Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
Can someone please tell me the maximum memory that I can put in my iMac5,1 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo computer? I presently have 2 X 512 and I know I need 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, PC2-5300. Various sources, including companies to order from, have conflicting info. The apple store doesn't have my model listed. Can it take 1-1Gb and 1-2Gb or 2-2Gb? I want to upgrade to Lion. Is one company's memory better than others? Thanks for the help.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Your iMac supports 3 GB max officially according to Apple, but OWC has shown it can take 4 GB, but only someting like 3.3 will be used. Some have said if you do put two 2GB for total of 4 GB you will get a small video benefit b/c you are using matched pairs. Here is the page for your Mac at OWC http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac/Intel_Core_2_Duo_2006. It's very easy to install. You would need the max amount for Lion.
Your late 2006 iMac 5,1 can physically handle 2 x 2GB memory cards, however, the system will only access 3GB of memory. You can also install a 1GB and a 2GB memory card, for 3GB memory. Installing 2 x 2GB will give you a slight performance benefit over a 1GB and 2GB card, due to the Intel architecture.
I've used Crucial (http://www.crucial.com) memory for years with no issues. On their web site you can choose your system to see what they have. If I remember, 2GB cards were running around $26 and 1GB cards around $28. If you look around the web, you can usually find a 5% discount code. Another reliable vendor is OWC at http://www.macsales.com . I've bought Samsung memory (which is factory fill in some models) from them.
Lion requires 2GB, and a number of people are finding that, like other operating system minimums, that's enough to turn on the lights but may not be enough for good performance. 4GB, or more, seems to be popular. So 3GB is certainly better than 2, but you might also consider whether you should think about a system upgrade to a new system. Of course, for $50 for memory and the cost of Lion, you could always try it out to see how it works.
Don't forget on Lion that there is no Rosetta emulation, so if you have any PowerPC programs running under Rosetta today, they won't run under Lion tomorrow.
Based on the above information, I ordered 4gb kit crucial 2-2gb 240-pin unbuff dimm 256MX64DDR2 PC2-5300. We went to install and these memory pieces are much larger than what is in the machine now: Samsung 512MB 2RX16 PC2-5300S-555-12-A3. Help. Where did I go wrong? This is what I ordered from newegg:
| 20-148-111 | MEM 2Gx2|CRUC CT2KIT25664AA667 R |
Don't know how it went wrong at Crucial but yes, 240 pins is too big. You need 200 pin. Here it is from OWC
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/5300DDR2S4GP/
I am going to try to return the memory to newegg. Just checking if this is the right product:
Crucial 2GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Laptop Memory Model CT25664AC667
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148087
I see you're not buying directly from Crucial but Crucial through Newegg. Also assume you're getting the 4 GB Kit (2GB X 2GB) as you said originally so it's this instead of the one you listed above. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148201&cm_mmc=CNETFindM EMUS-_-20-148-201-_-na-_-na
Thanks for the help. Yes I will buy that but I don't think I will get a refund from newegg. I guess I didn't have enough info and wasn't aware of all the parameters.
Newegg should refund your purchase minus a return fee.
maximum memory for iMac5.1
