Q: iMac running very slow and sometimes won't start
-
Jul 1, 2012 1:48 PMby den.thed,1GB of RAM is hardly enough to run the OSX, less Word and Safari.
To check RAM usage, see > Using Activity Monitor | Mac Tricks And Tips
For RAM upgrades see > Upgrade Apple iMac Memory
-
Jul 1, 2012 4:57 PMby MichelPM,Yeah,
Apple only ships their Macs with enough RAM memory to get the computer to a functioning level.
Not enough to have a Mac run at good performance levels.
OS X, by itself, needs a working minimum of 4 GBs of RAM.
Running extra applications needs extra RAM atop the 4 GBs minimum.
Early 2009 models can take up to 8 GBs of RAM.
Late 2009 models can take up to 16 GBs of RAM.
If not doing anything CPU intensive, I would go and purchase and install, at least 6 GBs of RAM and, maybe consider purchasing and installing 8 GBs.
That should be plenty of RAM for what you do with your iMac.
Here's a link to the type of RAM your iMac takes and how to replace and install new RAM
