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iMac G5 2.1 GHz: Adding RAM = speedup?

wrldwzrd89

wrldwzrd89

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 6, 2003
12,110
77
Solon, OH
I have an iMac G5 20" 2.1 GHz. I wish to upgrade its RAM from the 512 MB it comes with to the maximum it will take - 2.5 GB. Will this make a significant difference in how well it runs (assuming the RAM is good), particularly if I then install Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" Server on it?
 
A huge difference 512MB of ram is very small these days, and to be honest it was small for that machine when it came out. I had 1GB on my iMac G5 and it was noticeably not enough.

Usually with these questions it is a case of looking at pagein/page outs to see if you are coming against the ram limit but for a base 512MB just do it.
 
xUKHCx said:
A huge difference 512MB of ram is very small these days, and to be honest it was small for that machine when it came out. I had 1GB on my iMac G5 and it was noticeably not enough.

Usually with these questions it is a case of looking at pagein/page outs to see if you are coming against the ram limit but for a base 512MB just do it.
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Okay, thank you very much! I did not know about page in/page out checking as a way to see if you're using RAM efficiently.
 
wrldwzrd89 said:
Okay, thank you very much! I did not know about page in/page out checking as a way to see if you're using RAM efficiently.
Click to expand...

Well if your page outs are anywhere near your page ins then you need more ram. Even if they are about half or a quarter then you would want more ram as it shows you are regularly going over the ram.

Just out of curiosity what are your numbers with 512MBs.
 
xUKHCx said:
Well if your page outs are anywhere near your page ins then you need more ram. Even if they are about half or a quarter then you would want more ram as it shows you are regularly going over the ram.

Just out of curiosity what are your numbers with 512MBs.
Click to expand...
I'd tell you if I was at that Mac right now... but I'm not. :(
 
xUKHCx said:
Well if your page outs are anywhere near your page ins then you need more ram. Even if they are about half or a quarter then you would want more ram as it shows you are regularly going over the ram.

Just out of curiosity what are your numbers with 512MBs.
Click to expand...
Just took a look. Current numbers: 52748 page ins/0 page outs.
 
wrldwzrd89 said:
Just took a look. Current numbers: 52748 page ins/0 page outs.
Click to expand...

Seriously from 512MBs that is very impressive. Leads me to the question what do you actually do on that computer because I go over 512MB of ram within about 3 seconds of starting to use my computer.
 
xUKHCx said:
Seriously from 512MBs that is very impressive. Leads me to the question what do you actually do on that computer because I go over 512MB of ram within about 3 seconds of starting to use my computer.
Click to expand...
That computer is a server, and mostly sits around unused at the moment.
 
wrldwzrd89 said:
That computer is a server, and mostly sits around unused at the moment.
Click to expand...

Perhaps you don't need more ram because it shows you aren't going over the limit.

At the moment?

What is likely to change? What I would do is use it as it is for a while and keep checking these numbers after periods of useage to see how well the machine is coping.


BTW I have no experience with servers
 
xUKHCx said:
Perhaps you don't need more ram because it shows you aren't going over the limit.

At the moment?

What is likely to change? What I would do is use it as it is for a while and keep checking these numbers after periods of useage to see how well the machine is coping.


BTW I have no experience with servers
Click to expand...
In the not-too-distant future I intend to install Mac OS X Server on it (which requires that the RAM be upgraded to at least 1 GB) and use it for server stuff. Also, I'm considering exposing it to the Internet eventually... which would drastically increase the load on it.
 
Alright then, looks like I will be upgrading it after all. I'm still trying to decide where to get the RAM from, though. I've narrowed my choices down to the following:

Reputable online dealers mentioned in Mac Guides: Buying RAM
My local Micro Center (if they have it in stock)
Other "bricks-and-mortar" stores nearby
 
I stuffed 1.5gb into my old G5 2.1 and it ran nicely. You could get away with 512mb under Tiger, but Leopard really wants more.
 
I recommend Newegg. Three day delivery, plenty of user reviews to read for everything sold. Never had a problem with them. Ordered my 2gb for $40 on Sunday, received it Tuesday, popped it into my MB when it arrived.
 
I have

Page ins/outs: 222380/175724

Can you tell me what that means? I have read about page outs before but I don't really know much about it.


I still have the stock 1GB of RAM. I WILL be buying 4GB-- just haven't done it yet.
 
Basically page outs are when memory is written to the harddrive due to lack of space in RAM, this is significantly slower than ram and will mean that you are not running an optimal system.

From your figures it is clear that your system needs more ram due to the high number of page outs in comparison to page ins.
 
I had that same model and upgraded it to 1.5 gb. I feel like that is the cut off for cost effective upgrades. Anymore and you start getting diminishing return for your money.

Plus the extra gig was very significant. I'd say it made Safari three to four times as snappy. :cool:
 
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