i7-870 how much RAM?

[Eugen Mezei]

Aquired a 27" mid 2010 described as i5 but it came with the i7-870. Good catch I thought until I read it can manage only 16 GB of RAM, not 32.
Is this true with it in the iMac 11,3 (mid 2010)? At the moment it has 2x8 GB and 2 slots free.
On the other hand, sources state the 2010 can handle 32 GB (although Apple says 16). Has the iMac its own chipset/bridge to control the memory and does not rely on the CPU?

 

[zarmanto]

Aquired a 27" mid 2010 described as i5 but it came with the i7-870. Good catch I thought until I read it can manage only 16 GB of RAM, not 32.
Is this true with it in the iMac 11,3 (mid 2010)? At the moment it has 2x8 GB and 2 slots free.
On the other hand, sources state the 2010 can handle 32 GB (although Apple says 16). Has the iMac its own chipset/bridge to control the memory and does not rely on the CPU?

Apple's numbers are sometimes more conservative for one reason or another; sometimes it's as obvious and simple as the higher capacity RAM DIMMs didn't exist in the necessary form factor (that is to say, the physical constraints of the case) when Apple released the machine, (and Apple didn't bother to go back and update documentation once they did exist) whereas other times it's a bit more ambiguous as to why Apple lowballs the figure. 🤷‍♂️

In your case, that iMac does indeed appear to support up to 32GB. (Reference) Just make sure you get the RAM from a vendor who confirms that the specific module you're purchasing is compatible with that particular iMac.

 

[Eugen Mezei]

I am aware about the problem Apples technical papers reflecting the point in time when the machines appeared and usually never updated. It was for me of interest this special case as Intel says this processor can control (access?) only 16 GB of RAM. So I try to understand how the iMac manages 32. (What I dont doubt, I just want to know how is the issue resolved.)

 

[zarmanto]

... Intel says this processor can control (access?) only 16 GB of RAM. ...

I'm afraid I can't speak authoritatively to the information on Intel's website -- but multiple sources appear to confirm that the specific iMac configuration you've described does indeed support 32GB. Here is another more specific reference, if that would help: Everymac.com - Apple iMac 27-Inch "Core i7" 2.93 (Mid-2010) Specs

I mean... maybe Intel's website suffers from the same outdated technical information as Apple's website?

 

[MultiFinder17]

Odd that Intel's ARK site lists it at 16GB of RAM, because your iMac will indeed handle 32GB just fine! Source - I have the same iMac and have been running 32GB of RAM in it (4x 8GB) for years now

 

[pshufd]

I have this model and it's running with 32 GB of RAM. Under $100 for 4 8 GB sticks right now using A-Tech RAM at Amaon.

 

[Eugen Mezei]

Bought a defective iMac described as model 2017 for the DDR4 in it. Image my joy when it arrived and I found DDR3 in it. So I can also confirm the i7-870 in the 2010 model recognises 32 GB RAM.

(And how I like sellers answering: I bought it in 2017.)

Maybe thematic for another thread: Can it be iMacs slow down with too fast memory modules?
I saw this with my 2011 too. When I put more memory in it, but faster than the specs. it became slower than with the less memory it had before. The same here. Both of them show no swapping, still they feel slowe than with the memory they had intus originally even if it was only half the capacity.

 

[pshufd]

Bought a defective iMac described as model 2017 for the DDR4 in it. Image my joy when it arrived and I found DDR3 in it. So I can also confirm the i7-870 in the 2010 model recognises 32 GB RAM.

(And how I like sellers answering: I bought it in 2017.)

Maybe thematic for another thread: Can it be iMacs slow down with too fast memory modules?
I saw this with my 2011 too. When I put more memory in it, but faster than the specs. it became slower than with the less memory it had before. The same here. Both of them show no swapping, still they feel slowe than with the memory they had intus originally even if it was only half the capacity.

Mixed sticks can cause slowdown, brand, size and timings. I think that the additional RAM outweighs slightly slower operations though. Especially if you are running with a HDD.

I see iMacs listed by purchase date all the time which is why I always ask for the About screen. It's usually provided. The date in the subject line is a hook but you always want to see the About screen so that you can determine the exact CPU and GPU. A good example is someone listing a 2015 iMac 27. You might assume that it's a Late 2015 but it could be a Mid-2015 which is, relatively speaking, a dog. In many cases, someone will try to price a Mid-2015 as a Late-2015 as 2015 is 2015, right?

Many sellers do not know what Early, Mid and Late mean too. They just see it in other ads.

