imac i7 - 8GB 1066Mhz DDR3 SDRAM (4 x 2GB) vs. (2 x 4GB)

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Level 4

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imac i7 - 8GB 1066Mhz DDR3 SDRAM (4 x 2GB) vs. (2 x 4GB)

I'm seriously contemplating purchasing an imac quad core i7 primarily for use with Final Cut Suite 3...with emphasis on using Final Cut Pro 7 and Motion 4.

I'm noting that the 8GB ram option configuration can be acheived in two ways:
(4 x 2GB for $200) or (2 x 4GB) for $600.

If I'm looking to get to 8GB's, is there a difference as to how much processing power and speed I'll get one way or the other?

In other words, if 8GBs of RAM is what I'm after, is there a good reason to
pay the extra $400 for the (2 x 4GB) version?

I'm just trying to fully understand the difference.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Mar 27, 2010 6:14 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,012 points

Mar 27, 2010 7:16 PM in response to brvideo

Hi brvideo

Buy or order the iMac with the stock 2 x 2GB and upgrade it yourself to 8, 12 or 16GB with ram from OWC > http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/DDR321.527

Also see > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3918

No, the 2 x 4GB configuration allows you to a add 2 more 4GB modules for a total of 16GB without having left over modules.

Dennis

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Answer 2

brvideo Author

Level 4

1,018 points

Mar 27, 2010 7:40 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks very much den.thed. That's a good thought.

Just to be perfectly clear, 8GB of ram will result in the same processing and speed power for any apps, regardless of what the combination of chips or configuration I use to get to that total RAM....right?

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Answer 3

Mar 27, 2010 7:49 PM in response to brvideo

If you want get the 2x2GB from Apple and get two more 4GB from else where for cheaper than Apple's Then your up to 12GB and you don't have to replace any to add some.

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Answer 4

brvideo Author

Level 4

1,018 points

Mar 27, 2010 9:42 PM in response to Bob Jackins

I understand Bob. Thanks.

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Answer 5

Switch900

Level 2

238 points

Mar 28, 2010 2:51 AM in response to brvideo

Yes it would increase but not as what you or I will think its just that you could have more apps open, thats what ram does, it only allows you to have so much apps open, now if you have more ram, also, this would cut the render time by maybe 3 percent, not much increase, I have the iMac i7 also with 4 gigs of ram and I use it for Final cut studio 3, and its a dream, it works flawless with 4 gig, I cannot think how much faster it would be with 8 gigs. I am running it with 4 Gigs and its a fast beast.

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