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233 mhz iMac

musicpyrite said:
144 pin SO DIMM, similar (but not the same) to those used in laptops and G4 iMacs.

Crucial link:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...AM&model=iMac+(G3-233,+266,+or+333)&submit=Go
Click to expand...
The only difference is that it uses the old PC100 memory (which was used by laptops at the time as well).

PS You can get up to 512 MB (2 256 MB chips) in there if they are the right kind. Something about the memory all being on one side of the chip if I remember correctly vs both sides. Check OWC, that's where I got the RAM for my 233 MHZ iMac. Make sure you get low profile for the lower slot.
 
kgarner said:
The only difference is that it uses the old PC100 memory (which was used by laptops at the time as well).

PS You can get up to 512 MB (2 256 MB chips) in there if they are the right kind. Something about the memory all being on one side of the chip if I remember correctly vs both sides. Check OWC, that's where I got the RAM for my 233 MHZ iMac. Make sure you get low profile for the lower slot.
Click to expand...

from what I've recently found out, there are companies making 512 meg chips now that would fit in an iMac, so a total of 1 gig is possible. I believe datamem.com is one of them. I recently had a discussion about this in apple's forums http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@251.zzQ7a0D9DWZ.383889@.68a03fb3
 
While the machine initially took PC100 SODIMM, the nature of ram is that machines can slow down the ram as necessary. As such, PC133 will run just fine. As for the claims that it will take up to a gig of ram, I doubt it. At the time the machine was made, 512 chips did not exist in SODIMM, and as such, the machines were not designed to handle them. This can also happen with SDIMM modules as well. That is, the iMac in question will not take 512 chips. It won't even recognize that they're there. In fact, if you want to use a 256 chip, it needs to be a 16 chip model. The standard for ram is 8 chips or less, so you have to be specific with this one.
 
WARNING!

Many modern PC133 SODIMM only appear as half size in the 233MHz, so if you put in a 128, it will only give you 64 etc.

Buy from a Mac company and make sure before you buy that the RAM is 100% with old tray-loading iMacs.

Any old PC133 SODIMM my not work properly
 
Excellent point that I'd forgotten. This problem doesn't exist, as far as I'm aware, in the subsequent revisions.
 
TLRedhawke said:
While the machine initially took PC100 SODIMM, the nature of ram is that machines can slow down the ram as necessary. As such, PC133 will run just fine. As for the claims that it will take up to a gig of ram, I doubt it. At the time the machine was made, 512 chips did not exist in SODIMM, and as such, the machines were not designed to handle them. This can also happen with SDIMM modules as well. That is, the iMac in question will not take 512 chips. It won't even recognize that they're there. In fact, if you want to use a 256 chip, it needs to be a 16 chip model. The standard for ram is 8 chips or less, so you have to be specific with this one.
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Thats not an accurate statement. Its not the machine wasn't built to handle that much ram, its that the chips weren't available. technically, a 233 mhz machine is only "designed" to take 128 megs of ram, which is obivously not the true limit. If you can get your hands on compatible 512 meg chips, they will work, no problem. If you read the links I provided they tell you where to get them, and there is at least one person fromt he discussion I linked to who has 1 gig running just fine, and I'm inclcined to believe him.
 
The reason i'm asking about this is because i'm planning on putting 10.1 on the computer (upgrading from OS 9). I would think 256 MB of ram should be enough to run it, but i don't know, what do you guys think?
 
I ran 10.0, 10.1 on mine with only 160 MB of RAM (upgraded the hard drive to 40 GB though). Then I got a Harmoni upgrade and ran 10.2 and 10.3 with no problems. 256 Will be just fine. Just don't expect a speed demon, its okay for websurfing and word processing and other similar tasks.
 
I was doing some more research and realized it only has a 4GB hard drive. Does anyone know if using an external hard drive with the machine would be a good idea. I know 10.1 will fit on that GB hard drive, but that is not a lot of room at all. Does anyone know where i can get a cheap external hard drive? It doesn't have to be huge, a 30 would probably be fine. Unless you think i should just buy an internal.
 
JzzTrump22 said:
I was doing some more research and realized it only has a 4GB hard drive. Does anyone know if using an external hard drive with the machine would be a good idea. I know 10.1 will fit on that GB hard drive, but that is not a lot of room at all. Does anyone know where i can get a cheap external hard drive? It doesn't have to be huge, a 30 would probably be fine. Unless you think i should just buy an internal.
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An external isn't relaly a good idea for this model. it only has USb 1, whcih is very slow. you'd have a much better experience with a new internal drive. See http://www.djonmac.com for instructions with this upgrade. As for where to buy, shop around. There are lots of deals out there right now, and a good place with free shipping will get you a good deal probably.
 
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