[selowitch]

I just ordered a new iMac (Core2Duo) and noticed that Apple ships it with 2 512MB SO-DIMMs. This means if one wishes to upgrade the memory to the maximum 2GB, you have to replace both modules. That's a drag. Oh, well. At least I have 2GB of RAM on their way from Mushkin, so I will be all set.

[HungrySeacow]

I think that the memory it ships with is on the logic-board. Your memory banks will be empty when you get it.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by HungrySeacow

I think that the memory it ships with is on the logic-board. Your memory banks will be empty when you get it.

Oooo. Well, that would be great if true!

[CheesePuff]

untrue.

and the reason it comes with 2x 512's is because it takes advantage of dual channel which helps performance. so if you upgrade, you would have 2x 1 gb chips.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by CheesePuff 2.0

untrue.

and the reason it comes with 2x 512's is because it takes advantage of dual channel which helps performance. so if you upgrade, you would have 2x 1 gb chips.

Drat. So does that mean the brand-new 20" iMacs released today still have 2GB as their maximum for RAM?

[Eug]

Originally Posted by selowitch

Drat. So does that mean the brand-new 20" iMacs released today still have 2GB as their maximum for RAM?

3 GB

Paired RAM is not a requirement.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Eug

3 GB

Paired RAM is not a requirement.

How many slots? With upgrades, could I end up with 2 x 512MB + 2 x 1GB for a total of 3GM? That would require four slots in all unless one or both of the 512MB modules are soldered to the motherboard.

Gee, that college education of mine sure comes in handy

[Eug]

Just look on the Apple Store and iMac pages. It's all there.

2 slots: 1 GB + 2 GB = 3 GB. As I said, Paired RAM is not a requirement.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Eug

2 slots: 1 GB + 2 GB = 3 GB. As I said, Paired RAM is not a requirement.

OK. Well, I think 2GB paired is probably enough, at least for now. The 2 SO-DIMMs are on their way to me and I don't feel like exchanging one of them.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by selowitch

OK. Well, I think 2GB paired is probably enough, at least for now. The 2 SO-DIMMs are on their way to me and I don't feel like exchanging one of them.

I hope you got a good price on your RAM, cuz Apple charges only $175 for the 2x1GB upgrade, or less for educational customers.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Eug

I hope you got a good price on your RAM, cuz Apple charges only $175 for the 2x1GB upgrade, or less for educational customers.

Drat. I paid $204.19 for the two Mushkin SO-DIMMs, with freight. Add to that the fact that these modules are fairly difficult to install and I'm sort of disappointed. See, when I ordered them, I was buying for my Core Duo 20", before today's newly released Core 2 Duo model, and Apple was charging considerably more.

I wonder if I ought to change my order. Hmmmm.

[Eug]

How much was the RAM upgrade yesterday from Apple? Just wondering.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Eug

How much was the RAM upgrade yesterday from Apple? Just wondering.

Don't remember. But it was enough to prompt me to buy third-party.

[jamil5454]

Anyone have any idea what could explain the limited support for the 1GB module in one slot? Why not 4GB of RAM?

My guess is that Apple doesn't want the 24" iMac to be too professional, and there's a limited supply of 2GB modules.

[rnb2]

I just started a new topic for this, but it's been closed for some reason, so I'll ask here:

I just bought a 17" Core Duo iMac a couple weeks ago - no regrets, the update is nice, but I bought from Amazon (for the $100 rebate) and the upgrade to the 17" just isn't that dramatic . If I'd been in the market for the 24", that would be a different question, but that won't even fit on my desk, so I'm using the 17" spanning onto my 21" flat panel.

So, the new iMacs all max out at 3GB of RAM, where the Core Duo machines claimed 2GB. Since the Merom is pin-compatible with Yonah, it seems to me that the Yonah iMac may actually be able to take 3GB as well, but Apple didn't mention it because prices for the 2GB SO-DIMM were astronomical at the time (they're still very high now, of course). Since the insides of the new iMac don't seem to be changed from the Yonah version, is there any reason to think that there was a change that would effect the maximum RAM?

My iMac is already maxed at 2GB, and I'm only really curious about the future ability to upgrade - at current prices, it wouldn't be worth it, but in 8-12 months, that could change.

[iREZ]

from what ive read about yonah...its capable of housing 4gb of ram, as well as merom...just that 2gb chips are a bit astronomical in price, kinda like how apple said the first 17" powerbook had a max of only 1gb of ram when in reality 2gb was the max.

[Eug]

My understanding is that 3 GB is a limitation of the chipset. This should be corrected by the next generation of the iMac, in 2007.

Not that I would ever do this, but I wonder if getting two 2 GB sticks would give you:

1) A non-functional machine, or a machine with memory problems.
2) A 3 GB interleaved setup.
3) A 3 GB non-interleaved setup.

My guess is #3.

[Pierre B.]

Originally Posted by Eug

Not that I would ever do this, but I wonder if getting two 2 GB sticks would give you:

1) A non-functional machine, or a machine with memory problems.
2) A 3 GB interleaved setup.
3) A 3 GB non-interleaved setup.

My guess is #3.

From here:

Note: If you do install a 2 GB SO-DIMM in both the bottom and top memory slots of the computer, the About This Mac window and Apple System Profiler will both show that you have 4 GB of SDRAM installed. However, Activity Monitor and other similar applications will reveal that only 3 GB of SDRAM has been addressed for use by the computer.

[Simon]

The whole 3GB max topic is already being discussed here:
http://forums.macnn.com/58/imac-emac...imacs-limited/