[harrisjamieh]

So my 1 gig stick of RAM arrived this afternoon, and I went straight to work adding it to the 512 MB already installed in my 17" iMac.

So I unscrewed the door, and put the stick in. It didn't seem to want to go all the way in, so i pushed it pretty hard and it eventually went in. I closed the handle things, and put the door back on. I started the iMac and it still said I had only 512 RAM.

So I undid the door again, and tried to take out the 1 gig stick. But it wouldn't budge, so I pulled out the 512 stick to try and get more room to grip the 1 gig stick. I couldn't get it out, but in the end managed to get it in properly (or so I thought). I then put the 512 back in, and screwed the door back in. Started the iMac - nothing. The sleep light just flashed like lightening over and over again, and the iMac would not boot.

So again, off came the door (by this time i was pretty nervous that I had broken my iMac), and I fiddled around a bit more, and thought (again) that I had it. So I plugged it in, and thankfully it booted this time, but showed just 1 GB of RAM.

So, for the final time, off came the door, and I managed to really get both sticks in their slots, seemed to be perfect. The door went back on, I started the iMac, and low and behold there it was, with 1.5 GB RAM showing!! Woo!


Anyway, that was a total nightmare, and i'm glad its over!! Just a hint, when installing RAM, make sure you have a nice cool fan blowing on you!! (Oh ye, and make sure you press the RAM in all the way - as far as possible!!)

[Tomchu]

It sounds like you don't actually know how to install RAM too well.

Maybe you should let someone experienced do it for you next time?

[eddiecatflap]

it's funny , it sounds like you've broken something , but it's really a click

easy mistake to make

[acorder]

Ouch, tomchu. There was probably a nicer way to say that. Like how eddie did. Just a note.

[harrisjamieh]

No, I do know how to install RAM (well, I've done it in loads of desktops and a few laptops), I've just never installed it in an iMac before, and Apples instructions aren't the most comprehensive. Oh well, if I have broken something, I don't really care, because I never plan on putting more RAM in there, and all 1.5 gigs work, so im happy

[ghporter]

This slot must have been REALLY tight-which is good for maintaining connections but would obviously make it more difficult to install the RAM to begin with.

Often angle is critical to installing a DIMM. And while the angle is supposed to be the same for all sockets, I've seen two identical sockets in the same computer slide the DIMM in easiest at different angles. Usually it helps to wiggle the DIMM up and down through the angle formed with the socket-the right angle will let it slip in noticably, letting you slide it in easy.

[torifile]

Getting the RAM in the iMac wasn't *easy* but it was pretty simple. It was a tight squeeze back there and it's kind of hard to see where you're supposed to put it. Fortunately I got it on my first try but I much prefer the type of installation where you can see the socket.

[Pierre B.]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Often angle is critical to installing a DIMM. And while the angle is supposed to be the same for all sockets, I've seen two identical sockets in the same computer slide the DIMM in easiest at different angles.

I think this is what actually happens. Hardware manufacturing is bound to some variability in component characteristics. In a so tightly packaged machine as the iMac, even slight differences could be important.

[Josh Reid]

Yeah, I've installed ram on numerous different iBook, iMac, and Powerbook generations over the past 8 years, and while the new intel iMac wasn't the most difficult, it was the strangest. I've never seen 'clips' like this, they certainly don't look like the standard eject clips. Also, you don't really get to see the port or whatever it is that the ram clips into..you only get to see a thin two-inch deep plastic slot that guides you in.

On a side note, when I first opened my intel iMac, the RF thin metal shielding sticker that surrounds the memory panel was wripped and half-covering the memory port so that I was unable to install the memory without wripping maybe a quarter of the shielding away. It seems that when they built the mac, the shielding wasn't fully stuck in place, and the left edge kind of slipped and jammed (ever so slightly) over the opening....This probably isn't making much sense, but I figured it was worth mentioning anyhow. I don't expect it to really have any impact on the computer, and not really worth calling Applecare for.

[ciparis]

Originally Posted by Tomchu

It sounds like you don't actually know how to install RAM too well.

I have a fair bit of experience with several of the new iMacs. They are unusual, and it is not necessarily his fault that it didn't go well at first.

Especially dealing with third-party RAM. The new iMac is very sensitive to the board thickness and surface component positions of the RAM modules. It should be a smooth process, with the levers guiding the RAM into position as they're closed and tension holding it perfectly place, but with aftermarket RAM, it may not -- and it may not be obvious that it didn't.

Here's the trick:
1) Make sure you have the iMac lying down (use a clean soft towel or similar). Gravity may cause problems otherwise, even if you have perfect access.
2) Remove the RAM door.
3) Gently insert the RAM (don't force it), make sure it's even (if it snags on the sides, pull it out slightly and straighten, then try again), and after it's all the way in, slowly guide the levers closed
4) THEN -- especially with Aftermarket RAM -- gently press the RAM farther into the slot(s). You may see it slide in a bit farther. If you do: congratulations, you probably just prevented a failed boot.
5) Carefully close the RAM cover.

[harrisjamieh]

Ye, the RAM I got was thicker than the RAM that was already in the iMac from Apple, which was pretty thin