Upgrade RAM on G5

[darkal1en]

Hi I have a G5 and would like to upgrade the RAM memory from 2.5 to higher. What's the max I can upgrade it to and where can I get it reasonably priced in UK. Finally do I have to purchase and upgrade the RAM in pairs?

Thanks

 

[Hrududu]

PowerMac G5 computers must have the RAM installed in matched pairs, so yes you'll need to get sets. The type and maximums depend on which model you have. The 1.6GHz model used PC2700 and could take 4GB. After that, they all used PC3200 RAM until the late 2005 models (dual and quad CORE) which took PC2 4200 RAM. Maximum is mostly based on how many slots your Mac has. A single processor G5 will have 4 and the dual processor models will have 8. Only the June 04 dual 1.8 had 4 slots and dual processors. With the exception of DDR2 2005 PowerMacs, your maximum RAM per slot is 1GB. So 4 slots you get 4GB and 8 slots, 8GB. The late 2005 PowerMacs could all take up to 16GB and they all had 8 slots.

 

[Nice]

There are G5s that can be maxed out at 4GBs, 8GBs and 16GBs. It can not be told until you give us at least the model identifier number. It can be found under Hardware in the System profiler

It should look like this: "PowerMac7,3"

 

[bunnspecial]

A single processor G5 will have 4 and the dual processor models will have 8. Only the June 04 dual 1.8 had 4 slots and dual processors. With the exception of DDR2 2005 PowerMacs, your maximum RAM per slot is 1GB. So 4 slots you get 4GB and 8 slots, 8GB. The late 2005 PowerMacs could all take up to 16GB and they all had 8 slots.

I have a single 1.8 and it has 8 slots...

 

[gavinstubbs09]

I have a single 1.8 and it has 8 slots...

I didn't believe it but this proves that they did...

 

[darkal1en]

My model no. Is Powermac 11,2.
2ghz processor speed.

Thanks

 

[gavinstubbs09]

My model no. Is Powermac 11,2.
2ghz processor speed.

Thanks

Alright, you are good for 16GB Ram. Dual Core/Late 05 models have DDR2.

 

[bunnspecial]

My model no. Is Powermac 11,2.
2ghz processor speed.

Thanks

Looks like you need DDR-2 PC2-4200, and should have 8 slots.

I didn't believe it but this proves that they did...

Reading over Wikipedia(which I realize isn't always the most reliable source) it looks like the following have 4 slots

7,2 1.6 SP
7,3(June 2004) 1.8 DP
9,1(late 2004) 1.8 SP
7,3(early 2005) 2.0 DP

Or, in other words, it appears as though the lowest spec model in any given generation had 4 slots, and all others had 8 slots.

Going back to my 1.8 SP, at least in the first generation(7,2) the 1.8 was a step up from the 1.6 SP, and thus got 8 slots.

 

[weckart]

Hi I have a G5 and would like to upgrade the RAM memory from 2.5 to higher. What's the max I can upgrade it to and where can I get it reasonably priced in UK. Finally do I have to purchase and upgrade the RAM in pairs?

Thanks

I did this recently with a late 2005 PG5, which takes PC2-4200. The cheapest option was CEX. Much cheaper than eBay. Cost me £8 per 2GB stick.

 

[128keaton]

Wow, I thought my $20 per 1Gb stick was good. My PowerMac G5 has a comfortable 4Gb of RAM.

 

[darkal1en]

Checked CEX they have not got any at the moment, will keep an eye out. Thanks.

 

[weckart]

Wow, I thought my $20 per 1Gb stick was good. My PowerMac G5 has a comfortable 4Gb of RAM.

PC2-400 512MB sticks are 50p each and plentiful. I could have reached 4GB for £2 on top of the 2GB my PM came with and would have done but I wanted a bit more just in case. Mine now has 7GB.

An alternative when supplies are low is to go for higher rated sticks. They should clock down and are often cheaper as relatively few computers used PC2-4200. The thing is, they may clock down lower than 4200 speeds.

 

[Hrududu]

I have a single 1.8 and it has 8 slots...

Ya the original 1.8 did have 8 slots. Something they changed later in the 04 models.