27" iMac Late 2009 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 (iMac11,1) ---> RAM?

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27" iMac Late 2009 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 (iMac11,1) ---> RAM?

Hi I want to upgrade the RAM for my iMac and I have some questions: What is the maximun total amount of RAM, and what is the maximun for each slot.

Apple says 16GB (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3918)

but a macsales iMac memory benchmarks shows up to 32GB (http://eshop.macsales.com/Reviews/Framework.cfm?page=/Benchmarks/CS5BenchmarkPag e-iMac.html)

😕

I will use the existing 2X2 for my Apple mini. So I have these options:

option 1: 4x4

option 2: 2x8

If the total amount is 16, I will buy 4x4, because I wont "need" more slots. But if the totoal amount can be 32, I can go 2x8 by the moment, or 2x16 in once.

I will have 1GB left from the mini.

Thank you!

Posted on May 27, 2013 10:18 AM

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Answer 1

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mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

May 27, 2013 10:29 AM in response to iMerCADder

The Late 2009 iMac supports 16 GB of memory. See > http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/DDR3_21.5_27

2x8 GB of RAM won't work, because your computer can't detect 8 GB slots (that's the reason why you can't install 32 GB of RAM). The best option is to buy 4 modules of 4 GB of RAM, so you will have the maximum RAM and the best performance in Dual Channel

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Answer 2

iMerCADder Author

Level 1

11 points

May 27, 2013 10:38 AM in response to mende1

Yes, this is what Apple says but, why there is this benchmark of 32GB. (check the model in the macsales page)

I am wondering if this model has a different firmware, or maybe the Apple info is not updated.

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Answer 3

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

May 27, 2013 10:40 AM in response to iMerCADder

You are right. In the case of the high-end 27-inch iMac, you can install 32 GB of RAM. In that case, you can install 2 modules of 8 GB of memory if you want to, or just install 4 modules of 8 GB of memory if you want the maximum memory.

That's probably because Apple uses a different logic board for Intel Core 2 Duo iMacs than for Intel Core i5 and i7 iMacs, and these computers have got the ability to support 32 GB of memory instead of 16 GB. Mid 2010 and newer iMacs support 32 GB of memory

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