[jnrjr79]

I currently have an iMac G3 500mhz. At the moment, it has 384 mb of RAM. The machine can hold up to 1 GB, which would set me back about $280 at crucial.com.

I think there's a decent chance I will replace this computer within a year, but I'd be curious to see if a RAM upgrade could provide some more life.

Three possibilities:
1. Stand pat
2. Replace the 128 MB chip w/ a 512 mb to go up to 764 total. (Cost, $140).
3. Replace both the 128 MB and the 256 MB with 512 MB for a total of 1024. (Cost, $280).

So, I'm asking first if I would notice a substantial improvement if I upgraded and if so, how far to go with the upgrade.

I am running 10.3.3. I use every day: iTunes, iPhoto, iChat (w/ iSight hack), MSN Messenger, MS Word, Safari, Mail.
I also do some iMovie/Final Cut Express work, but not regularly.

As an aside, this week I had mail, Safari, iChat, MSN Messenger, and Word open at the same time. While using iChat, I wanted to take a video snapshot of myself with my iSight and send it over the chat. The iMac just about had a heart attack (probably froze except for motion of the pointer for 30-40 seconds), though it then successfully saved the snapshot to the desktop and began working again. I'm wondering if situations like these could be reduced/eliminated with more RAM, or if a 500mhz G3 is going to encounter problems like these regardless of an upgrade.

Thanks.

[Peter]

2. Replace the 128 MB chip w/ a 512 mb to go up to 764 total. (Cost, $140).

I would do that one You can add another stick when DDR price is lower - its very high at the moment...
crucial memory always though

[Will C]

Originally posted by Peter:
I would do that one You can add another stick when DDR price is lower - its very high at the moment...
crucial memory always though

iMac 500MHz uses SDRAM not DDR.

I agree about crucial though.

I am in a similar position, but plan to get an eMac and sell my iMac DV400.

[Krusty]

Originally posted by Will C:
iMac 500MHz uses SDRAM not DDR.

I agree about crucial though.

I am in a similar position, but plan to get an eMac and sell my iMac DV400.

Correct about it being regular PC100 sdram. Is it just me, or is this latest eMac update finally convincing a lot of us to upgrade in droves? (I'll be upgrading my DV+ 450 in a few weeks too).

[Will C]

Originally posted by Krusty:
Correct about it being regular PC100 sdram. Is it just me, or is this latest eMac update finally convincing a lot of us to upgrade in droves? (I'll be upgrading my DV+ 450 in a few weeks too).

I think for users like you and me it is just the right thing at the right time and right price.

It will be a big jump in performance when our current machines are becoming just a little overworked for what we want to do and for less money than we originally paid for the first ones.

[bradoesch]

I've got 1 GB in my iMac (see sig). I purchased it last year for $200 CAD from my university. top still reports page in/outs in the ten thousands, but it's sure better than the 384 MB I was at before! I maxed out the RAM because I plan on keeping this computer for a while still.
Also, if you find that PC 133 is cheaper than PC 100, go for the 133. It's what I've got in my computer, and it's completely backwards compatible.