[Lebodde]

OK, I admit I have been out of the memory upgrade world for a few years but I wasn't prepared for this much head scratching.

I am trying to decide if the infamous "Free 512 MB" offer from Macwarehouse and MacZone are really such a good deal after all. This seems to be anything but free (costs $40) and it appears to be not an extra 512 but only 256 (which, only when added to the existing 256 makes 512).

So I looked into getting a 512 bar from Crucial or Ramjet. Here is where it gets trickier. Many of these sites haven't updated for the new 1Ghz machine yet so you are left trying to guess what you need.

The Ramjet site is updated but adds more confusion. It states that the user accessible slot is 144 pin while the Apple slot is 168pins. But then when you click on the "512MB DDR for iMac" bar just below, it states that this is a 184 pin one!!! http://www.ramjet.com/ItemDescr.asp?Item=IMW512D

I move to the OtherWorldComputing site. They also have an iMac 1Ghz notice. But there, they say it's a 200 pin chip !!! http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_It...WC2100DDRSO512

OK, so I go to the crucial site. They don't list the 1Ghz iMac. I go to their list of 512MB DDR chip and find out there are a million different versions: PC2100 or PC2700, unbuffered, registered, CL something or other, 6ns or 7.5ns, 266Mhz or 133Mhz, etc...

My head hurts.

Could someone mention the exact specs needed for a 512 MB bar for the user slot in the new iMacs?

Thank you very much for any help.

[zeebe]

Why do you say you only get 256MB of RAM, you actually get a 512MB chip that is installed in the user access port. So this would give you 768MB of RAM not 512MB. This is what the people at MacMall tell me at least. If I am wrong, someone please tell me before I order!!

[Lebodde]

Originally posted by zeebe:
Why do you say you only get 256MB of RAM, you actually get a 512MB chip that is installed in the user access port. So this would give you 768MB of RAM not 512MB. This is what the people at MacMall tell me at least. If I am wrong, someone please tell me before I order!!

OOOPS! My bad!

You are absolutely correct, Zeebe. I just called Macwarehouse to double check and indeed they confirmed that it is an additional 512 for a total of 768. I thought I had read somewhere that it was the other way but evidently that is incorrect.

Thanks for pointing it out !

I'm sure it would still be useful for someone to have this memory chip terminology issue clarified though.

[zeebe]

I agree with you on the clarification issue. I also wish these catalog companies would install a 512MB chip in the non-user slot and THEN give the free 512MB, but I get confusing messages from MacMall and am not sure yet if they will do this, waiting to hear back from a manager.

[BrunoBruin]

Don't forget, too, that often these "free" RAM deals are after a rebate; you have to pony up $150 or whatever (plus installation fee) with your purchase and then send in the rebate forms. I've never had trouble getting a rebate back, just follow the directions carefully.

[keston]

umm... so as to repeat part of tge original inquiry: What kind of RAM does the new iMac take? Is it 168-pin? 200-pin? DDR2100 SDRAM?

[newmanium]

does installing RAM in the "non-user" slot avoid the warranty or anything legal like that? or would it be perfectly safe to install RAM in both slots?

[murbot]

184-pin DIMM in the non-user accessible, internal slot.

200-pin SODIMM in the user-accessible slot.

Both PC2100 DDR SDRAM.

Here is info on the SODIMM you need for the empty slot.

(sorry for the incorrect posing earlier)