Intel iMac Memory Installation Instructions

[TheBabazita]

I opened today morning to take a look at it as it has the same chip as the one on this video but I don't know if the guy I buy it from just put this memory here or if is how it suppose to be???

[OWCmacsales]

@TheBabazita The memory should not be the same between the G5 iMacs and the Intel iMacs. The Intel White iMacs use PC5300 SoDIMMs while the G5 iMacs either used PC4200 or PC3200 DIMMs. Feel free to give our technical support line a call and we can assist in identifying your computer and your upgrade options. 1(800) 275-4576

[TheBabazita]

Excuse me I have a question I bought a iMac G5 iSight and I have the issue that always I need to install any program it won't let me , cuz the system ask me for an intel computer- and that my iMac is not an intel computer ...I wonder if I can buy that chip or memory you used in the video to make my iMac intel or something like that ... Please help me out!

I'm running a 10.5.8 sfw and I think the comouter is the early 2006 or 07

And is a 20" with 2gb ram and 500gb memory

[OWCmacsales]

@TheBabazita The iMac G5 has a PowerPC processor which is not upgradeable to an Intel Processor. Either you will want to find PowerPC versions of the software you're trying to install (if they're available) or upgrade by purchasing an Intel based Mac.

[arawnben]

I was wondering...If you have more RAM,does it increase the MHz of the computer?I need to know to upgrade my Tiger to Leopard.Thanks.

[ademakid212]

Thanks for the help!

[mecieTech]

this imac is very good.i think that if someone upgrade it's ram like 2gigas and going it to 3gigas will be so fast

[ku42]

hey, i need to replace my macs screen. should i call customer support? it is 4 years old. what is your opinion

[skittleschocolate]

UPGRADEE!! :D

[LauraElliott2525]

I have one of the very first Intel iMacs and I bought 4GB of Ram to upgrade it from 512.. but every time I put both the 2GB cards in or even put one 2GB card and the original 512, the computer wont turn on.. whats the issue? Ive only been able to get it to work with one 2GB card installed and nothing in the other slot.. Thanks

[OWCmacsales]

@LauraElliott2525 The first Intel iMacs (model IDs: iMac4,1; iMac4,2; and iMac5,2) can only recognize up to 2GB of total RAM.

[afrias82]

@OWCmacsales So model 5,1 can take up to 4GB? I feel it's upgrade time for my iMac or it will be eaten alive by my new macbook

[jbw470]

@OWCmacsales 5,2? I'm assuming this also includes 5,1

[ekinandrew]

@OWCmacsales I have the imac model 5,1 Will I not be able to upgrade more than 2gb?

[skittleschocolate]

there is such thing is a maximum random access memory capacity. in your case it's probably 2GB

[po90260]

One of my memory cards doesn't eject. How do I remove it? It's a 2GB and it looks like it might be bumping the metal frame that borders the slots.

[SOUTHWESTENZ]

thanks alot, just done it!!

[burnedbytheword]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[applerules100]

it would be such a fail if apple got the diagram wrong

[kXpimpin]

Sorry I'm a computer noob. Does taking out the old memory mean I'm gonna lose all my stuff?

[OWCmacsales]

@kXpimpin In a word, no, but here's the full explanation: Your hard drive is for long terms storage of all the files, programs, documents, pictures, music, videos etc. in your computer. The memory is separate, short term, actively used storage that is used by the programs you are running and is cleared when the program using the space is closed. The more memory you have, the more active programs you can have running at once and the faster certain programs can work.

[skittleschocolate]

no. this is RAM (Random Access Memory). no files are stored there. the ram helps with multitasking which is reset every time your computer is turned off. the Harddrive is what contains information. also if your maximum storage memory was 4GB, you wouldn't have much on it. modern computers have anywhere from 500GB to 1TB. (TB = 1024GB)

[LindoOchaMcCue]

Wow.... By no means am I a computer guy (just an end user).

Thank you so very much. I now have a 2gb ram instead 512 mb.

(hope that makes sense) O.o

[Utubemannnnnnn]

i have an iMac 5,1 early 2006. i have 1 gb memory. whats the max i can put?

[OWCmacsales]

@Utubemannnnnnn The iMac5,1 can accept up to 4.0GB of memory, however only 3.0GB will be addressed.

[Utubemannnnnnn]

@OWCmacsales thank you! im trying to upgrade my mac to play a game where the recommended specs is to have 4GB RAM and a video card NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 4670 or better. I currently have ATY Radeon x1600 and was told i cannot upgrade my graphics card on my imac. would upgrading to 4 GB of RAM allow me to play the game smoothly at a higher resolution despite not having this recommended graphics card?

[OWCmacsales]

@Utubemannnnnnn Honestly, it depends on the game. For example, Stacraft II - Wings of Liberty recommends 4GB of RAM with a video card NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 4670 or better, however, the minimum system requirements are 2GB of RAM with a video card of NVIDIA GeForce® 8600M GT or ATI Radeon X1600 or better.

Your iMac5,1 would play that game best with 3GB (or 4GB - remember only 3GB will be recognized) of RAM installed.

[Utubemannnnnnn]

@OWCmacsales haha yea i was asking specifically for starcraft 2. i bought 2 gb ram and installed it so its currently running at 2.5 gb. its smooth but i really wanted to take advantage of the game's graphics. sorry for so many questions but my final one is: why would only 3.0GB be used if I install 4.0GB?

thanks again for all the answers, you've been really helpful

[blindangel169]

@Utubemannnnnnn I have the same x1600 imac. The video card is limited for sure. I would reccomend playing the game Windowed and also at lowest possible settings. DO NOT attempt to overclock your video card or ANYTHING in an imac. Some people will tell you it will run games amazingliy. But when your video card shorts out there is no way to replace it because it is soldered to the motherboard. If you really want to game just buy a gaming pc.

