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The iMac I am to going to order. Now, what to do about THE RAM?

A

Amnesiac1

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 11, 2010
412
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new_imac_ars-thumb-640xauto-9197.jpg


  • 3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
  • 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
  • 2TB Serial ATA Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
  • AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5
  • Magic Trackpad
  • AppleCare Protection Plan for iMac- Auto-enroll
  • Apple Remote
  • Apple Battery Charger

As per the advice of the members of this forum, I am opting to purchase RAM from elsewhere. I have noticed that people have been having trouble with OWC RAM and their iMacs, so I'm avoiding that (there is also the fact that OWC does not make its own RAM so it is difficult to know what brand they will ship out to you). Since 16GB may be overkill, I want to bring my iMac up to 12GB...

So, my questions are:

1. Which brand? Crucial? Is the RAM at this link good?
2. Is there a certain combination that is better than others? For instance, should I get another 2x4 or should I get a single 4GB stick? Will the performance suffer if I get another 2x4 set instead of a single 4GB stick?
 
Amnesiac1 said:
Image

  • 3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
  • 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
  • 2TB Serial ATA Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
  • AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5
  • Magic Trackpad
  • AppleCare Protection Plan for iMac- Auto-enroll
  • Apple Remote
  • Apple Battery Charger

As per the advice of the members of this forum, I am opting to purchase RAM from elsewhere. I have noticed that people have been having trouble with OWC RAM and their iMacs, so I'm avoiding that (there is also the fact that OWC does not make its own RAM so it is difficult to know what brand they will ship out to you). Since 16GB may be overkill, I want to bring my iMac up to 12GB...

So, my questions are:

1. Which brand? Crucial? Is the RAM at this link good?
2. Is there a certain combination that is better than others? For instance, should I get another 2x4 or should I get a single 4GB stick? Will the performance suffer if I get another 2x4 set instead of a single 4GB stick?
Click to expand...

2X4GB is best
That ram is fine.
 
Who cares

Badger^2 said:
yay. yay. another another ram ram post post.
Click to expand...

is it really that bigger issue.

To the thread starter, you will get dual the dual channeling advantage aswell if you have two ram chips installed next to each other, its supposed to increase performance but i think badger said you wont even notice it. Still, when someone asks you whats the ram in this thing, u can just fold your arms and say, 12 gigabites. :p
 
DJJAZZYJET said:
is it really that bigger issue.

To the thread starter, you will get dual the dual channeling advantage aswell if you have two ram chips installed next to each other, its supposed to increase performance
Click to expand...

Okay... so, in order to do this, do I need to buy a single 4GB stick or can I do it with the RAM I linked to in my original post.

By the way, to be clear, I am going to be adding onto the RAM that came with the machine...
 
I also have the 2x2GB ram and want to add the 2x4. Do I need to move the 2x2 to the lower slots when I add the 2x4? Or can I add the 2x4 to the open lower slots?
 
Amnesiac1 said:
Okay... so, in order to do this, do I need to buy a single 4GB stick or can I do it with the RAM I linked to in my original post.

By the way, to be clear, I am going to be adding onto the RAM that came with the machine...
Click to expand...

As I said before. 2X4GB is best, meaning two sticks of RAM, not one. The one you linked is fine. Always go dual.
 
Badger^2 said:
yay. yay. another another ram ram post post.
Click to expand...

Why read the thread? Why comment on the thread? I'm sure the OP (and the rest of us) could cope without your vital input.

Perhaps not everyone on this forum is quite as knowledgable and awesome as you are. Perhaps you should bear that in mind before you post in future.
 
So long as the 'dust behind the screen' doesn't scare me off, I'll be purchasing some Corsair RAM and installing it in my iMac before turning it on for the first time.
 
Is there something called DUAL CHANNEL like normal computers in iMac? So do I have to care about which slot to put which rams? for example, the original 2x2G rams have been fixed in slots when it arrived..when I bought anither 2x4G rams, is there any pattern I should put The two kinds of Rams in places?
 
Many of us bought G.Skill RAM (lifetime warranty) and have it working with no issue...some got 8GB for $65 USD shipped...deals are out there, look around
 
Amnesiac1 said:
Image

  • 3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
  • 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
  • 2TB Serial ATA Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
  • AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5
  • Magic Trackpad
  • AppleCare Protection Plan for iMac- Auto-enroll
  • Apple Remote
  • Apple Battery Charger

As per the advice of the members of this forum, I am opting to purchase RAM from elsewhere. I have noticed that people have been having trouble with OWC RAM and their iMacs, so I'm avoiding that (there is also the fact that OWC does not make its own RAM so it is difficult to know what brand they will ship out to you). Since 16GB may be overkill, I want to bring my iMac up to 12GB...

So, my questions are:

1. Which brand? Crucial? Is the RAM at this link good?
2. Is there a certain combination that is better than others? For instance, should I get another 2x4 or should I get a single 4GB stick? Will the performance suffer if I get another 2x4 set instead of a single 4GB stick?
Click to expand...

Yeah, there are a billion ram posts....

Having said that. I prefer mushkin.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226027
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's all opinion...fact of the matter is that there are a few companies out there that make RAM components and assemble the components to make the RAM sticks.
Choosing one over another is like choosing two different brands of batteries. Yeah, one maybe Duracell and one may be the "store" brand but they work just as well and very well may have been made in the same factory but because there is no advertising for the store brand, the price is lower - many think this implies "cheap" or "not as good a value" but at the end of the day, they last just as long.

Read the reviews, check the specs and see what the warranty is. If it is lifetime, can you really go wrong? Besides, these components will need to be used 5, maybe 7 years if you push it and will be obsolete in 3-4 yrs.

All I can tell you about the G.Skill is that I put it in, it worked and I saved $$$ over Crucial - would have saved even more if I waited a couple more weeks.
 
thisisanacc said:
Is there something called DUAL CHANNEL like normal computers in iMac? So do I have to care about which slot to put which rams? for example, the original 2x2G rams have been fixed in slots when it arrived..when I bought anither 2x4G rams, is there any pattern I should put The two kinds of Rams in places?
Click to expand...

You have four slots, the 2x2GB is in two slots in dual channel, put the 2x4GB in the remaining slots
 
Can anyone state in a clearer way to show which two slots are in DUAL CHANNEL? I have no clear mind on dual channel in the four slots.
 
thisisanacc said:
Can anyone state in a clearer way to show which two slots are in DUAL CHANNEL? I have no clear mind on dual channel in the four slots.
Click to expand...

The manual shows you, but it's the pair of slots that go from side to side on the current iMac, not from front to back. In other words, the two slots closest to the screen, or the two that are closest to the back - not the two on the left or the two on the right.
 
thisisanacc said:
Can anyone state in a clearer way to show which two slots are in DUAL CHANNEL? I have no clear mind on dual channel in the four slots.
Click to expand...

The ones that are filled are dual channel with each other, likewise with the ones that aren't filled
 
What about this?


AvionicsTech said:
Maybe a dumb question, but is it better to install the extra RAM before first boot? I would think you would want to start it up first and make sure that there were no problems with the computer before installing aftermarket memory. I could be way off though, it's been seven years since I bought my last computer.
Click to expand...
 
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