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Discussion & troubleshooting on iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini and older Macs.

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  1. #1
    Apple convert since 2006 razza85's Avatar
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    Default 2008 iMacs capable of using 6GB of RAM?!

    I was browsing macfixit to see their prices on RAM for 2008 revision iMacs and noticed that they're selling 6.0GB RAM (2.0GB+4.0GB Module Set) Matched Set DDR2 SODIMM PC2-6400 800Mhz (@ $328 - too much for me lol). I was under the strong impression that the 2008 iMac's RAM can only be upgraded to a maximum of 4GB and not 6GB. So is it possible to upgrade the RAM an extra 2GB to 6GB, or is this a fault on the website's behalf?
    Last edited by razza85; 29th June 2009 at 01:00 AM.
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  2. #2
    Huy
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    2008 iMacs go up to 6GB DDR2 800MHz.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Huy View Post
    2008 iMacs go up to 6GB DDR2 800MHz.
    How can I tell if I have one of these?

    Also I thought that 1+1 & 2+2, 4+4, etc were better configurations for some technical reason???
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    Well 4+4 won't work on an older iMac anyway, but having two of the same RAM stick will "technically" increase speeds due to running in dual channel mode.

    In practice this doesn't seem to make much of a difference, and will actually slow you down if you do run out of RAM.

  5. #5
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    So I already have 2+2. Would I see a performance increase if I upgraded to 2+4?

    Again. How do I identify the compatibility of my iMac?

    Thanks
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  6. #6
    I like the podcast so much, I pay for the show RodB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by morgs View Post
    So I already have 2+2. Would I see a performance increase if I upgraded to 2+4?

    Again. How do I identify the compatibility of my iMac?

    Thanks
    If you click the Apple Menu, About this Mac, then click on More Information, you should see the model identifier code, which will look something like iMac8,1 or similar.

    If you can post this information, this will help.
    Rod - CEO @ RamCity
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  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by morgs View Post
    So I already have 2+2. Would I see a performance increase if I upgraded to 2+4?
    You will gain no benefit from the upgrade unless you are already running out of RAM and experiencing slowdowns due to it.

    For example: huge Photoshop files with tonnes of layers, giant 3D models, libraries with thousands of RAW images, running multiple VMs at once.

    For tooling around the internet, using office applications, running a single VM and light to medium use of Photoshop then 4GB is more than enough.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by ~Coxy View Post
    You will gain no benefit from the upgrade unless you are already running out of RAM and experiencing slowdowns due to it.

    For example: huge Photoshop files with tonnes of layers, giant 3D models, libraries with thousands of RAW images, running multiple VMs at once.

    For tooling around the internet, using office applications, running a single VM and light to medium use of Photoshop then 4GB is more than enough.
    Thanks for that info. Very helpful.
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by RodB View Post
    If you click the Apple Menu, About this Mac, then click on More Information, you should see the model identifier code, which will look something like iMac8,1 or similar.

    If you can post this information, this will help.
    My model Identifier if iMac7,1

    I probably wouldn't bother upgrading but it would be nice to know if I qualify?
    Thanks
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  10. #10
    Old Floydian Analog6's Avatar
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    Go into About this Mac and it tells you exactly which type of RAM your machine takes. I have a 2008 iMac and it says 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM. I do plan to upgrade to 4, beacuse the book said that is all I can have. However, if I can have 6 . . .

    I do a lot of photography and often want to open multiple RAW files in CS4 for cutting, slicing, layering etc.

    A related question - I found RAM at iMac (Early 2008) - Epowermac which it says is fully MAc compatible for $59 per 2GB module. Anyone used 3rd party RAM? Does it stack up against Apple RAM. Apple RAm would be $360 for 4GB (quote yesterday from Apple Store Robina).
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  11. #11
    I like the podcast so much, I pay for the show RodB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by morgs View Post
    My model Identifier if iMac7,1

    I probably wouldn't bother upgrading but it would be nice to know if I qualify?
    Thanks
    This is the mid-2007 model, which has a maximum of 4GB.
    Rod - CEO @ RamCity
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  12. #12
    I like the podcast so much, I pay for the show RodB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Analog6 View Post
    Go into About this Mac and it tells you exactly which type of RAM your machine takes. I have a 2008 iMac and it says 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM. I do plan to upgrade to 4, beacuse the book said that is all I can have. However, if I can have 6 . . .
    4GB (2x2GB) is the maximum for that model.
    Rod - CEO @ RamCity
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    Apple Mac Memory (RAM), SSD and Hard Drive Upgrades

  13. #13

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    Open up Activity Monitor and click on the RAM tab. Leave it running and monitor your RAM usage over a day... see if the free RAM bottoms out.

  14. #14
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    mine is iMac8,1 can i go up to 6gb?
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  15. #15
    I like the podcast so much, I pay for the show RodB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by iJohn View Post
    mine is iMac8,1 can i go up to 6gb?
    Sadly the Early 2008 iMac can only go to 4GB:

    Apple iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 20-inch/24-inch 2.4-3.06GHz (Early 2008) Memory and RAM upgrades
    Rod - CEO @ RamCity
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    Apple Mac Memory (RAM), SSD and Hard Drive Upgrades

  16. #16

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    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by RodB View Post
    Sadly the Early 2008 iMac can only go to 4GB:
    Not so according to these experiments:
    6gb in IMac SR- Confirmed working!!!! - Mac Forums
    which shows an iMac successfully using all 6GB.


 

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