[royboy]

I'm using an older iMac: G3 400MHz with a 10gb HD, 320 MB RAM, running OSX 10.2.8. I tend to leave it running, letting it sleep at night. When I boot it up my folder windows show about 2.35GB of HD space available, but that amount goes down over a period of days - and I've been rebooting when it gets down to around 1.9GB. After rebooting it again shows 2.35GB and then begins the steady decline once again. I'd like to get out of this cycle as the machine seems to get more sluggish as the amount of HD space drops.

I presume this is some cache building up but I don't know how to identify it or if that is for sure the issue. I generally have 2 browsers running - Firefox (cache size 50MB) & IE (cache 10 MB). Otherwise my base set of usually running major apps includes: Excel, Quicken, Word, Appleworks, Eudora, & Adobe Reader.

Any thoughts/insights/suggestions?

Thanks - Roy

[Detrius]

Since it frees up after a reboot, it's probably the virtual memory. The only ways to really fix that is to either add RAM or close programs.

[royboy]

when I bought this iMac it came with 64MB of RAM and I added a 256MB module. is there any problem replacing the original 64MB module or does that need to stay there?

looking at RAM prices, another 256MB module looks like it might be the most cost effective option (under $20). do you think that would make a big difference or would the additional $45 for a 512 module be worth it?

I would like it if I could pep this machine up enough to have it serve me another couple years. I have thought that the processor speed seems like it is limiting things but maybe the RAM might be more the issue.

Thanks - Roy

[RadarBob2]

I think it's the virtual memory too. I've been watching memory usage on my iBook lately with "activity monitor" (in your applications/utilities folder). My virtual memory is typically in the 5GB area (640MB RAM, 40GB drive).

I'd say you need more disk space to account for virtual memory usage

I put a 512MB SDRAM module in my 300MHz iBook. I also replaced the HD w/ a 40MB model. Got them both on www.4allmemory.com a couple of years ago. I know the official Apple spec say 256MB is the largest that works w/ those older iBooks, but I know for a fact that 512 works too. BTW my system profile says "SDRAM... PC133U-333". 4allmemory.com is great because you tell them your computer and they tell you what memory works with it.

I read that all the G3 iBooks use the same memory. And sure enough, I put that 512MB module (above) into our 700MHz iBook and it works just fine.

[Detrius]

I would recommend going for the 512MB instead of the 256MB. For me, 1GB was more than enough with 10.2, almost enough with 10.3, and now nowhere near enough with 10.4. However, that's just my habits, and I have a dual 533 G4. After four years, I'm finally reaching the point where my needs are beyond what this machine can provide. Also, this machine is significantly more powerful than a G3 iMac. I would put as much RAM in the machine as it accepts in order to make the machine last longer for you. The processor will make a huge difference, but not having enough RAM can easily make a significantly larger difference, as the speed difference between a G3 and a G4 is nowhere near as much as the difference between RAM and a fragmented hard drive.