Exceding 1.5GB RAM in Gigabyte PowerMac Towers and the 1.5GB limit on RAM

[RogueLdr]

According to everything I have read, OS 9 was the only limiting factor on there being 1.5GB of RAM in my machine. Now that I only use OS X, is it possible to fill my remaining RAM slot with another 512MB RAM chip? I have 4 slots for RAM, and a 512 chip in three of the slots. I have been unable to get confirmation that more RAM could be added from Apple Support.

RL

Sorry, that header should read Gigabit, not Gigabyte...my bad

 

[edesignuk]

I doubt it, the motherboard would also limit the amount or RAM it can pick up, and I would have thought it would have been designed for a MAX of 1.5Gb. Do you really need 2Gb anyway? 1.5Gb is a lot!

 

[q1232]

I have a g4 agp with 2GB of ram installed. It will work with os x as my available ram only drops to 1.5GB when I boot into 9.

 

[G4scott]

Is it possible to put 1Gb DDR modules into the new G4's? I've seen PC motherboards that advertise that they can use 1GB modules, and I'm wondering if they'd work with a Mac...

 

[mischief]

no DDR but....

the OS IS the limiting factor. OS 9 will never see more than 1.5 GB. OS X however has no currently relevant top end limit.

In the new towers, yes.... U just have to match the speed. Apple habitually does not talk with customers or even technicians about larger modules than Apple installs themselves even if they work. I have a Rev D iMac at home that I could have 2•256MB modules in although Apple still lists 256 TOTAL as the maximum RAM.


DDR has a different pin config than SDR so U can't just add a PC2100 1GB DIMM to an older tower. U can however use PC133 DIMMs in PC100 systems without problems. I have a PC133 256MB module in with 3 PC100 DIMMs in my G4 AGP tower here at work and I have no issues from it. (My boss is CHEAP so I have no 512's in it <plays tiny violin for self>).

 

[GeeYouEye]

deleted for irrelevancy

 

[RogueLdr]

Thanks everyone for your help

RL

 

[evildead]

yes...

I think you can put 2.0 gigs in that tower as long as your under OS X. I saw a thing about it at a website that sells RAM. They have each mac with what you can upgrade for it listed... I dont have the URL right now... Ill come back and post it later when I get home.... that is if your still interested.

My understading is that if you boot into 9... you just wont get to use all the RAM

-evildead

 

[evildead]

Originally posted by edesignuk
I doubt it, the motherboard would also limit the amount or RAM it can pick up, and I would have thought it would have been designed for a MAX of 1.5Gb. Do you really need 2Gb anyway? 1.5Gb is a lot!

you can always user more RAM! I have 1.2... and I think I need to mac out at 1.5. At work.. all my systems have at least 4GB.... but thats a diffrent story... I have some systems with 16GB of RAM...