Adding RAM 2009 imac 27inch

I have a 27inch late 2009 iMac with 2x4GB and wondering can I add 2X4 gb chips into the other empty slots,(totaling 12RAM) or do I need to balance and have each slot have the same memory? thanks

MacBook Air, iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Oct 29, 2013 7:11 AM

Reply
11 replies

Oct 29, 2013 5:33 PM in response to R C-R

Had a busy day at work, and so sorry about the delayed response. Also, I am new to this forum,), and was a bit confused by the process. ( Though I am impressed by both your level 6 status, and mister potato head icon: )


Anyhow, really appreciate the response and the link, and after reading your question I realized I gave bad info in my question.


So here is the question stated more clearly.


Right now I have 2x2 GB (that is a 2gb card in each slot) and so a total of 4gb of RAM (pathetic :-)


and my question is, can I have 2 slots with the 2gb memory models, and the other to slots with 4GB modules....Thus ending up with 2x2gb, and 2x4 gb adding up to 12 GB of RAM ...or is this "lopsidedness" a problem?


does that make any sense?


Much thanks in anticipation of a response,


Danah

Oct 29, 2013 7:12 PM in response to danahfromla

Thus ending up with 2x2gb, and 2x4 gb adding up to 12 GB of RAM ...or is this "lopsidedness" a problem?


No, that is exactly the config I have and my iMac is rock solid. If you leave the original RAM alone and use the empty slots for the new RAM, you are fine, because side-by-side slots will have the same RAM quantity:


[.....2GB....] [.....2GB....]

[.....4GB....] [.....4GB....]


What might be a problem is removing all the RAM and getting it mixed up so it goes in like this:


[.....2GB....] [.....4GB....]

[.....4GB....] [.....2GB....]

Oct 29, 2013 7:43 PM in response to Allan Jones

No, those kinds of things are dreadful! I totally agree I've been living in a Mac universe way too long to even think about those kinds of things.


When I go into my activity monitor, a message comes up saying that I have 411 mb being used for Kernel_task, and also 2 that say "Safari content" that are over 121mb each. I do not know what those are? Can it be something that snuck in when surfing the net "acquiring" an episode of Game of thrones last year?


Could it be those, and can I delete these (the kernel task and the safari contnet items as they seem sketchy

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Adding RAM 2009 imac 27inch

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.