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RAM for iMac G5
- Thread starter Otto_M
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No. You need to buy identical/matching pairs (most recommend buying at the same time). 2 512MB sticks will not be identical/matching unless you get them from the same place at the same time.....with the exception of Apple RAM.....maybe (I'd call first). Your best bet would be to order 2 512MB sticks from Crucial or Kingston and then sell the 512MB stick you have from Apple (in your iMac now)....but make sure that Crucial or Kingston says that the 2 sticks will match and give you the 128bit bus before you order. You can sell your RAM in the marketplace forums here on MacRumors. I for one may be interested in buying it (a friend and I were supposed to do this and swap RAM b/t each others G5's but that didn't work out).
Jovian got it right, i have a 1GB of RAM now which is enough for my work mac. Tip: always buy RAM at the same time 
Otto_M said:
There is no whatsoever preformance gain in having a 128-bit bus vs a 64-bit bus on the iMac.
I thougth at first it would be an advantage, and I also ordered my iMac with two matching 512mb sticks.
Take a look here and see for yourself:http://www.barefeats.com/imacg5d.html
cluthz said:
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but that looks to be answering a different questions, which is: are you better off with 2 512mb chips or one 1GB chip, and other permutations of one large vs. two smaller chips, or two chips of different sizes.
We're trying to answer the question of whether, if you will have two 512mb chips, it's better to have them identical in certain respects so that you can take full advantage of the 128-bit bus.
Le Big Mac said:
That is exactly what those test result show, that there is NO advantage to a 128 bit memory bus over a 64 bit memory bus. That's why the tests are comparing 2 MATCHED 512MB sticks verusus a single UNMATCHED 1GB stick, to test 1GB of RAM in 128 bit and 64 bit mode to see if there is a performance increase.
Le Big Mac said:
In the theory, yes, but it doesn't give you any realworld difference between two 512MB sticks and one 1GB stick. Get a 1GB stick, then you won't waste one you your 512MB sticks when you are upgrading later..
This is taken from the barefeats.com:
Code:
Dual 512MB Single 1GB Gain/(Loss)
Photoshop MP 58 sec 58 sec 0%
Photoshop SP 78 sec 80 sec 2.5%
AppleWorks 11.9 sec 11.2 sec (-5.9%)
(f/r, spell, scroll)
Motion Render 4 fps 4 fps 0%
iMovie Render 78 sec 78 sec 0%
iTunes Rip 100 sec 99 sec (-1%)
Halo Timedemo 42.8 fps 41.4 fps 3.3%
UT2k4 Botmatch 33.4 fps 32.9 fps 1.4%
AVERAGE GAIN 0%As you see, no gain at all for mached pairs...
Yes, the 512mb WAS mached pairs @ 128bit
cluthz said:
Understood, but the question is what about unmatched pairs.
The problem is that apple will ship with some amount of memory, so the question is how most economically to upgrade that memory. Some people don't want to buy and sell chips, they just want to buy and be done.
Le Big Mac said:
If you are not concerned about 64 vs. 128 bit bus (I was at first but couldn't care less now), buy the unit with a single 512 stick (256 sticks are worthless) Unless you see the need to take it to 2GB, then a single 512 stick offers you the option of adding a second 512 or 1 GB stick later. Buying the 512 stick from Apple as BTO isn't too pricey.