HT201191: Install memory in an iMac

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b5nLTny

Q: Any practical help to remove and install memory from 2GB to 4-6G?B

I;m upgrading my imac (early 2009) to OS10.7 (mountain lion) and need to increase RAM from 2 to 4 GB to accomodate 'mountain lion' . Any practical help how to do this, from make (brand) of RAM (Apple has ran out of supply) to tips on installation? Thanks,

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), after installation upgrade to 10.7

Posted on May 17, 2013 4:34 PM

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Q: Any practical help to remove and install memory from 2GB to 4-6G?B

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  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy May 17, 2013 4:41 PM in response to b5nLTny
    Level 10 (271,052 points)
    Desktops
    May 17, 2013 4:41 PM in response to b5nLTny

    You can expand up to 8 GBs:

     

    Maximum Memory8.0 GB
    Memory Slots2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

     

    You can consult your user guide chapter on adding memory for what to do. You can purchase memory at OWC or DataMem. OWC is likely to have online tutorials on how to install RAM. Your computer has two memory slots so you will replace the memory currently installed with two new modules. Two 2 GB modules will provide 4 GBs and two 4 GB modules will provide 8 GBs of total memory. If you plan to keep your iMac for a while then expand to 8 GBs.

  • by den.thed,Helpful

    den.thed den.thed May 17, 2013 4:43 PM in response to b5nLTny
    Level 7 (27,555 points)
    May 17, 2013 4:43 PM in response to b5nLTny

    If your going to upgrade, you should upgrade to the full 8GB.

     

    For quality RAM and a great installation video, go to: > Memory upgrades for 'March/2009 iMac

  • by ds store,

    ds store ds store May 17, 2013 7:16 PM in response to b5nLTny
    Level 7 (30,395 points)
    May 17, 2013 7:16 PM in response to b5nLTny

    That's a four year old machine, it should be able to handle Mountain Lion (10.8), but be warned most of your 10.6 software will not run on it and it will be slower performance as Snow Leopard is very slim.

     

    http://roaringapps.com/apps:table

     

    BTW, 10.7 is Lion and it's been removed from AppStore so you go directly to 10.8 from 10.6.8, unless you want 10.7 specifically then you call Apple.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy May 17, 2013 9:52 PM in response to ds store
    Level 10 (271,052 points)
    Desktops
    May 17, 2013 9:52 PM in response to ds store

    but be warned most of your 10.6 software will not run on it and it will be slower performance as Snow Leopard is very slim.

     

    Not very correct. The first part is wrong. The second part is dependent upon the age of the hardware.

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed May 18, 2013 7:55 AM in response to ds store
    Level 7 (27,555 points)
    May 18, 2013 7:55 AM in response to ds store

    ds store wrote:

     

    but be warned most of your 10.6 software will not run on it and it will be slower performance as Snow Leopard is very slim.

     

    I also disagree!

     

    I run a mixed bag of old iLife, old Apple Bonus App's from 10.4, plus lots of third party Universal App's in Mountain Lion without any problem.

     

    For example:

     

    iMovie HD (6.0.3)

    GarageBand (5.1)

    iDVD (7.1.2)

     

    Big Bang (2.3.3) games

    Comic Life (1.5.5)