add more than 2 GB to Early 2006 iMac?

[iMac2006Girl]

Hi all,
I have finally maxed out my memory & would like to add more if possible. Anyone know if I can add more than 2 GB to my Early 2006 iMac? If so, where is a good place to purchase more & what should I be looking for in the memory exactly? Thanks in advance!

 

[GGJstudios]

You can find specs on all Apple products, including maximum RAM:

• By visiting EveryMac.com: Actual Maximum RAM
• By using Mactracker
• By entering your serial number here to find specs for your model. (Be aware that some models can use more RAM than Apple shows. Check EveryMac or MacTracker to verify.)

 

[iMac2006Girl]

Oh & I'm not sure if it matters, but I have the Intel Core Duo 2 GHz processor.

 

[GGJstudios]

Oh & I'm not sure if it matters, but I have the Intel Core Duo 2 GHz processor.

Look at the links I posted. That will tell you the maximum RAM for your model.

 

[iMac2006Girl]

Thanks for your reply! I checked the links, but I'm having a bit of trouble locating my iMac. I only know it by Early 2006 model & am not seeing it on the list. How can I tell if mine is a G4 vs G5, etc. to locate it on the EveryMac list?

 

[GGJstudios]

Thanks for your reply! I checked the links, but I'm having a bit of trouble locating my iMac. I only know it by Early 2006 model & am not seeing it on the list. How can I tell if mine is a G4 vs G5, etc. to locate it on the EveryMac list?

If you click the last link in my first post and enter your serial number, it will tell you exactly what model you have.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thanks for your reply! I checked the links, but I'm having a bit of trouble locating my iMac. I only know it by Early 2006 model & am not seeing it on the list. How can I tell if mine is a G4 vs G5, etc. to locate it on the EveryMac list?

Identify your Mac and Mac OS X version, visualised in a more elaborate image
Identify your Mac and Mac OS X version using this 25 second video tutorial (3MB, .mp4, H.264)​

And you neither have a G4 or G5 iMac, you haven an Intel Core 2 Duo iMac.

 

[iMac2006Girl]

Ok, so from what I can tell through all of the links, I can't add any more memory since I have the Intel Core Duo. If I had the Late 2006 model (mine is Early 2006), then I could take it 3 GB total. Is there any other way around this?! What do you do if memory is maxed out & not upgradeable?! I'm trying to figure out the next step here...

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Ok, so from what I can tell through all of the links, I can't add any more memory since I have the Intel Core Duo. If I had the Late 2006 model (mine is Early 2006), then I could take it 3 GB total. Is there any other way around this?! What do you do if memory is maxed out & not upgradeable?! I'm trying to figure out the next step here...

You can't do anything, unless you exchange the logic board and CPU of that unit or get a newer, even used or refurbished, C2D Mac.

 

[AdrianK]

The 2GB limitation on the 2006 iMacs is in the firmware, not the chipset (cheers, Apple). You can flash the firmware with that of a Core2Duo model which will allow you to utilise 4GB.

Also, if you're handing, you could drop in a Core2Duo which are pretty cheap nowadays.

 

[fhall1]

I don't think telling a person that has that much trouble looking up their iMac model that they could flash firmware to enable it to use more memory is a good idea.

Besides that - I don't think flashing the firmware will get it to recognize/use more RAM anyway. I'm in the same boat with my Core Duo Mac Mini - 2GB is the max and I just have to live with it.

 

[AdrianK]

Besides that - I don't think flashing the firmware will get it to recognize/use more RAM anyway.

It flashes a firmware for a later model which does not contain a (soft) limit of 2GB. It works fine as reported by people in the thread I linked to.

I'm in the same boat with my Core Duo Mac Mini - 2GB is the max and I just have to live with it.

Just in case you're interested in bringing your mini up to 3GB

 

[fhall1]

It flashes a firmware for a later model which does not contain a (soft) limit of 2GB. It works fine as reported by people in the thread I linked to.


Just in case you're interested in bringing your mini up to 3GB

I haven't read the entire thread yet, but it seems promising. I just don't want to have to update my Mini's CPU to a C2D since it's a major PITA with the spring loaded clips that usually break and all. If I can keep my original Core Duo CPU and still upgrade to 3GB RAM it would be sweet. Thanks for linking it!

 

[iMac2006Girl]

I wanted to thank everyone for their replies! All of the input has helped me greatly. When I post, I like to ask the simple questions sometimes to make sure I'm off to a good start. I knew my model, but I wanted to be positive that I wasn't missing something basic about my specific iMac product.

Often times, people get involved in a big project without thoroughly going through the basics (like understanding what they truly have) when that was the main issue to begin with! This just means that I also greatly appreciate the reply of flashing the firmware because that was what I was hinting at - responses like that! I like to know the loopholes as well as basic info. Can't go wrong knowing all of the ways around this issue! I LOVE my iMac & would hate to part with it just because I needed more memory! It's good & healthy to broaden your horizon & learn more about your products! Thanks, again!