Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Krusty · Dec 14, 2003, 02:49 PM

Looking at the specs for the eMac and iMac DV series, it appears that they use the same type and size of memory -- only that the eMac requires PC 133 and the older DV iMacs can be as slow as PC 100.

I would assume that I could buy memory spec'd for a current eMac and it should work just fine in a DV iMac. Is this correct ? Has anyone move eMac memory into an iMac ?

I ask because I currently have a DV iMac that I'd like to add a 512mb stick to NOW and then move that stick to a new eMac I hope to buy in the next few months.

bradoesch · Dec 14, 2003, 07:42 PM

Not a problem Krusty. PC133 memory will clock down to 100 and 66 MHz speeds just fine. I've got two 512 MB PC133 DIMMs in my iMac DV right now.

Mr.Clicky · Dec 15, 2003, 05:22 AM

Yup and I dropped a 512k chip from my DV into my new 1Ghz eMac and it's jolly

Originally posted by Krusty:
Looking at the specs for the eMac and iMac DV series, it appears that they use the same type and size of memory -- only that the eMac requires PC 133 and the older DV iMacs can be as slow as PC 100.

I would assume that I could buy memory spec'd for a current eMac and it should work just fine in a DV iMac. Is this correct ? Has anyone move eMac memory into an iMac ?

I ask because I currently have a DV iMac that I'd like to add a 512mb stick to NOW and then move that stick to a new eMac I hope to buy in the next few months.

Krusty · Dec 15, 2003, 11:18 AM

Ahhh .. thanks to both of you. I thought it would work -- just wanted to make sure there wasn't any "gotcha" that I didn't think of.

bradoesch · Dec 15, 2003, 10:50 PM

It may give a long tone the first time you boot with the new RAM. It did this to me, and I just had to try different combinations of the RAM chips to get it to work. Not sure why any of that happened, but it could happen to you.

zanyterp · Dec 28, 2003, 01:44 AM

Originally posted by bradoesch:
Not a problem Krusty. PC133 memory will clock down to 100 and 66 MHz speeds just fine. I've got two 512 MB PC133 DIMMs in my iMac DV right now.

which means that theoretically i could add a chip from my powermac g3 (which has pc 133) to the emac i am considering buying, right?

thanks!!

tooki · Dec 29, 2003, 02:57 AM

Do you mean that you previously put PC133 into your G3? If so, yes, you can put it in the eMac.

You cannot put PC66 or PC100 RAM into the eMac and have it work reliably. (It may work, but no guarantees as to stability.)

tooki

calle73 · Dec 29, 2003, 05:15 AM

I'm thinking of putting in 512 mb of memory which will give me 768 mb of ram.
Will I notice any speed increase from using 384 mb before???

Krusty · Dec 29, 2003, 09:41 AM

Originally posted by calle73:
I'm thinking of putting in 512 mb of memory which will give me 768 mb of ram.
Will I notice any speed increase from using 384 mb before???

It depends on how many memory hogging apps you use at once. If you are in 10.3, open /Utilities/Activity Monitor and click on the "System Memory" button. Look to see how much memory is in use when you have all your regular apps open. Check for page ins/page outs -- if the number is high, more memory would help. If its low (or zero), then you're probably fine with 384mb.

brandonchristel · Dec 30, 2003, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by tooki:

You cannot put PC66 or PC100 RAM into the eMac and have it work reliably. (It may work, but no guarantees as to stability.)

tooki

my experience with ram is that slower ram just wont be recognized as useful. Some pcs dont like faster stuff all the time. we tried to put a 133 dimm into my sister's hp that wanted 100 and it just wouldn't show up. however, i have pc 133 in my imac that calls for 66 and it runs just fine

genep · Dec 30, 2003, 05:47 PM

You need to be careful about which ram you use in an imacdv and which firmware version. I have just experienced the problem first hand. If you have the latest firmware version 4.1.9 then you will only be able to use 3-wait-state memory, not 2-wait-state memory. You need to check carefully with the vendor to ensure this.

The 2-wait-state memory will work with the dv if you have older firmware (not sure where the change occurred) but the safe bet would be to just go with the slower memory (don't really think it makes a difference with a dv).

I have links (at home) to other threads and Apple release notes about this if you want them ... it's a real problem. Luckily my vendor, the chip merchant, has a life time warranty and will replace the memory due to the firmware update problem ... at no cost.