more memory. Is this something I can do myself or is it better to take it a professional? If I can do it myself, where would I find instructions?