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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > Anyone have an iMac DC with 256MB Video RAM?

Anyone have an iMac DC with 256MB Video RAM?
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ciparis
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Jan 18, 2006, 11:04 PM
 
My first 20" Intel iMac had a bad DVD drive when I unpacked it (it would read CDs only), so I finally took it back today and swapped it for another 20". This time they only had the upgraded models: MA417LL/A, which adds the wireless kb/mouse and 256MB Vram. Supposedly...

My system profiler only shows 128. Anyone else able to see the full 256 on a 20" in system profiler? If you have a 20" iMac DC with 256, what model number does it show?
     
typerlover
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Jan 19, 2006, 01:07 AM
 
ATI Radeon X1600:

Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.063
Displays:
iMac:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Depth: 32-bit Color
Built-In: Yes
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
DELL 2405FPW:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Supported
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 19, 2006, 01:35 AM
 
Rats. Was the model number on your iMac MA417LL/A?

ATI Radeon X1600:

Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
VRAM (Total): 128 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.063
Displays:
iMac:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Depth: 32-bit Color
Built-In: Yes
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
FPD2185W:
Resolution: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Supported
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
     
typerlover
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Jan 19, 2006, 01:40 AM
 
Where can I find the serial number? Take that thing back to wherever you got it!
     
thiagofll
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Jan 19, 2006, 02:17 AM
 
ATI Radeon X1600:

Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.063
Displays:
iMac:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Depth: 32-bit Color
Built-In: Yes
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Display:
Status: No display connected
[FONT="Trebuchet MS"]My Gadgets: 24" iMac Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR2 RAM, Wireless Mighty Mouse // MacBook Pro 17" 2.44Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 160GB HD, 4GB RAM / 8GB Apple iPhone/ JBL Spot/ Canon SD850 w/ 4GB Card/ Canon XTi Rebel Black.[/FONT]
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 19, 2006, 03:21 AM
 
Originally Posted by typerlover
Where can I find the serial number? Take that thing back to wherever you got it!
It's on your box it's the model number. But this is my second one already! >.< and the store is over an hour away (secret tip: Santa Rosa for my money is the best Apple Store in the Bay Area, selling iMac DCs while (unnamed larger Apple Store nearby) was putting them out for display only and yet another was claiming they weren't available yet, continuing to do that up until today). Still the most likely place to find great staff with great stock to sell. They moved alot of 20" iMacs today.... you guys'n'gals rock.
     
typerlover
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Jan 19, 2006, 03:47 AM
 
A1174 is the model number
     
jamil5454
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Jan 19, 2006, 09:05 AM
 
ciparis, chances are one of the Apple employees made a mistake. These are brand new machines after all and he/she might have gotten confused and given you the wrong one. Call the Apple you bought it from ASAP and tell them about it. Tell them your Model number (on the box, starts with an M), and Serial number, and if I were you, I'd drive down there to get it. You might get lucky with the manager and receive 10% off your next purchase.
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 19, 2006, 12:38 PM
 
They gave me the right one, and the serial number points to a 256 model (according to apple support). Just didn't get put in, or it was defective. I'll have to wait until some apple store gets more of this model in I think, though (pretty sure they sold out last night).
     
MORT A POTTY
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Jan 19, 2006, 01:31 PM
 
either way you gotta call in and let them know about it immediately. you can wait and wait and wait and be stuck w/ what you got.

and you do know the 256MB VRAM is a BTO upgrade and not standard on the 20" yes?
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 19, 2006, 02:46 PM
 
Originally Posted by MORT A POTTY
and you do know the 256MB VRAM is a BTO upgrade and not standard on the 20" yes?
Yep. It's a different part number that included (or was supposed to ) the wireless keyboard and upgraded VRAM and is just arriving in some Apple stores. The base config is MA200, this is MA417. The price is $1834.00, which is the base price (1699) + wireless upgrade (60) + vram (75). I've got a trouble ticket in, just have to find another one someplace.
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 19, 2006, 07:30 PM
 
Update (interesting) :

I managed to get back to the store for an exchange after all, same model. Mind you, this was after conferring with an iMac product specialist at Applecare who researched the serial number of the machine, and confirmed it to be a 256MB model. The store has been selling them as 256 models, and the inventory system prices it as a 256 model.

