3 sticks of RAM in new 27" iMac?

[benjai]

Hi,

So I got the latest iMac recently which comes with 2x4GB ram. I want to add more ram but it's quite expensive now. So could I add a single 8GB stick now to leave an open slot for use later? Don't really want to get an extra 2x8GB right now...

thanks

 

[Chippy99]

Hi,

So I got the latest iMac recently which comes with 2x4GB ram. I want to add more ram but it's quite expensive now. So could I add a single 8GB stick now to leave an open slot for use later? Don't really want to get an extra 2x8GB right now...

thanks

It should work, but it won't work properly since it will drop the memory controller down into single channel mode and halve your memory performance.

You'd be better off going for another 2 x 4GB and just ebay them off if/when you need to upgrade further.

 

[benjai]

hmmm

So 8gb in dual channel mode would be faster than 16gb in single channel? That doesn't seem right..

Also, would the existing 2x4gb not work in dual channel separately from the single 8gb?

 

[Truthfulie]

hmmm

So 8gb in dual channel mode would be faster than 16gb in single channel? That doesn't seem right..

Also, would the existing 2x4gb not work in dual channel separately from the single 8gb?

8GB of RAM in dual channel won't be faster than 16GB in single channel, but 16GB in dual channel will definitely be faster than 16GB in single. I don't know what you do with your mac, but it won't be a night and day difference in most cases.