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iMac 333 doesn't recognize full RAM total
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Virginia, USA
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Hi,
I've got an iMac 333 that I am trying to upgrade. I'm using a PC133 256mb module from a Powerbook (which might be the problem). Anyway, I've tried placing it in both RAM slots (upper and lower) and either way the System Profiler reads the chip as 128mb. The firmware version reads as 3.0 (I've read some of the posts on Firmware 3.0 and it doesn't sound like that should make a difference, but at any rate it doesn't look like I can successfully change to Firmware 1.2 anyway, and I did try). Anyone have any ideas? Is this just the best that I can expect because I'm using PC133 RAM from a Powerbook? PC133 vice PC100 should have no effect, from what I know, but I'm a bit baffled on this one.
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Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Portland, OR
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It's the old High Density/Low Density RAM thingie. the iMac is only seeing half the chip.
You need Low Density. Go to Crucial.com or some other RAM configurator and identify the exact type then order from your outlet of choice.
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iMac - C2D, 2.8Ghz, 4GB, 320GB
MacBook - C2D, 2.4Ghz Uni, 4GB, 500GB
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Virginia, USA
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Thanks! I'm still learning about the various kinds of RAM. This particular one I got on eBay, so at least I didn't pay a whole lot. There shouldn't be any problem with continuing to use the chip, should there? 128mb is better than nothing . . .
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Virginia, USA
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One more thing . .. shouldn't a 333 be able to take a 256mb chip anyway? I know Apple says 128 max, but I've had other 333s with 256mb chips in one of the slots ..
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Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Portland, OR
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No worries using the chip. Only half will ever be usable.
As for using 256mb's in 333's..they must have been low density chips.
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iMac - C2D, 2.8Ghz, 4GB, 320GB
MacBook - C2D, 2.4Ghz Uni, 4GB, 500GB
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
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Generally, the density of a RAM module only affects the physical size of the device, not the electrical characteristics. Size is important in some systems when the slots are close together. But sometimes, the physical construction of the device, in this case density, can indicate how the device is built electrically.
The 333MHz iMac will take 256MB SO-DIMMs in each slot, for a total of 512MB. But not all 256MB DIMMs will work in your machine. See this page for more information. Your machine will not accept DIMMs that are configured in a single bank of 16. Yet that is probably how your DIMM is made. I bet it has 16 RAM chips on it.
If you had a high density DIMM with only 8 RAM chips on board, it would probably work fine.
Chris
(Last edited by chabig; Aug 15, 2004 at 10:15 AM.
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Admin Emeritus  Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
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The density most certainly affects characteristics other than physical size. If it were just physical size, then old Macs would be able to use high-density modules with no trouble.
Older Macs simply cannot access more than a certain amount of memory per chip, but they can handle more chips to achieve the same.
tooki
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