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dennett · Sep 13, 2008, 06:12 PM

I've got an old iMac flat panel model for use at school, and it still works well. However it's only got 128mb of Ram, and is in serious need of an upgrade to remain usable. What are my options? Can I add a 256 chip, a mismatch with it's current 128 chip, and have 384mb? If so, where's the cheapest place to buy memory now? My principal likely won't fund the upgrade, so it'll be out of my own pocket...

imitchellg5 · Sep 13, 2008, 06:32 PM

Yes you can mismatch them. A good place to get RAM is www.macsales.com.

dennett · Sep 14, 2008, 08:31 PM

Thanks for rec! Would it make more sense to add a 512chip than a 256 to my existing 128mb? I've heard of older Macs like this with 384 total MB of Ram, but I've never heard of one with 640... I'd appreciate anyone's input.

gooser · Sep 17, 2008, 11:40 PM

i've got 640 on a g3 ibook. works great.

savoirfaire · Sep 18, 2008, 12:13 AM

I've got a 1.25ghz version with 512mb of factory-installed RAM and an additional 1gb of user-installable RAM. More than enough for 90% of my activities. I usually go to dealram.com to find the best deals.

imitchellg5 · Sep 19, 2008, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by dennett

Thanks for rec! Would it make more sense to add a 512chip than a 256 to my existing 128mb? I've heard of older Macs like this with 384 total MB of Ram, but I've never heard of one with 640... I'd appreciate anyone's input.

Yep. 640 Mb is a common "official" max on older Macs.

savoirfaire · Sep 19, 2008, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by dennett

Thanks for rec! Would it make more sense to add a 512chip than a 256 to my existing 128mb? I've heard of older Macs like this with 384 total MB of Ram, but I've never heard of one with 640... I'd appreciate anyone's input.

Quite honestly, I would go whole hog and put in a 512mb chip... or a 1gb chip if it takes DDR RAM. The official specs for the G4 iMacs indicated a maximum RAM capacity of 1gb (link), but later generations (the ones that take DDR RAM) have been confirmed to accept up to 2x1gb modules. The specs were supposedly written before RAM modules greater than 512 mb were available. They can, indeed, get up to 2gb if you can get at the DIMM deep inside the base, but I doubt the principal would let you crack it open.

imitchellg5 · Sep 19, 2008, 05:15 PM

Nor would you want to crack it open, it's pretty hard. I know Mac repair shops that won't do it.

hab · Sep 20, 2008, 02:17 AM

Although not as easy as the new iMac, the old FP iMac was definitely user upgradeable. Instructions are available on the web. My G4 FP came with 256 factory installed (in 2003?) and I added a 512 chip immediately. My daughter uses it for school as it still does word processing, web surfing, email, and iTunes. She uses our more recent intel machines for graphics and video.

gooser · Sep 20, 2008, 02:03 PM

pretty simple really. put a 512 in and see how it runs. crack it open later and put another in if you choose to.

dennett · Sep 22, 2008, 07:54 PM

Thanks everyone, I'll go with the 512 upgrade. It looks like a simple 5 minute job...

dennett · Sep 29, 2008, 07:31 PM

Just to update, I bought the 512 chip, got a great deal through dealram for only $35. I opted for the free shipping but instead of the 10-12 days quoted for delivery, it arrived in three days. Took about two minutes for the install, and I'm now good to go with 640mb, instead of the pathetic 128mb I'd started with, thanks for the help everyone!