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sol101

Q: I have an early 2008 iMac which I unfortunately upgraded to Maverick. Now we computer has slowed down quite a bit. I have 2GB of RAM. The maximum I can upgrade is to 4GB. Would I be able to notice the speed that I miss so much.

I have upgraded my early 2008 iMac and I presently have a 2GB of RAM. Things have slow down quite a bit. The maximum is 4GB.

Do you think if I add the 2GB would I get the speed that I had before.

Thank you very much

Posted on Aug 16, 2014 12:40 PM

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Q: I have an early 2008 iMac which I unfortunately upgraded to Maverick. Now we computer has slowed down quite a bit. I have 2GB of R ... more

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  • by Carolyn Samit,Solvedanswer

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 16, 2014 12:42 PM in response to sol101
    Level 10 (122,477 points)
    Apple Music
    Aug 16, 2014 12:42 PM in response to sol101

    Yes. Upgrading RAM can help speed things up a bit as well as add stability meaning fewer freezes and lag time.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Aug 16, 2014 2:21 PM in response to sol101
    Level 9 (50,351 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 16, 2014 2:21 PM in response to sol101

    According to this, you can actually go to 6GB.

    http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-2.8-24-inch-alu minum-early-2008-penryn-specs.html

     

    Even if you don't upgrade the OS, more RAM will help.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Aug 16, 2014 2:33 PM in response to sol101
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Aug 16, 2014 2:33 PM in response to sol101

    Your 2008 iMac can take a total of 8 GBs of RAM.

    6 GB RAM kit found here.

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/6400DDR2S6GP/


    Also, if you are experiencing a slow Mac, It would help us to help you if we could have some more technical info about your iMac.

    If you like, please go ahead and download, install and run Etrecheck.

    Etrecheck was developed as a simple Mac diagnostic report tool by a regular Apple Support forum user and technical support contributor named Etresoft. Etrecheck is a small, unobstrusive app that compiles a static snapshot of your entire Mac hardware system and installed software.

    This is a free app that has been honestly created to provided help in diagnosing issues with Macs running the new OS X 10.9 Mavericks.

    It is not malware and can be safely downloaded and installed onto your Mac.

     

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

     

    Copy/paste and post its report here in another reply thread so that we have a complete profile of your Mac's hardware and installed software so we can all help with your Mac performance issues.

     

    Thank You.

  • by sol101,

    sol101 sol101 Aug 16, 2014 7:54 PM in response to sol101
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 16, 2014 7:54 PM in response to sol101

    Thank you very much, I did double to 4GB, and things are looking up.

  • by sol101,

    sol101 sol101 Aug 16, 2014 8:00 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 16, 2014 8:00 PM in response to Barney-15E

    Now that I have upgraded to 4GB and things are looking up, however i am a little bit greedy and will follow your advice to go to 6GB.

    Is it 4 GB and 2 GB? Do i need to follow a different instructions than what I did when going from 2 to 4.

    Do you have any idea why Apple specify a max of 4?

    Thanks a million

    PS: How to monitor RAM usage

  • by Carolyn Samit,Helpful

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 16, 2014 8:11 PM in response to sol101
    Level 10 (122,477 points)
    Apple Music
    Aug 16, 2014 8:11 PM in response to sol101

    You can monitor RAM usage in the Activity Monitor app located in HD > Applications > Utilities

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Aug 16, 2014 8:13 PM in response to sol101
    Level 6 (13,912 points)
    iPad
    Aug 16, 2014 8:13 PM in response to sol101

    Where and what brand of RAM did you purchase?

    Macs are very, VERY picky about the RAM and RAM specs they need to use.

    It appears as if you just recently purchased this RAM from a local source.

    Most local and chain electronics/computer retailers do not have the correct spec'd RAM for Macs.

    Mac RAM, for the most part, can only be obtained from reliable, online sources.

    If you start experincing issues with this RAM like Kernel panics and frequent crashing, return the RAM for a full refund and purchase from the source I, originally, linked to to you.

    Correct, compatible  and reliable Mac RAM can be purchased from online Mac RAM sources Crucial memory or OWC (macsales.com).

     

    Good Luck!

  • by sol101,

    sol101 sol101 Aug 16, 2014 8:21 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 16, 2014 8:21 PM in response to MichelPM

    I bought the RAMS from Best Buy with the same part no as suggested by Apples. However I can return them and get the 6GB from your suggested source.

    I did not look hard enough but maybe they have 8GB.

    Again, thanks a million

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Aug 17, 2014 3:33 AM in response to sol101
    Level 9 (50,801 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2014 3:33 AM in response to sol101

    The maximum Ram for your Mac is either 6 or 8GB depending on exactly which one it is.

     

    Check with OWC

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Aug 17, 2014 4:39 AM in response to sol101
    Level 5 (7,972 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2014 4:39 AM in response to sol101
    Do you have any idea why Apple specify a max of 4?

    Because that is what was available when the machine was introduced in 2008. Apple doesn't revise the specs for older computers.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Aug 17, 2014 4:47 AM in response to sol101
    Level 9 (50,801 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2014 4:47 AM in response to sol101

    sol101 wrote:

     

    Now that I have upgraded to 4GB and things are looking up, however i am a little bit greedy and will follow your advice to go to 6GB.

    Is it 4 GB and 2 GB? Do i need to follow a different instructions than what I did when going from 2 to 4.

    Do you have any idea why Apple specify a max of 4?

    Thanks a million

    PS: How to monitor RAM usage

    If I were you I would check with OWC, as Michel suggested, you may be able to fit 8GB, they will know. And the Ram they supply is fully tested in the configurations they sell for your Mac. They're the best supplier of Ram for Macs (most other things Mac as well)

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Aug 17, 2014 5:00 AM in response to sol101
    Level 5 (7,972 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2014 5:00 AM in response to sol101

    Early 2008 iMacs max at 6 Gigs of RAM.

    Early 2009 iMacs max at 8 Gigs of RAM.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Aug 17, 2014 5:16 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 9 (50,801 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2014 5:16 AM in response to Lanny

    Some 2008 Macs will take 8GB, model ID's below.

     

    Screen Shot 2014-08-17 at 13.13.39.png

     

    All of these models below can use 8GB

     

    Model Identifiers: MacBook5,1; MacBookPro5,1; MacBookPro5,2;
    MacBookPro5,3; MacBookPro5,4; MacBookPro5,5; MacBookPro6,1;
    MacBookPro6,2 & MacBookPro7,1

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Aug 17, 2014 5:19 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 5 (7,972 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2014 5:19 AM in response to Csound1

    He has an iMac. We have to assume that he knows the difference.

     

    The info I supplied was for iMacs.

     

    He says he has an Early 2008 iMac.

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