[SamuelEllmer]

I use a 20" polycarbonate iMac with Intel Core Duo. I have 2GB of RAM, but recently my macs been rendering VERY slowly, and keeps crashing. Even with only 1 or 2 applications open. Occasionally instead of crashing the screen will just go white - No error messages, just a white screen,

I thought of upgrading the RAM to solve the slow rendering, application speed and crashing but it now looks like I can't go over 2GB.

Oh ye OWCmacsales! Is this problem fixable? Or should I start to save...

[OWCmacsales]

@SamuelEllmer Couple things you should try: first update to the latest version of your OS, several past updates caused a white screen on reboot. If that doesn't fix it, try the basic resets (PRAM, SMU Reset). Additionally, you can run Onyx (I've added a link to the video description.) If that doesn't fix it, then you may need to backup, reinstall the OS and migrate your data back over - but before you do, I'd try calling our free tech support at 1(800) 275-4576.

[jacoblylewalker]

Hey Thanks for this video. If I have a white early 2006 Imac 4.1. Currently I have 1 gb of ram. Is this uprgradeable to 4 mg, or can I only go to 2?

[OWCmacsales]

@jacoblylewalker The iMac4,1 can accept up to 2GB of memory.

[FoundCakee]

hello,

Thank you for posting this brilliant instructional DIY video.

I have a 2007 24 inch IMAC like the one in this video , it currently has 1GB of Ram,

Can you tell me will my machine take 2 x 2GB DDRZ SDRAM sticks?

cheers

[OWCmacsales]

@FoundCakee The iMac 24-inch Mid 2007 model accepts up to 4.0GB total RAM as Two 200-pin PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMMs. A link to our available memory is provided in the description section of the video page.

[MikeStannard]

What a great instructional video. I'm rubbish at any sort of DIY but even I now have the confidence to try this. My machine came with 512MB in one slot. If I simply buy another 512MB's and put that in the other slot I assume that's no problem and I would end up with 1GB of memory. I believe I need this much memory to upgrade the Operating System to Snow Leopard. Am I correct about just adding an extra 512MB card? Thanks.

[OWCmacsales]

@MikeStannard Yes, Snow Leopard requires and Intel Processor, 1GB RAM, 5GB free HD space, and a DVD drive.  So adding another 512MB of memory to your Intel iMac should bring you up to the minimum requirements.

[MikeStannard]

@OWCmacsales You truly are the most helpful bloke in the world. Thanks so much. You've put my mind at rest. I've ordered another 512MB card from ebay for £3.99 incl. delivery - how great is that!

[AORNOfficial]

can I use any RAM? (I mean type, SDRAM,etc)

What's the maximum ram it can recognize ?

[OWCmacsales]

@AORNOfficial The White Intel iMac machines use PC-5300 DDR2 667MHz 200 Pin SO-DIMMs. The correct memory can be found at the link provided in the description section.

[mokamo23]

This is the best of the instructional videos for installing memory. You hit all the details, used a tripod, filmed it well, and did a nice slick production. Really helpful; thanks.

[pablolee84]

I`m about to change the ram of my imac, do they have any order to get instaled, i mean the 1gb must be in the superior and 2gb in the lower slot or vice versa?

[OWCmacsales]

@pablolee84 We haven't noted any performance differences depending on which module is installed in which slot on these machines. Either module can be installed in either slot with confidence.

[pablolee84]

thanx a lot for ur kind answer

[yrbndr1]

also --is there any advantage or disadvantage to using the faster '1067--ddr3' units as opposed to the recommended (in 2007) '667--ddr2' units?? would there be compatablitiy issues?--just trying to maximize performance.

[OWCmacsales]

The machine takes DDR2 memory, not DDR3. The DDR3 memory modules will not physically fit into the machine. The "notch" is not located in the same place on both types of module.

[yrbndr1]

@OWCmacsales

thanks! i have a 2.33ghz intel core 2 duo with 2GB installed--1GB /slot. I just want to be certain installing the 2gb/slot total of 4gb won't cause any problems.

[yrbndr1]

the video makes the upgrade appear easy ! My white intel duo core 2 machine manual says that 3gb (2gb in one slot + 1gb other) is the maximum. Would my machine take 4gb total (2gb+2gb)?? and would it be faster ??

[pmoney1212]

great instruction, very helpful vid

[NPfilmz]

Is there a certain limit on how much ram memory you can have installed?

I have the exact same mac as yours except it's 20".

[OWCmacsales]

Depending on model, the Intel iMac can take up to 8.0GB of memory. (The white model shown in this video maxes out at 4.0GB of memory). To check how much memory your particular iMac can accept see the "Compatible Memory" link in the "more info" section of this page.

[roofxtops]

i have the exact same computer and the exact same two memory sticks, and i have tried this installation many times. after i install them, the computer will not turn on fully- just the light will be on and stay like this, and the screen will be black. no sound, no nothing. i have read the instructions clearly, too, and i just cant seem to get it. do you know what i am doing wrong? i get the click/crunch part, also, when i push them in. im pretty sure theyre all the way in... please respond..? ty.

[OWCmacsales]

The first thing to try is to re-install the original memory and see if it boots. This will usually tell if it is an installation error, or a problem with the memory. If the machine boots again with the original memory, check to make sure the memory you purchased meets Apple's requirement for memory on your model iMac. Lastly, try the new memory one module at a time to determine if there might be a faulty module. If all else fails, call us toll free: (800) 275-4576 option 2 for tech support.

[HONDAxACURA]

Thank-You for the video. Cleared up some of my questions.