Corsair XMS RAM doesn't fit in g5 iMac

[dman8950]

Hello

I am hoping someone can help me out. I just bought a memory upgrade, CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB), and am having trouble installing it in my 20" 2.0 GHz iMac. The problem is that the memory has a heatsink on each side, and there isn't enough space to squeeze in the top stick.

I bought it from newegg because it was only $128 after rebate.

Can anyone offer any help/advice? Has anyone else had this problem?

Thank you,
-Dan

[Eidorian]

Yeah, you don't want RAM with heatsinks or those stupid little LED's on top. They're not going to fit in the iMac.

[kevin.rivers]

You should be able to easliy remove the heatspreaders. It shouldn't void the lifetime warranty considering the warranty sticker should be located underneath. If not, just hold on to the heatspreaders in case you ever have to use the warranty.

[dman8950]

thanks Eidorian, i was afraid that'd be your answer. do you know of anywhere else i can get 2gigs for under $150?


about removing the heatspreaders kevin, i thought of that but wasnt sure what the best way to do that would be. FORCE was my first thought, but i dont want to break the stick in efforts of removing the spreader.

[kevin.rivers]

thanks Eidorian, i was afraid that'd be your answer. do you know of anywhere else i can get 2gigs for under $150?


about removing the heatspreaders kevin, i thought of that but wasnt sure what the best way to do that would be. FORCE was my first thought, but i dont want to break the stick in efforts of removing the spreader.

It will most likely take force but not much. You just have to be careful. I have removed plenty without breaking a stick. If you feel like you are going to break it, stop.

Heating it up would help. Since you can't run it in the iMac, you could use a blow dryer to heat it up, which should loosen the thermal tape underneath and make it easier to pull off.

Since they have never been run before, I would imagine the thermal tape wouldn't be set, so it should come off pretty easy.

I would give it a shot. Just feel it out.

[dman8950]

Heating it up would help.

heating it up helped, and i was able to get the spreader off. before i put it in, i think it'd be smart to clean off the remaining adhesive so the stick doesn't stick to the other stick..., but this means that i wont be able to get the spreader back on if i ever wanted to return it. it might be too late for that anyway. lastly, will the performance now be compromised since it does not have the spreader on one end? will it overheat or cause the other stick to overheat?

thanks for the help,
-dan

[CanadaRAM]

heating it up helped, and i was able to get the spreader off. before i put it in, i think it'd be smart to clean off the remaining adhesive so the stick doesn't stick to the other stick...,
Yes. Try 99% isopropanol.

but this means that i wont be able to get the spreader back on if i ever wanted to return it. it might be too late for that anyway.
Yes

lastly, will the performance now be compromised since it does not have the spreader on one end? will it overheat or cause the other stick to overheat?

No

Count yourself lucky that you didn't break the socket trying to install the RAM.

[dman8950]

Count yourself lucky that you didn't break the socket trying to install the RAM.

thanks, i will!

[dman8950]

thanks for the help everyone

i removed the back heatspreader from the top stick and installed it without any trouble.

thanks again!