Can my old iMac be upgraded for more memory and higher processor speed?

Question

Can my old iMac be upgraded for more memory and higher processor speed?

I admit it - I'm not a computer geek. I don't know much about how they work but am proficient in using them. I have an older model iMac. The specs are:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac6,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 4 MB

Memory: 1 GB

Bus Speed: 667 MHz

Boot ROM Version: IM61.0093.B07

SMC Version (system): 1.10f2

System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)

I get the SBBOD all of the time no matter what. I've tried all of the suggestions to resolve that issue but they don't work. Even when only one program is open at a time it does it. The speed of getting anything accomplished has been dramatically reduced over time. All of my software is up to date. All I need to know is, if I take my iMac to an Apple store, can they upgrade the RAM or whatever is needed to make the SBBOD go away and make things work faster? Sorry for sounding like a dummy here but I'm really not interested in how it works, just that it does work.

Thanks for any help you can give!

Posted on Jul 10, 2014 11:05 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 10, 2014 11:07 AM in response to lynn from fort dodge

That's a 2006 iMac. RAM can be upgraded to 4GB max. Processor cannot be upgraded.

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Answer 2

Jul 10, 2014 11:09 AM in response to lynn from fort dodge

You can't upgrade the processor, but you can certainly put more RAM (a total of 3GB useable) into that Mac, which should help you reduce the beach balling.

You could order a 2GB and a 1GB chip from this page:

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-memory-for/Apple/imac-2*16ghz-intel-cor e-2-duo-%2824-inch%29

Also, how much free hard drive space do you have? If you're low, that also will slow down the system.

Matt

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 10, 2014 11:10 AM in response to lynn from fort dodge

You can expand the Ram in your Mac, (to a maximum of 4GB, 3GB of which will be used) call the Apple Store and ask if they will do it or find an Authorized Service centre.

This may not be the cause of your problems though.

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Answer 4

Allan Jones

Level 9

68,690 points

Jul 10, 2014 11:26 AM in response to lynn from fort dodge

Before making the drive, you can safely show us a snapshot of your config. You may have something installed that is a known performance killer, like anti-virus and "cleaning" programs. Please download and install this free utility:

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

It is secure and written by one of our most valued members to allow users to show details of their computer's configuration in Apple Support Communities without revealing any sensitive personal data.

Run the program and click the "Copy report to clipboard" button when it displays the results. Then return here and paste the report into a response to your initial post. It can often show if any harmful files/programs are dragging down your performance.

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Answer 5

Aug 22, 2014 8:05 PM in response to stevejobsfan0123

Thanks for the info! I don't suppose you would have any idea how much that upgrade to the RAM would cost do you? I"m just trying to decide whether to do the upgrade or get a refurbished but newer model. I have to do something with as poorly as this one is working and a lot of my work is done on it. Thanks again!

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Answer 6

Aug 22, 2014 8:11 PM in response to lynn from fort dodge

I did the etrecheck as suggested and here is what it came up with. Does anything look suspect?

EtreCheck version: 1.9.15 (52)

Report generated August 22, 2014 10:07:43 PM CDT

Hardware Information: ?

iMac (24-inch, Late 2006) (Verified)

iMac - model: iMac6,1

1 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores

1 GB RAM

Video Information: ?

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT - VRAM: 128 MB

iMac 1920 x 1200

spdisplays_display_connector

System Software: ?

Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549) - Uptime: 0 days 12:43:21

Disk Information: ?

Hitachi HDT721032SLA380 disk0 : (298.09 GB)

S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

- (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 200 MB

v (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 297.77 GB (48.61 GB free)

USB Information: ?

Micron Built-in iSight

Microsoft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop® 2.10

Brother HL-2270DW series

EPSON EPSON Scanner

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Kernel Extensions: ?

[not loaded] com.olympus.CamBlockCommandsDeviceUP (3.1.0 - SDK 10.6) Support

Launch Daemons: ?

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

[not loaded] com.deploystudio.lkdc_fix.plist Support

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support

User Launch Agents: ?

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist Support

User Login Items: ?

Garmin Express Service

iTunesHelper

EEventManager

Music Manager

Internet Plug-ins: ?

DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.5.7r609 Support

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 Support

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: Version: 12.3.6 Support

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin1017265: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 Support

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Support

Silverlight: Version: 4.0.51204.0 Support

Flash Player: Version: 14.0.0.145 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.6.6

NP_2020Player_IKEA: Version: 5.0.94.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support

CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: Version: Version 1.1.6 Support

GarminGpsControl: Version: 4.1.0.0 Release - SDK 10.7 Support

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.2 - SDK 10.6 Support

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 13.9.8 - SDK 10.6 Check version

Safari Extensions: ?

AdBlock

Pin It Button

Add To Amazon Wish List

iTunes Plug-ins: ?

Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.2

User Internet Plug-ins ?

fbplugin_1_0_3: Version: (null) Support

npBcsMcTcIO: Version: (null) Support

BrowserPlus_2.9.8: Version: 2.9.8 Support

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.26 Support

3rd Party Preference Panes: ?

BrowserPlus Support

Flash Player Support

MusicManager Support

Time Machine: ?

Time Machine information requires OS X 10.7 "Lion" or later.

Top Processes by CPU: ?

1% WindowServer

0% WebProcess

0% LaunchCFMApp

0% fontd

0% ps

Top Processes by Memory: ?

244 MB WebProcess

134 MB Safari

35 MB WindowServer

28 MB Garmin Express Service

22 MB DashboardClient

Virtual Memory Information: ?

32 MB Free RAM

560 MB Active RAM

276 MB Inactive RAM

154 MB Wired RAM

560 MB Page-ins

346 MB Page-outs

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Answer 7

Aug 23, 2014 5:03 AM in response to lynn from fort dodge

A memory upgrade is quite inexpensive and easy to perform, if you go down that route upgrade to the most memory the machine will take as per the Crucial web site posted earlier, I understand OWC also can supply suitable memory.

If you decide on a new machine, check that all your present software and peripherals are compatible with the OS X that will be on your new machine, you may have to allow for upgrades to those as well. Many problems reported on these forums are due to not checking this out.

Be sure to have a good tested backup of your computer before upgrading memory, you should be doing that anyway but just a reminder.

Good luck and hope you get it all as you would like.

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