Trying to find if can upgrade RAM on early 2009 iMac 2.66. Has 4GB. Says has 2 slots each accepts 1067 MHz DDR3 module

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Level 1

8 points

Trying to find if can upgrade RAM on early 2009 iMac 2.66. Has 4GB. Says has 2 slots each accepts 1067 MHz DDR3 module

I have an early 2009 24-inch iMac (2.66 intel core 2 duo) with 4GB memory and am trying to establish if I can upgrade the memory, hopefully to improve performance and prevent regular/occasional slowdown/sticking. Spec tells me I have 2 memory slots, each of which accepts a 1067MHz DDR3 memory module. It says all are currently in use and shows 2GB in each. So, question is can I upgrade or is this the max it can take? I'd like to upgrade, say, to 8GB, 4GB in each slot, if they have the capacity for that, which isn't clear.

Also wondering if this will improve performance - i.e. prevent occasional but sometimes regular sticking/slowing of performance, spinning wheel, etc. Activity monitor often shows just single or three-figure MB 'free' - mostly as a result of having multiple web pages open (have 8 saved tabs regularly open). That said, all my problems started some time ago when I 'upgraded' to Lion. But general view seems to be that memory is best bet for such problems.

If I can upgrade, am I right to understand that Mac memory is way overpriced and that it's OK/safe to use third-party memory and that a total non-expert can install that?

Any help appreciated.

geoff

iMac

Posted on Nov 28, 2014 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,266 points

Nov 28, 2014 8:51 AM in response to GK Brighton

Each slot can accommodate up to a 4GB module; upgrading both slots will max out your RAM at 8GB.

How much performance boost you see depends on many variables, one of which being your version of the Mac OS, which we don't know at this time. My experience is that, for the average user (word processing, web browsing, e-mail), 4GB RAM is fine up to Mac OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion. Please tell us what OS you have and how you use the computer (task-wise) and we can better suggest if an upgrade will help.

Install RAM in an iMac is an easy, 10-minute and at-home job. Video instructions here:

http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac_mid_2007_mem/

RAM is expensive if you get it from Apple. Fortunately for you, they only sell extra RAM for the latest models. For over a decade I have bought RAM from one vendor online and never had an issue. I find their Mac RAM roughly equal in price to RAM for the "Dark Side" computers. I am supporting about 25 Macs between family and friends, so have some credibility as an advanced user.

If you give us a rough idea of where you are located, we can suggest reliable vendors of Mac- compatible RAM.

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Answer 2

GK Brighton Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 28, 2014 10:39 AM in response to Allan Jones

Thanks, Allan, that's very useful and sounds like good news. I have OSX 10.8.5 (12F45). My use is indeed pretty average, principally word processing, web browsing and email exactly; sometimes some DVD clip converting/editing, but I don't think I'm generally a user of highly demanding processes very often. I do tend to have my eight saved web pages open all the time, which does appear to use up quite a large chunk of memory, from what I can tell via activity monitor. That includes things like Facebook. I'm inclined to try at upgrade, at least, to see if it helps, especially if it doesn't cost too much.

What you say explains why when I went through Apple's pages to check if I could upgrade I ended up with something saying nothing was available, while a third-party website (I forget which now) suggested otherwise - which left me confused at the time. I'm based in Brighton in the UK.

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Answer 3

GK Brighton Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 29, 2014 7:09 AM in response to GK Brighton

There's a site called Mr Memory in the UK which offers 4GB modules for my model for £32 apiece (that's about $50), which sounds reasonable. Described as 204-pin SODIMM DDR3 PC3-8500 1066MHz. Said to be guaranteed compatible and with lifetime warranty, so sounds good. Am tempted to order right now, but be good to hear back first if possible.

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Answer 4

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,266 points

Nov 29, 2014 8:56 AM in response to GK Brighton

Those are the right spec but I would like to know the actual maker. Kingston ValueRAM has a long history of not playing well in Intel-powered Macs, and Corsair RAM has been "hit and miss."

Consider Crucial UK. My UK counterparts here say they always ship the proper bits and, when I looked at their UK site,

http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Apple/imac-2*66ghz-intel-cor e-2-duo-%2824-inch---ddr3%29-mb418ll-a

they show an 8GB kit (two 4GB modules) for £64.79 with VAT.

NOTE: I searched by model which is poorly described in their system. When you go there, use their system scanner to make sure this is the RAM for your model.

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Answer 5

GK Brighton Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 29, 2014 9:34 AM in response to Allan Jones

Thanks again, Allan. I've just hit the button and ordered from Crucial. I used the scanner and it all seemed to be the right one. Now just need to see how much difference it makes! But it's worth that much to see if extra RAM is the key. Appreciate your help!

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Answer 6

GK Brighton Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 3, 2014 1:44 AM in response to GK Brighton

I bought that RM and installed it successfully. Last night, when web browsing, etc, I seemed to have lots of spare capacity. Today, though, activity monitor tells me (when I'm scrolling down Facebook, for instance, which is usually a problem point) that I'm using something like 7.5GB (about 4.2GB or so on Safari web content), which isn't leaving much free again. Nothing else seems to be using large amounts - nothing into the GBs. So not sure this has fixed the problem.

One question. In this state, activity monitor is registering something like 3GB as 'inactive' memory. I'm not sure what this means. That counts among the 'used' total but I don't understand how something inactive is used. Is there any way the inactive can be freed up? I'm asking as a more or less total ignoramus as far as anything more than absolute basics are concerned!

Maybe I just can't have so many web pages open at once without a bigger upgrade...

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