iBook G4 Memory Upgrade

Hi Viking,

You can find the specifications for your computer's RAM here. If you need to know your model, you can click the Apple menu, select 'About This Mac' and then click 'More Info' (assuming you're using english as the preset language). If you're still not sure, copy your serial number and enter it here.

As for the total amount of RAM the iBook will take, the total amount depends on how much is on the logic board to begin with (this is soldered on and cannot be altered-- without serious hardware mods which I've yet to find done successfully). Early pre-2004 models had 128MB on board, later 256MB, and later still 512MB.

Either way, the simple answer is they all have one slot for additional RAM so it will take one stick. Now, the specs for the early models say you can only put max 512MB in there (512+128=total 640MB), but as I said above, I have just put a 1GB stick into the earliest iBook G4 model successfully. Furthermore, I accidentally used PC2700 333Mhz thinking I had a later model and it has been fine so far. Do it at your own risk.

For totals this means:

(on board) (add-on) (total)
128MB + 1x1GB = 1.12GB
256MB + 1x1GB = 1.25GB
512MB + 1x1GB = 1.51GB

Physically installing the RAM is very straightforward, but you can find official instructions here and an unofficial video is usually around somewhere on YouTube.

As for where to get it, unfortunately I've never been to Portugal and don't know shops to recommend, but locally would probably be cheapest.

If you can't find somewhere local, post again and I'll try to recommend places that might ship internationally.

Cheers.

Hi there

I am upgrading my Intel iMac to 4G (2 x 2G) memory and will remove the existing 1G Memory card. I want to re-use this and put it in my old iBook G4 which runs slow.

The 1G Memory Card Is:
C2-5300 1GB 5-5-5-15 200pin SODIMM

The iBook G4 seems to use the same size memory but its specs (taken from the above posts) are
PC-2700 1GB 2.5-3-3-7 200pin SODIMM

Do you think I can just put the old iMac memory in the G4 notebook?

Or is the spec very different?

Will it do any harm if I try inserting it and it doesn't actually boot up?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Your iMac's PC-5300 memory is NOT compatible with the PC-2700 memory in the iBook.

PC-5300 memory uses DDR2 667MHz chips. PC-2700 memory uses DDR (no 2) technology at 266MHz, and has different timing. AND the voltages for the chips on the module are different. DDR chips top out at 400MHz and run around 2.5V for the chips - DDR2 chips are usually 1.8V or less.

In general DDR modules are PC-2100 to PC-3200. Your iBook G4 can use PC2700 or PC3200 SODIMM modules, but that is about it.

Sorry!

I found your answer the most informative. My ibook came installed with additional 256mb DDR SDRAM PC2700U-25330. I was confused because everything I read says it should be PC2100, I want to upgrade to 1.25G but was unsure about which to go with (PC2700 seems reasonably priced).

Thanks