Where to buy G4 RAM...?

Thanks guys, but...

Sadly, Other World's offerings go only as high as 256 MB; I'm looking for 512 MB units. I know they were made... I already have two. I'm looking for two more. Also, I'm very sure the 512 AGP versions are not compatible with the PCI G4.

Regarding the limits on memory and speed... that was true under OS9, but OS10 enabled further expansion. ”About This Mac => System Profiler“ shows that things are hummin' along just fine at 1.5 GHz, and is sees and uses the 1,280 I already have. A few other utilities have assure me that 2 gig is now the max on my machine (under OSX).

The only reason I feel I need more RAM (now) is that web pages have become so bloated these days that surfing often stalls when painting a page... the RAM apparently fills up and the short-term storage rolls over to writing to disk (I'm guessing).

But keep them ideas a-comin'... Thanx! —Ted E.

Data Memory Systems looks like they still have them. Both PC100 and PC133. Here is their G4 page:

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/G4_Memory.asp

I don't think it's compatible. The page says... “for PowerMac G4 AGP/Sawtooth/Gigabit Models up to 500MHz(PC100), G4 Cube, iMac G3/350-700MHz., eMac 700MHz...” No mention of any PCI Macs.

The AGP and PCI RAM modules are shown as different on all of the memory sites. I'm very sure this AGP module will not work with my PCI G4.

The DMS site says...
“
The G4 that shipped with a PCI Graphics Card can not use a 512MB module and is different than the AGP G4...”

Old news... this was only true 1n 1999 when the G4 was introduced and was running OS9... But OSX fixed the limitations. As a result, they sell nothing larger than a 256 module. I'm looking for a couple of 512s. *sigh*

It's possible I suppose, that the AGP-compatible RAM modules would now work (under OSX). I don't mind gambling $50 or so to to find out... It wouldn't be the end of the world if I fried them or they simply didn't work... but I'd hate to inadvertently damage the Mac itself.

A quandary, indeed. Thanks for the suggestions... the definitive answer has to be out there, somewhere... Best! —Ted E.

Hey, com’on guys, cut me some slack here. I built my first computer from scratch in the mid-70s, had an Apple ][, and have been a Mac guy since ’85. I’ve written tech manuals for IBM, RCA and GTE, among others. I taught computer stuff part-time at our local community college for about ten years before retiring a couple of years ago.

I know my beloved G4 inside-and-out. Over the years I’ve replaced the internal hard drive with a big ’un, swapped out the original CD player with a burner, added a second video card and monitor, added a USB-2 board, and worn out three printers, four keyboards and five modems.

As I mentioned, years ago I upgraded to 1.28 GB of RAM and a 1.5 Mbps Sonnet processor. All were guaranteed to work (and did) with my G4 PCI — as long as it was running OSX.

I was then --and am now— running OS10.5.8. (Which is orphned... it’s old, but its the highest and best non-Intel OS available for my architecture.)

I do not come to forums like this lightly... until I’ve exhausted every bit of info I can find on the web and elsewhere... and have also stumped my Apple employee “Apple Genius” buddy. This one has him and his fellow co-workers stumped. (1999 G4s were before their time.)

I know I posted only the conclusions of my research into this problem and left out the steps I took to reach my conclusions. I figured on this forum I coud cut to the chase and not bore everybody to tears with, “First, I turned on the computer” when all I was looking for was a vendor that still sells RAM upgrade sticks for my Mac model. Sorry.

So — for the record — here’s how I got here.

I am not “refusing” to find out exactly what Mac I have; I already did that long before posting my request for a vendor recommendation on this board.

My Mac was slowing down, especially when painting complex web pages (even when Safari and The Finder were the only applications of consequence running.)

I did the usual first steps... restart... run Disk Utility and MacJanitor... do a broadband speed check (in case it was an ISP problem — Speakeasy’s Speed Test consistently shows better than 8 Mbps between me (Chicago) and both New York and San Fran, so that’s not the problem.)

