imac g4 memory upgrade

Click here and here for information depending on which model you have.

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Follow the second link; 2GB of RAM can be installed in that iMac. There is no benefit to installing RAM of the same size in both slots.

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Basically, yes. Choose About this Mac from the Apple menu, click on More Info, and look at the Memory section to find the current RAM configuration.

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Assuming that your iMac is no longer under warranty or AppleCare , you could save yourself some cash and open up your iMac and remove/replace the RAM yourself.
If you have never done any Mac upgrades yourself before, it might be a wiser decision to take it to an authorized apple dealer/repair center. I am not sure if the Apple store will replace RAM in older Macs or not. If they do RAM upgrades and repairs on older Macs, it might be more expensive having the Apple Store do these than an authorized Apple dealer/repair center.

If you want to try and do this yourself, it is not that difficult a procedure.
You just need to be dilligent and careful. Protect your screen before starting to take apart your iMac and purchase an anti-static wrist strap, clipping it to any substantial metal part inside your iMac once your get the bottom of it open.

Here's a link to the procedure

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/imacg4/imacg4takeapart.html

Here's the specs you need for your RAM stick

PC2700 184 pin SDRAM

I think we have the same 2003 (early) iMac g4 models 17" 1G.
I blieve there are 2 version of this machine. One use the PC2100 and the other PC2700. You need to figure out which your machine has from system profiler. Other online sites also can steer you to this info. Apple stores will acknowledge only upgrades using one 200 pin SODIMM which is the easily accessible under the bottom panel. To access the "inaccessible" 183 pin slot which the factory initially loaded with your 256 card you need a torx driver to pull off the bottom of the case. So one 200 pin and one 183 pin 1G slots can be installed for a max of 2 G ram. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=S72X9Gjy5WM
of google imag g4 ram and you'll find the youtube link showing how to do the complete job plus hard drive replacemnt. I erred picking up a 2700 card and need to exchange for the 2100 my machine needs. So will complete the installation of the 200 pin 1G for total memory of 1.256 G when done. Been having trouble burning videos to DVD. Others report the same. No one I've met has been able to provide "standard" conversion/burn times using imovie/idvd software provided. I'm still at iLife 4.1 but don't use it much and don't want to dump money into old system. Figure 1.25 G should help at minimal costs. Good luck.

I was told I have to get 2 x 512's as well, but will it really improve the speed - I can't even watch movie trailers!!! I find the memory a bit expensive, should I just get a new macbook?, my hard drive's pretty full as well, but I have an external HD as backup.

Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: PowerMac4,2
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 700 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.4.1f1
Capacity: 38.16 GB
spata devicemodel: Maxtor 4D040H2
RAM
DIMM0/J12 -256MB SDRAM PC133-33
DIMM1/J12 -256MB SDRAM PC133-33

I don't think anyone would recommend that you get a new MacBook just to watch movie trailers. Even with my 1.25GHz machine with 2GB memory, I cannot watch movie trailers in iTunes or in Safari. However, try downloading and playing trailers (like I do). Don't download any trailer great than 480p. Your machine will have trouble with 720p or 1080. See if that works and if that satisfies you. I share your grief that the newer trailers are made in HD, so that our older machines can't handle it.

When you checkt your "about this mac" with the memory upgrade to 2GB do both your slots show up with 1GB each?
I had a recent upgrade on my iMac G4 1.25/20" and it shows one memory slot:

DIMM0/J22 1GB PC2700U-30330 OK
and
DIMM1/J20 Empty

When I called the authorized dealer about it I was told it's there, but won't show in the J20 slot.

Is that what you see in your recap?
thanks,
karen