8gb RAM max?

[bmac89]

Hello,

I have an Imac 9,1 (early 2009) and a macbook 7,1 (2010 - late 2010?). They currently have the original 2gb RAM which I wish to upgrade.

It appears both these macs take the same RAM chips and according to my research both have a possible maximum of 8gb RAM.

My question is whether the 8gb maximum is correct or whether you can go beyond this? If so are there any other considerations or negatives to going beyond the stated maximum.

I am currently looking at maxing out the RAM and buying the following:
8.0GB (2 x 4.0GB) OWC PC8500 DDR3 1066MHz SO-DIMM 204 Pin RAM

Thanks

 

[Intell]

That is the correct memory for your iMac and 8GB is the maximum for it.

 

[bmac89]

That is the correct memory for your iMac and 8GB is the maximum for it.

Thanks for the reply. I will upgrade the RAM to 8gb then.


Purely out of interested - why is it limited to a maximum of 8gb RAM?

When I look at the other OWC RAM for sale, I can also see the following:

* 16.0GB (2 x 8.0GB) OWC PC8500 DDR3 1066MHz SO-DIMM 204 Pin RAM

They are both PC8500, DDR3 106MHz SO-DIMM 204 Pin, so what causes the 8gb maximum limit?

Thanks

 

[Intell]

It's a limitation of the chipset or the firmware. Likely the chipset as other machines with that chipset have the same limitation.

 

[bmac89]

It's a limitation of the chipset or the firmware. Likely the chipset as other machines with that chipset have the same limitation.

Thanks.