 

[Eugen Mezei]

The interesting thing is, those sellers who dont know what those things are, claim they were the users of those computers.
This guy I am talking about stated even that he brought the iMac to a repair center and got a cost estimate. Those contain the model of the computer and what the fault is.

 

[pshufd]

The interesting thing is, those sellers who dont know what those things are, claim they were the users of those computers.
This guy I am talking about stated even that he brought the iMac to a repair center and got a cost estimate. Those contain the model of the computer and what the fault is.

My wife doesn't know what she's using. If someone asked her, she'd say that she's using a Mac. The vast majority of people that I know do not know the details of the hardware that they use - they buy by brand, price and maybe a few other things. On Reddit, we get a huge number of threads of the "what should I buy?" type. So we ask them a bunch of questions and make suggestions. In many cases, the answer is to just keep using what they have now.

 

[The_Croupier]

The interesting thing is, those sellers who dont know what those things are, claim they were the users of those computers.
This guy I am talking about stated even that he brought the iMac to a repair center and got a cost estimate. Those contain the model of the computer and what the fault is.

Im tempted to bite the bullet on a 27" 2013 for $200 Aud, but 2hr driving to get it is putting me off, its a older lady selling it and she is unsure of the hardware but for 200 bucks in mint condition with keyboard and mouse I'd say it's a steal.

 

[pshufd]

Im tempted to bite the bullet on a 27" 2013 for $200 Aud, but 2hr driving to get it is putting me off, its a older lady selling it and she is unsure of the hardware but for 200 bucks in mint condition with keyboard and mouse I'd say it's a steal.

I run into deals like that. I'm in New Hampshire and I will drive up to 50 miles for a great deal. The other thing about great deals is that they are usually gone in a few hours. I will only consider i7 systems on older iMacs as the performance numbers are really awful on most of the i5s and really horrible on i3s and Core 2 Duos compared to the slowest Apple Silicon systems.

 

[The_Croupier]

I run into deals like that. I'm in New Hampshire and I will drive up to 50 miles for a great deal. The other thing about great deals is that they are usually gone in a few hours. I will only consider i7 systems on older iMacs as the performance numbers are really awful on most of the i5s and really horrible on i3s and Core 2 Duos compared to the slowest Apple Silicon systems.

Yeah, the good deals are definitely from single owners, and 🖥 with HDD wiped but still intact as there has been less fiddling (breaking) of the machine. I don’t really like to ask for particulars on mint machines at such good prices as I’ve had sellers break good machines just trying to lay it down to photograph the serial on the stand 🙄. I don’t get to worked up now over these older macs and have the attitude that if it’s meant to be then it’s meant to be. But considering that the keyboard and mouse will go for $75 here in AU this is very tempting.
Seller description:
2013 27" iMac with Catalina Ver 10.15.7 - its got a 1 TB Hard Disk and a GB of memory

 

[pshufd]

Yeah, the good deals are definitely from single owners, and 🖥 with HDD wiped but still intact as there has been less fiddling (breaking) of the machine. I don’t really like to ask the particular mint machines at such good prices as I’ve had sellers break good machines just trying to lay it down to photograph the serial on the stand 🙄. I don’t get to worked up now over these older macs and have the attitude that if it’s meant to be then it’s meant to be. But considering that the keyboard and mouse will go for $75 here in AU this is very tempting.
Seller description:
2013 27" iMac with Catalina Ver 10.15.7 - its got a 1 TB Hard Disk and a GB of memory
View attachment 2026438

For some reason, the majority of iMacs that I see for sale do not include the keyboard and mouse so including them is worth something. I often look for HDDs on old iMacs as they are cheaper and I can just hang an external SSD off the USB3 port and the iMac will be perfectly fine.

One that model, I see some scratches on the chin and scratches on the table with the latter maybe caused by dragging the stand on the table.

The one question that I would ask on this deal is if it was a non-smoking household because of the stains on the keyboard.

 

[MultiFinder17]

Yeah, the good deals are definitely from single owners, and 🖥 with HDD wiped but still intact as there has been less fiddling (breaking) of the machine. I don’t really like to ask for particulars on mint machines at such good prices as I’ve had sellers break good machines just trying to lay it down to photograph the serial on the stand 🙄. I don’t get to worked up now over these older macs and have the attitude that if it’s meant to be then it’s meant to be. But considering that the keyboard and mouse will go for $75 here in AU this is very tempting.
Seller description:
2013 27" iMac with Catalina Ver 10.15.7 - its got a 1 TB Hard Disk and a GB of memory
View attachment 2026438

Honestly, any of the 2013 27" iMacs are fantastic machines. I got a base model i5 for free from a family member last year. Booting off an external SSD and with 32GB of RAM, it's a beast of a computer for most tasks!