But when I opened the replacement system in the store, it only showed 128 as well. The staff were pretty surprised.

Soo... it seems to me like there is a mixup either in production or inventory control/sales/etc. I ended up keeping the machine I walked in with (no point in swapping it out now, though since it's still not what it's supposed to be or was sold as I might see about getting the motherboard swapped at some point, which my current trouble ticket should allow for).

Watch out for MA417LL/A you heard it here first.
     
mjames
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Jan 19, 2006, 08:22 PM
 
Dang! I just got a 20" "Ultimate" iMac today and have this exact same problem. $1834 and it is supposed to have the 256, but it has 128. Can this be swapped for 256 or am I stuck with it? I already transferred all my data off my Powerbook! Also, I only have 512 MB of RAM as the store was sold out, so I have to go back for that anyway.
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Chuckit
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Jan 19, 2006, 08:45 PM
 
Job opening at Apple!
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ciparis  (op)
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Jan 19, 2006, 09:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by mjames
Dang! I just got a 20" "Ultimate" iMac today and have this exact same problem. $1834 and it is supposed to have the 256, but it has 128. Can this be swapped for 256 or am I stuck with it? I already transferred all my data off my Powerbook! Also, I only have 512 MB of RAM as the store was sold out, so I have to go back for that anyway.
Uh oh. North Carolina, eh? With mine in California, my hopes of this being a small isolated incident are not looking quite as likely. These upgraded models (the MA417LL/A 20") seem to have just started arriving at stores in the last two days from what I can tell.

So far Typerlover is the only report I've seen of a system being purchased at retail having 256MB VRAM, and that was an education store purchase, with a different model number.

edit: that's the part number btw, not the model number. There is a common model number, but the part number is more specific -- that's the MA417LL/A.
( Last edited by ciparis; Jan 19, 2006 at 10:06 PM. )
     
mjames
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Jan 19, 2006, 11:11 PM
 
The burning question for me is am I stuck with the 128 MB or can Apple put in the 256 MB I paid for? I wouldn't have bought it with 128 MB!

Anyone know?
21" 2.5 Ghz Core i5 iMac | 13" 2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo Macbook
20" Cinema Display | iPhone 4 32 GB
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 19, 2006, 11:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by mjames
The burning question for me is am I stuck with the 128 MB or can Apple put in the 256 MB I paid for? I wouldn't have bought it with 128 MB!

Anyone know?
It can't be added -- it's built into the motherboard. One option is that the store can refund your purchase so you can buy it online.
     
mjames
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Jan 20, 2006, 12:33 AM
 
Crap! I loaded all my data onto the new iMac before realizing this (it gave you this option before you even got to the desktop and could check the system specs). Did anyone else do this? I don't know if it's worth it to go to all that trouble, especially considering I have confidential data on the iMac hard drive now. I might just ask for the money back for the VRAM (or just get the extra 512 MB of RAM I need instead). I mean, I got along with two displays on 64 MB of VRAM before. 128 MB should be enough to drive my 20" cinema. When will you really notice? I don't think it's worth the trouble for me to undo all the work I've done for it...
21" 2.5 Ghz Core i5 iMac | 13" 2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo Macbook
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ciparis  (op)
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Jan 20, 2006, 11:27 AM
 
Originally Posted by mjames
When will you really notice? I don't think it's worth the trouble for me to undo all the work I've done for it...
It should be plenty for handling a single 20", as far as Quartz Extreme goes for smooth Expose and Dashboard, etc. And most game-related video card reviews I've seen indicate that midrange cards have other drawbacks that effectively mask the benefits you might see from more VRAM; however, it's still hard to predict how this iMac will turn out. I really wanted the upgrade, since it's not something you can add later and I'd like to keep this iMac a good while (it's such an amazing machine). So for me it was more of meeting expectations than having a concrete example to point to of how anything will be better with it. I do drive two monitors though (with alot open at once on a 2GB machine), both at 1680*1050, so it's possible I might run into a limit sooner than a 1-monitor user.
     
