Intel based iMac ram upgrade issue... (2006)

[Em Pe Ge]

okay, i'm new here so go easy on me... haha.

alright, i've got an iMac from late 2006. and i'm trying to upgrade the ram..

here's the specs...

iMac intel
MA589LL/A
20in
2.16
1GB ram
250 gig
ect...

so on the box it says upgradeable to 3 GB of ram... but the computer has two slots... which currently have a 512MB card in each of them. so my question is how do i install three gigs of ram? a 1GB card and a 2GB card? this doesn't seem to make sense, because i thought you were always supposed to keep them balanced.... so should i just install 2 - 2GB cards... for a total of 4 gigs... even though the computer will only used 3 gigs?

that's what i sorta got from this page...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1432

any help with this would be great... as i've been searching the net for hours... without a definite answer.

[Hellhammer]

Get 2x2GB. That will enable dual-channeling which should boost ~5-10%

[Richdave]

so should i just install 2 - 2GB cards... for a total of 4 gigs... even though the computer will only used 3 gigs?

that's what i sorta got from this page...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1432

Yes, exactly. Take out the 2ea 512M modules and sell em on eBay and get a couple of 2G modules. You'll only be able to see/use 3G but that should give a good performance boost