iMac DDR2 upgrade to DDR3 RAM

[Stilface]

My late 2008 iMac is currently sporting 4gb of DDR2 SDRAM, am i able to install DDR3?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

No, as DDR2 differs from DDR3 physically.

 

[Stilface]

Damn, well thanks for the reply. I take it my iMac has 2 RAM slots, am i able to upgrade to 2x 4gb DDR2, rather than 2x 2gb DDR2?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Damn, well thanks for the reply. I take it my iMac has 2 RAM slots, am i able to upgrade to 2x 4gb DDR2, rather than 2x 2gb DDR2?

A 2008 iMac can take up to 6GB RAM unofficially, so just get one 4GB DDR2 SO-DIMM module instead of two.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index-imac.html

 

[Stilface]

Ok, thanks. It's been a while since I've upgraded anything. Is there a faster ram i could get than DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM (800mhz) which i currently have installed, that would be compatible?

 

[rkaufmann87]

Ok, thanks. It's been a while since I've upgraded anything. Is there a faster ram i could get than DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM (800mhz) which i currently have installed, that would be compatible?

Again no, I'd recommend visiting www.macsales.com (OWC) it will show all the RAM configurations that will work in your machine. If you don't want to buy from them that's fine but the site will show what works.

 

[alust2013]

Ok, thanks. It's been a while since I've upgraded anything. Is there a faster ram i could get than DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM (800mhz) which i currently have installed, that would be compatible?

No, 800MHz is the fastest DDR2 speed made, however, the difference between RAM speeds is unnoticeable in general.

 

[anotherimacuser]

A 2008 iMac can take up to 6GB RAM unofficially, so just get one 4GB DDR2 SO-DIMM module instead of two.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index-imac.html

has anybody tried to use 2 4GB DDR2 SO-DIMM modules? What happens with such a configuration? Is the iMac using only 6 GB, or does the machine not starting?

 

[Twimfy]

has anybody tried to use 2 4GB DDR2 SO-DIMM modules? What happens with such a configuration? Is the iMac using only 6 GB, or does the machine not starting?

It won't start AND the 4GB module can only go in one of the slots. Can't remember if it's the left or the right off the top of my head. Not sure why this is either.