mjames
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Jan 20, 2006, 11:41 AM
 
I just got off the phone with my local Apple Store and they are aware of this. The lady even said I might be able to keep my current iMac and order a new one with the specs I wanted, then make a swap. If I could do that, it would be perfect. I didn't want to have to return the one I'm typing on and go without one until the new one came. As for the data I have on the iMac, I could just transfer it to the new iMac when it comes in the Apple Store. Will let you know how it turns out...

EDIT: Apple is checking with corporate and trying to confirm this with the serial number. They seem willing to let me keep the existing iMac, order the proper one, and then make the swap. I expect to get 100% back for the existing iMac. Assuming this works out, I can keep what I have until the new one arrives, and I don't see any downside in this.
( Last edited by mjames; Jan 20, 2006 at 11:51 AM. )
21" 2.5 Ghz Core i5 iMac | 13" 2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo Macbook
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mjames
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Jan 20, 2006, 08:09 PM
 
My saga continues. The store will let me mail order a new BTO iMac, then let me return this one for no charge. I can use this iMac until the new one arrives.

I took it back to get another 512 MB of RAM and the Genius Bar guy scratched the front casing by the screen on the upper right corner. I'm fairly sure that was when it happened because I noticed right when I got home. He had to lay it face down to add the memory, and that's where the scratch is (pretty noticeable on the clear plastic). So even more reason to get the new one and return this...
21" 2.5 Ghz Core i5 iMac | 13" 2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo Macbook
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MORT A POTTY
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Jan 20, 2006, 08:37 PM
 
when you lay it face down you're sposta put a nice cloth under it to protect it. it's pretty easy (I've replaced RAM in the G5 and G4 and G3 iMacs and never had an issue).

hope that everything works out well for you though. also hope my iMac that will be here monday (knock on wood) doesn't have the same problem since I got the upgraded VRAM, although I didn't get the wireless KB/M kit though so I kinda doubt that's the case though.
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 20, 2006, 09:18 PM
 
Originally Posted by mjames
My saga continues. The store will let me mail order a new BTO iMac, then let me return this one for no charge. I can use this iMac until the new one arrives.
Good!

Sounds about like the solution I ended up with yesterday as well. It'll make it alot easier to transfer, having both machines at the same time. I was very pleased with the response from Apple about this, both in the store and on the phone.
     
jam8
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Jan 20, 2006, 11:47 PM
 
Kudos to Apple for excellent customer support =]
     
mjames
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Jan 21, 2006, 12:34 AM
 
Originally Posted by MORT A POTTY
when you lay it face down you're sposta put a nice cloth under it to protect it. it's pretty easy (I've replaced RAM in the G5 and G4 and G3 iMacs and never had an issue).

hope that everything works out well for you though. also hope my iMac that will be here monday (knock on wood) doesn't have the same problem since I got the upgraded VRAM, although I didn't get the wireless KB/M kit though so I kinda doubt that's the case though.
The Genius Bar guy used the styrofoam-like cover it came with as the pad, but it obviously didn't cover the entire front side, and it kind of banged hard. So this scratch is annoying and another reason I'm trading this in.

