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thomash88

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 7, 2013
4
0
Hi there!
I'm looking to buy 27inch haswell iMac. I just have a few questions, I will buy the 8gb and put in 32gb myself. Which ram-chips should I buy? Corsair? Crucial? Kingston? I don't know!

Thanks in advance, guys :)
 
Hi there!
I'm looking to buy 27inch haswell iMac. I just have a few questions, I will buy the 8gb and put in 32gb myself. Which ram-chips should I buy? Corsair? Crucial? Kingston? I don't know!

Thanks in advance, guys :)

I'm planning on doing the same at some point. I've always had good luck with Crucial's memory with my Macs.
 
I can unequivocally recommend Kingston HyperX. I just upgraded my late 2013 iMac with 32gb of Kingston HyperX 16GB Kit 1866MHz DDR3 PC3-14900 Non-ECC CL11 1.35V Low Voltage. Here is the link to Amazon Kingston HyperX Memory.

Another benefit is this RAM is running in my iMac @1867MHz.
 

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Just did that in October. Bought from OWC on emacsales and it works great :)

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I can unequivocally recommend Kingston HyperX. I just upgraded my late 2013 iMac with 32gb of Kingston HyperX 16GB Kit 1866MHz DDR3 PC3-14900 Non-ECC CL11 1.35V Low Voltage. Here is the link to Amazon Kingston HyperX Memory.

Another benefit is this RAM is running in my iMac @1867MHz.

Sweet... why doesn't Apple put 1867 MHz in their iMacs though ? Must have a reason...
 
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I can unequivocally recommend Kingston HyperX. I just upgraded my late 2013 iMac with 32gb of Kingston HyperX 16GB Kit 1866MHz DDR3 PC3-14900 Non-ECC CL11 1.35V Low Voltage. Here is the link to Amazon Kingston HyperX Memory.

Another benefit is this RAM is running in my iMac @1867MHz.

Wow, I didn't know 1866MHz RAM runs on the new iMac. Is it completely stable? Even though my 2013 iMac comes in tomorrow, does 1866MHz work on the 2012 as well?
 
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I can unequivocally recommend Kingston HyperX. I just upgraded my late 2013 iMac with 32gb of Kingston HyperX 16GB Kit 1866MHz DDR3 PC3-14900 Non-ECC CL11 1.35V Low Voltage. Here is the link to Amazon Kingston HyperX Memory.

Another benefit is this RAM is running in my iMac @1867MHz.

Wow, so the iMac actually runs 1866MHz memory? I used to have Kingston ram on my windows machine, and Kingston works like a charm
 
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Wow, I didn't know 1866MHz RAM runs on the new iMac. Is it completely stable? Even though my 2013 iMac comes in tomorrow, does 1866MHz work on the 2012 as well?

I wonder if it's just reporting 1866MHz (as per the RAM module specifics) or if it's actually running at 1866MHz.

Although even if it is, it's worth only about a 2-3% speed bump in real-world situations.
 
I wonder if it's just reporting 1866MHz (as per the RAM module specifics) or if it's actually running at 1866MHz.

Yes, it's running at 1866MHz. It is a function of the processor. Haswell is capable of 1866 so you put in 1866 memory it will run at that speed.

I've done this for years with the i7 processors. Started with my 2009 iMac which was a 1066MHz system that came with 1066MHz RAM, but popped in 1333MHz RAM and it ran at 1333MHz. (Also tried 1600MHz but that just ran at 1333 because the i7 processor in that model can't run any faster.)

Also put 1600MHz RAM in my 2011 MaBook Pro 2.5GHz i7, which is rated at 1333MHz by Apple and came with 1333MHz RAM. 1600MHz runs like a champ.

Again, it all depends on the processor. I have two sets (one Crucial and one Mushkin) of low voltage 1600MHz RAM in my new 2013 iMac i7 3.5GHz, because I already had it on hand. I was just looking at the Kingston 1866 and glad to see a user report that this is working fine. Now I have to decide if it is worth reselling my 1600MHz RAM to buy the 1866 or if I should just stick with the 1600 modules that are working.
 
Hi all

Didn't want to start a new thread as I have the exact question. I bought the highest spec (apart from ram and storage) iMac yesterday and want to make the ram higher. I am in the uk

Will this ram work?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/8gb-ddr3-1600mhz-desktop-memory-n24nw

Thanks

Josh

No. The manufacture's website says it's 240-pin DIMM, which is typically for desktop computers. For 2013 iMac, you need RAM for laptops (more specifically 204-pin SO-DIMM). Here's the official specification for your iMac: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5908

There's one thing you might want to consider before buying RAM for your iMac though. According to Apple's official document, any typical PC3-12800 DDR3 204-pin SO-DIMM should be fine. But if you look at the internet, there are a ridiculously large number of reports from uses who experienced kernel panics after installing 32GB RAM that run at 1.5v. And in most cases, the problem is gone after switching to RAM labeled as 1.35v (or after switching to 24GB or less). So, if you are going to install 32GB, if I were you, I would stick to a safer one, like those that run at a lower voltage or are known to work with 2013 iMac.

I have no idea where you can get RAM cheaper in UK, but the one I'm using can be found on amazon.co.uk:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/G-Skill-Ripjaws-1600MHz-SO-DIMM-channel/dp/B00EOTYZOA/

I have two pair s of them (so 32GB in total) on my 2013 iMac without a problem. It looks quite expensive in UK though...

In any case, 204-pin SO-DIMM RAM is typically listed as laptop memory. And those that run at 1.35v are often labeled as low voltage models.
 
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I bought the highest spec (apart from ram and storage) iMac yesterday and want to make the ram higher. I am in the uk

As mentioned above, the RAM you linked to is incompatible desktop RAM. Definitely do go with DDR3L (1.35 V) compatible. As another option, this Crucial set is the RAM I am using in addition to 16GB of Apple stock RAM for 32GB with no problems.

RAM seems to be as expensive in the UK as it is here in Japan. Check out Amazon USA (search for CT2C8G3S160BM for the same set) as it may be cheaper even including import taxes and shipping. It was for me.
 
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