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iMac started to have 128 gb RAM capacity in 2019. What about Windows desktops?
- Thread starter levmc
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Whenever 32 GB memory modules became available since the typical ATX motherboard has four DIMM slots (4 x 32 GB = 128 GB). I don't keep track of such minutiae but it was probably 5+ years ago albeit it at astronomical prices.
Today, a 16 GB stick is a mundane commodity part. I have two such sticks in my mini-ITX motherboard. Not a big deal, I think the pair were $118.
I'm sure the 32 GB modules have been around considerably longer for the enterprise market.
Note that x86-64 architecture supports 52 bits for physical memory, thus a maximum of 4 pebibytes (PiB).
An Internet search for "32 GB memory module" will likely result in news articles that will narrow down the window of mainstream availability of this size memory module to the general public.
I'll leave it as an exercise to you to figure out which year it was.
My guess is that the iMac has been able to support 128 GB of RAM before 2019 but it wasn't a built-to-order option directly from Apple because they knew no one sane would pay Apple's inflated add-on memory price in the early days when it was available.
Even to this day, there are plenty of folks who buy Macs in a lesser configuration when it is possible to upgrade components. Today, this is limited to memory and storage for some Macs. For many Macs, there are no post-purchase upgrade options these days, everything is soldered to the motherboard.
Today, a 16 GB stick is a mundane commodity part. I have two such sticks in my mini-ITX motherboard. Not a big deal, I think the pair were $118.
I'm sure the 32 GB modules have been around considerably longer for the enterprise market.
Note that x86-64 architecture supports 52 bits for physical memory, thus a maximum of 4 pebibytes (PiB).
An Internet search for "32 GB memory module" will likely result in news articles that will narrow down the window of mainstream availability of this size memory module to the general public.
I'll leave it as an exercise to you to figure out which year it was.
My guess is that the iMac has been able to support 128 GB of RAM before 2019 but it wasn't a built-to-order option directly from Apple because they knew no one sane would pay Apple's inflated add-on memory price in the early days when it was available.
Even to this day, there are plenty of folks who buy Macs in a lesser configuration when it is possible to upgrade components. Today, this is limited to memory and storage for some Macs. For many Macs, there are no post-purchase upgrade options these days, everything is soldered to the motherboard.
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I saw a thread where someone tried putting 128 gb in a 2017 iMac, and although the iMac recognized it and displayed "128 gb" as its RAM, it couldn't actually make use of the RAM beyond 64 gb.
"I saw a thread where someone ..." and you don't provide the specific link?
Is this going to be another one of those classic unverifiable Internet "my older brother's girlfriend's uncle said ..." type of discussions?
Let me know. If so, I will willingly bow out of further discussion concerning this topic.
Is this going to be another one of those classic unverifiable Internet "my older brother's girlfriend's uncle said ..." type of discussions?
Let me know. If so, I will willingly bow out of further discussion concerning this topic.
For the desktop candidates,
Ever heard of HP Workstation Z800? Same age as the MacPro 5.1 (2009 or something)
It has maximum RAM capacity as 192GB
Dell T7500 also max RAM at 192GB, same age as MacPro 5.1 (running Xeon X5xxx family)
If you are asking about the equivalent All-in-one Windows machine, then.... I haven't found one yet.