I am curious, is this VRAM problem happening only for people who purchased in-store? Are people fine getting them BTO? I would be furious if it happened BTO.
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NightEyes
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Jan 21, 2006, 01:08 AM
 
I'll let you know. I have a 20" with the 256 mb vram option on order. I'll post here when it arrives.
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mjames
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Jan 21, 2006, 01:32 AM
 
Thanks, is it expected to arrive soon? I need to place the order like tomorrow if I expect Apple to take this one back. If not, I'll just take the risk and hope it comes properly configured.
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mjames
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Jan 21, 2006, 07:10 PM
 
I decided to keep my iMac with "only" 128 MB of VRAM. Don't want to deal with the ordeal of transferring all my stuff yet again, then lugging the thing back through the mall to the Apple Store. The scratch is barely noticeable in most lighting conditions, and this thing is more than good enough for me. My cinema display seems somewhat dimmer than it was on my Powerbook, but maybe the iMac screen is just brighter due to it being brand new, or it seemed brighter versus the very dim Powerbook display in comparison. I should take a picture of a window split between the screens to show the difference (the picture below doesn't do it justice). So I got my $68 back and can rest knowing my setup is complete for now.

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MORT A POTTY
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Jan 21, 2006, 07:52 PM
 
the thing that kills it.... the books under the stand.

to me the ACD looks brighter, but I suspect that has a lot to do w/ the angle at which the photo was taken, among other things.
     
typerlover
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Jan 21, 2006, 08:18 PM
 
My 2405FPW looks a bit dimmer than the iMac screen as well now, and I know this wasn't the case before.
     
mjames
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Jan 21, 2006, 08:48 PM
 
Originally Posted by MORT A POTTY
the thing that kills it.... the books under the stand.

to me the ACD looks brighter, but I suspect that has a lot to do w/ the angle at which the photo was taken, among other things.
The books look that bad? Heh. Without them, it looks worse because of the height difference. What would you do? I want the displays level.
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ciparis  (op)
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Jan 22, 2006, 03:43 AM
 
My iMac's display was set to half brightness out of the box (which was a good setting). If I turn it up to max, it is so bright it hurts my eyes.

Good thing about the Gateway 21" widescreen: adjustable height and it's counterweighted so you just lift it with a finger and it glides up.

     
MORT A POTTY
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Jan 22, 2006, 04:26 AM
 
ciparis, it looks like you badly need to calibrate both displays.
     
photoeditor
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Jan 22, 2006, 03:44 PM
 
The iMac 20 inch has a higher maximum brightness than the Cinema Display even though both use a very similar if not identical S-IPS panel from LG Philips -- I think it's 400 cd/m on the iMac versus 300 on the ACD.
     
ciparis  (op)
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Jan 22, 2006, 04:47 PM
 
Originally Posted by MORT A POTTY
ciparis, it looks like you badly need to calibrate both displays.
Yeah that was right after hooking them up (since I knew my desk wouldn't remain that tidy for long). They're both calibrated now (as well as I could get them using the advanced settings in Display cp).
     
ciparis  (op)
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Feb 12, 2006, 03:21 AM
 
Just thought I'd post an update: my replacement iMac (256 MB VRAM) arrived Friday. I've got 30 days to get my data transferred over to the new machine and get the 128 VRAM machine sent back to them. If anyone has a specific test they'd like to see run back to back in the 128 and 256 models, let me know.
     
mjames
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Feb 12, 2006, 01:02 PM
 
I am really interested in some tests to see if there really is a noticeable difference. As I said earlier, I have a 20" cinema hooked up to mine and I play video on the second display fine. I think you'd have to be doing serious 3D gaming on both screens or something to notice, and I doubt I would notice just doing light activities. But let us know if there's any noticeable difference or if you can do any tests. I'm hoping the difference is minor, because I originally was getting the 256.
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NightEyes
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Feb 12, 2006, 02:06 PM
 
As a follow-up to my earlier post, I had an iMac with the 256 vram option on order, but after reading up on barefeats.com I decided that I didn't really need more than 128 for the forseeable future and Amazon has a great deal on new iMacs presently so I cancelled my CTO and ordered one of the stock models. I'm very happy with the computer's performance. I only do a little gaming now and then but did download the universal binary patch for UT 2K4 and the game flies on the iMac, even in demanding situations. I'm looking forward to running Quake 4 on this thing when it is released next month. That game utilizes the Doom 3 engine and comes with fairly high system requirements, including 64 mb of vram.
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