A check of Activity Monitor showed that there was a lot of disk use during the web surfing “freeze” periods of 2-10 seconds, generally a sure sign that more RAM is needed. At first I thought the browser might be waiting for Google to find and serve up appropriate ads, but I have the same problem whether or not “Block Pop-Up Ads,” my AdBlocker, Java, JavaScript and/or cookies are turned on or off. In any case, it also often freezes on pages without third-party ads or images.

Same problem with FireFox, and Skype is pretty flakey when I try to use it in video mode (seldom). So I’m still thinking, “More RAM!)

So I next checked About This Mac, which reported:

Processor: 1.5 Ghz PowerPC G4
2 MB L3 Cache
Memory: 1.25 GB SDRAM

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About This Mac => More Info => Memory showed 512 +512 +128 +128 modules, with a typical description of:

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DIMM1/J22:

Size: 512 MB
Type: SDRAM
Speed: PC100-322S
Status: OK
Manufacturer: Unknown
Part Number: Unknown
Serial Number: Unknown

It showed the same for the other 512 and the two 128s (although the “Size” entry was different for the 128s, of course.)

Thus, nothing loose or disconnected.

A S/N check confirmed everything I already knew... and also told me that my Mac was built in October, 1999. Kewl.

Wanting a second opinion, I ran Crucial’s Scanner. It said:

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Our suggested upgrades
2GB Total

1GB current memory
512MB 512MB

256MB current memory removed *

1GB new memory added
*512MB *512MB
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It went on to report:

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Maximum Memory Capacity: 2048 MB
Currently Installed Memory: 1.25 GB
Available Memory Slots: 0
Total Memory Slots: 4
Dual Channel Support: No
CPU Manufacturer:
CPU Family: PowerPC G4 (3.3) 1.5 GHz
CPU Speed: 1500 MHz

AGP graphics version supports up to 2GB with 512MB modules, but the PCI graphics version will only accept up to 1GB using 256MB modules.*
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*As I mentioned in a previous post, this claim was true ONLY AT THE TIME THE G4 PCI MAC WAS RELEASED WITH OS9. OSX overcame the limitations (as the initial Crucial summary, and About this Mac, clearly demonstrate). This was one of the big selling points Apple pushed when promoting OSX to us G4 owners.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT... the problem is not that I don’t know what Mac I have, but rather that... I do know... but Crucial is out-of-stock of the 512 MB sticks they recommended, and it appears no more are expected. (This is the same vendor where I purchased my two 512 modules 6-8 years ago, and — since they’re still advertising them — I know they had them once-upon-a-time.)

So, since Crucial no longer stocks the module they recommend, I tried all the other RAM sellers that a Google search for “Mac G4 RAM” suggested. (I also tried variations such as “G4 Macintosh Memory” and several other options and alternatives.) I also checked more mainstream vendors such as Small Dog, MacConnection, Frys, Microcenter and the like. All are either “out of stock” with no expectation of a future shipment, or they simply no longer offer the 512 PCI module at all.

Having reached nothing but dead ends regarding a source for the exact sticks I need, I then — and then only — came to this forum and asked simply if anyone could recommend a source. I know what I want, and why.

Which brings me back to where I started: I’m still seeking a vendor that stocks and sells 512 MB RAM modules that will work with a G4 PCI Mac... or...

Find something that will guarantee me that 512 modules DESIGNED FOR G4 AGP MACS will (now) work with OSX on my G4 PCI Mac.

I figure the latter might be possible under OSX, but I don’t want to blow up my motherboard or whatever by experimenting. I haven’t yet found anything that defines the inner differences between the PCI- and AGP-memory modules... physically, they look to be the same.

But again, thanks for the time and knowledge you guys have put into this; your dedication is appreciated. Sorry if I came across as a nubie who hadn’t done his homework and first had to be asked, “Is your computer plugged in?’ ;->

Best! —Ted E.

Grant — Thanks, tat was helpful. I will gamble on a set of “guaranteed” AGP modules... it seems that the worst that can happen is that they simply won't work. In any case, it sounds like they can't do any damage to the G4 itself.

Best! —Ted E.