Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
The new iMac is out today- 2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
They come with "4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB"
What I would like to know if I bought an extra 2 - 4GB RAM,
can I put them side by side(4 slots) in the iMac for a total 12GB of RAM.
Would mismatched ram throw it out of balance, and slow the iMac or will it speed it up?
Thank you
2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.7)
What you are proposing (adding 2x4GB RAM modules) will speed up your machine because you’ll swap code in and out of memory more often depending upon the demands you place on the machine. Activity Monitor (Utilities) will show you how much memory you are using and indicate if more memory will help overall performance. If you are seeing that most of your memory is used frequently, consider upgrading. 12 GB is typically a very healthy amount of RAM that will keep your programs happy. 8 GB is likely sufficient for most people’s uses. Some programs will use all the memory you through at them such as graphics and video intensive programs but may not justify going beyond 12 GB.
If you install memory modules in matched pairs you will receive the maximum memory throughput (dual channel memory access paths for the iMac). If you added a single 1x8GB memory module, you will see degraded memory access because the system will only use a single channel access path.
Someone will be recommending you do not buy the extra memory from Apple but today’s prices are cheap compared to what I paid in 2009 so it still seems a reasonable option if you prefer Apple memory. If you go with another provider, just make sure they are reputable and guarantee the memory.
You're kidding, right? If you upgrade your iMac from 4GB to 8GB at Apple, they'll soak you $200 for it. 4GB memory from OWC is like, what, $40? Unscrew 3 screws at the bottom of your iMac and seat the chips. Takes all of 5 minutes. Why in the world would you want to pay 5 times the amount to have Apple do it??
I did it myself,i just go down to the apple store and get 2X4GB memory modules at £320,if something go wrong i just go back to the apple store and done,i don't need ear histories from third parties and spend more at the end..
You're doing it yourself, so how are you 'spend more at the end'? Places like OWC stand by their memory, and at a 5th of the price, and if you are doing it yourself anyway, buying the memory from Apple is just plain crazy. But hey, to each his own!
other ways always you need wait the third party to contact apple etc so at the end you spend the same or more..
You really don't know how buying RAM works - the "third party" does not have to contact Apple. I buy from a place that has a lifetime warranty on RAM. Something goes wrong, they will replace it no charge. Buy at Apple - you buy the same RAM and spend more; I don't know if the RAM you buy at Apple has lifetime warranty, but I don't think so. I believe the RAM has the same warranty as the rest of the hardware - you may want to ask when you take in your Mac to look at the tabs.....
When i open my imac i saw that one of the plastic tabs the ones that you use to take out the modules one of them was with a corner like i saw the paper and is touching the memory module,can be problem if it become to hot,i mean can it be burn.
Sorry, I have no idea; since you paid Apple lots of money for your RAM, I'd suggest you take in your Mac and ask them.
Oh do you have a link to the apple website about the 16Gb problems reported?
It's not an Apple site, it was in these Discussion forums - there are quite a few threads (you can search for more):
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2567907
I did it myself,i just go down to the apple store and get 2X4GB memory modules at £320,
That is more than $500 US; I paid $77 (+ $3 for shipping) for the same thing with a lifetime guarantee:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/2010/DDR3_21.5_27
None of you answer my question just talking and talking.
I really hope your third party ram doesn't crash your mac and you need wait till the third party get you new one because that's serious in bussines you need your machine so for me i just need go to the apple store.But i see they crash your minds and that's bad.
May the problem with the 16GB is because isn't ram from apple.
Thanks for your help her eis a apple forum so may i have the right,may more than you as you sugest thank you.
Oh thank you for the links is interesting how someone say that when get the apple factory modules it works..
The tab won't cause any problems.
Best place to buy RAM in the UK is Crucial;
You're not going to convince him that anything that isn't purchased at the Apple store will do..... I give up.
Yea. I rather wondered why he posted. (quite apart from hi-jacking an answered thread)
Thank you just what i was thinking..
I have a iMAC(got it in less than 2 months ago), can I change the memory(upgrade it from 4 GB to 8GB) myself? I mean I need to open the screws and exchange the memory chips. Does it cancel the guarantee?
No. Apple considers RAM to be one of the user replaceable parts of an iMac. Of course their warranty would not apply to the RAM itself, and if you do manage to cause damage during the installation that would not be covered as well, but if you purchase good quality RAM (Other World Computing and Crucial are good vendors) and are reasonably competent with your hands it should not be a problem.
You do NOT have to remove the memory that is currently in the iMac. There are four slots for RAM, presumably only two of them are currently in use. Just add to what is there.
Yes you can.
Apple won't guarantee the new RAM (the vendor does that), but the rest of your Apple Warranty is unaffected.
On the iMac the RAM is behind a grille at the bottom edge of the case. Three captive screws (they remain attached to the grille panel so you can't lose them).
Instructions are in your manual, and OWC and iFixit also have useful walk-throughs.
The 21.5" has two slots, the 27" has four, two of which will be empty.
RAM Upgrade ? new iMac i5
