ByronHinson

Q: iMac 5k upgrade to 16gb

Got the base unit iMac 5k this past week and love it. Just wondered if anyone has upgraded from 8GB to 16GB themselves as its cheaper and noticed much difference in performance at all?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Feb 17, 2015 11:41 AM

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Q: iMac 5k upgrade to 16gb

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  • by braden85,

    braden85 braden85 Feb 18, 2015 11:55 AM in response to ByronHinson
    Community Specialists
    Feb 18, 2015 11:55 AM in response to ByronHinson

    Hi ByronHinson,

     

    I understand that you have some questions about upgrading the RAM on your iMac 5k. This is a fairly simple process, and is explained in depth by the information in the following article:

     

    iMac: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support

    http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1423

     

    Take care, and thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities.

     

    Cheers,

     

    Braden

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Feb 18, 2015 12:28 PM in response to ByronHinson
    Level 9 (58,746 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 18, 2015 12:28 PM in response to ByronHinson

    Upgrading the RAM (on any computer) will only help if your computer is experiencing issues that require adding additional RAM. One classic example is extended time to load apps or files. You can use Activity Monitor (Applications - Utilities - Activity Monitor) to determine where your RAM is being used. If you have adequate RAM adding additional RAM is frankly a waste of money, you will see no return. However if you need it, then get it!

  • by Old Toad,Helpful

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 18, 2015 2:27 PM in response to ByronHinson
    Level 10 (141,311 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 18, 2015 2:27 PM in response to ByronHinson

    I agree with rkajufmann87's remarks about the need for increased RAM.  If you're not experiencing any problems then you don't need more RAM.  Launch Activity Monitor and let it run while you run your normal operations.  Then check to see what the RAM usage is?

    Activity Monitor002.jpg

     

    If you have no Swap Used and the pressure is low and uniform all is OK.

    OTsig.png

  • by ASGR.SYS,Helpful

    ASGR.SYS ASGR.SYS Feb 18, 2015 6:57 PM in response to ByronHinson
    Level 1 (30 points)
    Feb 18, 2015 6:57 PM in response to ByronHinson

    Ditto last two remarks.

     

    Just out of interest, what are you going to use your new iMac Retina for?


    Unless you are going to fully utilise the machine for it's intended purpose,

    probably intensive graphics, 8GB should be more than enough for a single

    user even with average size media files.

     

    Correct me if I am mistaken...  The more unused RAM you have the more

    the OS uses the available RAM as a file cache that may or may not be

    compressed.


    BTW. we are all jealous of your 5K. >:-(


  • by ByronHinson,

    ByronHinson ByronHinson Feb 19, 2015 11:05 AM in response to ASGR.SYS
    Level 1 (54 points)
    Feb 19, 2015 11:05 AM in response to ASGR.SYS

    Well the swap file shows 1.5gb most of the time.

     

    I'm going to be using it mostly for photography editing and organising. Though obviously music and browsing too!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 19, 2015 11:11 AM in response to ByronHinson
    Level 10 (141,311 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 19, 2015 11:11 AM in response to ByronHinson

    Download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here (and recommended by Apple Support personnel) in the ASC to help identify the more obvious culprits.