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3rd Party RAM upgrade to 16gb?

T

TheGoodster

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 4, 2011
2
0
I'm very keen to buy a new iMac but i want to save as much money as possible! :) On my previous mac, i upgraded the RAM myself (which is easy enough) but with the new iMac line up i cant find anywhere where i can buy 16gb of RAM (except for the over priced apple store)

Anyone got a link to a decent site? (UK based)
 
skip the 16 gig upgrade, go with 12.

figure 8 gigs costs 100 sheckles. That gives you 12 gigs when added to the original 4 gigs.

but to go to 16 gigs you will need to spend 200 sheckles (8 gigs x 2) -- meaning the difference in price from 12 to 16 is 100 sheckles.

So 100 sheckles for 4 gigs of ram. Ouch.
 
I am considering changing the ram myself aswell but I cannot find out how many RAM slots the 2011 27" iMac has?
 
Thanks Mulo, I was searching for 2x8GB (thinking there was only two slots)

The apple website shows these configuration options:

4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
16GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 4x4GB

So there are 4 slots in total! :)
 
TheGoodster said:
Thanks Mulo, I was searching for 2x8GB (thinking there was only two slots)

The apple website shows these configuration options:

4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
16GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 4x4GB

So there are 4 slots in total! :)
Click to expand...

Only for the last 2 YEARS!! :eek:
 
TheGoodster said:
I'm very keen to buy a new iMac but i want to save as much money as possible! :) On my previous mac, i upgraded the RAM myself (which is easy enough) but with the new iMac line up i cant find anywhere where i can buy 16gb of RAM (except for the over priced apple store)

Anyone got a link to a decent site? (UK based)
Click to expand...


Here is a 16GB kit:

OWC 16.0GB (4x4.0GB Kit) PC3-10600 DDR3 1333MHz SO-DIMM 204 Pin CL9 SO-DIMM Memory Upgrade Kit for NEW! iMac Mid 2011 UPGRADES

Apple: $600.00 OWC: $207.00
 
Badger^2 said:
skip the 16 gig upgrade, go with 12.

figure 8 gigs costs 100 sheckles. That gives you 12 gigs when added to the original 4 gigs.

but to go to 16 gigs you will need to spend 200 sheckles (8 gigs x 2) -- meaning the difference in price from 12 to 16 is 100 sheckles.

So 100 sheckles for 4 gigs of ram. Ouch.
Click to expand...

Generally, what's the performance difference between 12 gigs and 16 gigs?
 
wacomme said:
Generally, what's the performance difference between 12 gigs and 16 gigs?
Click to expand...

Depends on if you need the ram or not. If you are bumping up against the 12gb limit you'll notice some slow downs. If you aren't coming close to using the amount of ram you have then adding more does nothing.


iRobby said:
Here is a 16GB kit:


Apple: $600.00 OWC: $207.00
Click to expand...

Or newegg: $166
 
TheGoodster said:
Thanks Mulo, I was searching for 2x8GB (thinking there was only two slots)

The apple website shows these configuration options:

4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
16GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 4x4GB

So there are 4 slots in total! :)
Click to expand...

Odd. What about:

12GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 3X 4GB?

Will that work? And for 3rd party we need the laptop version, correct?
 
archer75 said:
Depends on if you need the ram or not. If you are bumping up against the 12gb limit you'll notice some slow downs. If you aren't coming close to using the amount of ram you have then adding more does nothing.
Click to expand...

I guess I could try 12 gigs first and see what happens. If I need more I could buy another 8 gigs and remove the 4 gigs from Apple. Either way, I wouldn't spend more than $200 for 16 gigs, and perhaps I can save $100 by using only 12 gigs. Seems like a win-win scenario.
 
wacomme said:
I guess I could try 12 gigs first and see what happens. If I need more I could buy another 8 gigs and remove the 4 gigs from Apple. Either way, I wouldn't spend more than $200 for 16 gigs, and perhaps I can save $100 by using only 12 gigs. Seems like a win-win scenario.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you are using your computer for? Most people don't need even 12gb let along 8gb.
 
Badger^2 said:
skip the 16 gig upgrade, go with 12.

figure 8 gigs costs 100 sheckles. That gives you 12 gigs when added to the original 4 gigs.

but to go to 16 gigs you will need to spend 200 sheckles (8 gigs x 2) -- meaning the difference in price from 12 to 16 is 100 sheckles.

So 100 sheckles for 4 gigs of ram. Ouch.
Click to expand...

good point !
I might do that as well...
then Id have 12GB 2x2 GB that came stock on my iMac
and 2x4GB that I buy aftermarket and insert myself..

but a question remains

what is the impact of mixing RAM brands and RAM sticks (2 and 4) ?

does anyone know. I'd appreciate your opinion

Raoul
 
raoul1219 said:
good point !
I might do that as well...
then Id have 12GB 2x2 GB that came stock on my iMac
and 2x4GB that I buy aftermarket and insert myself..

but a question remains

what is the impact of mixing RAM brands and RAM sticks (2 and 4) ?

does anyone know. I'd appreciate your opinion

Raoul
Click to expand...

Makes no difference. Just do them in pairs. You can have 2x 2gb sticks of one brand and 2x 4gb sticks of another and it makes no difference.
 
archer75 said:
Makes no difference. Just do them in pairs. You can have 2x 2gb sticks of one brand and 2x 4gb sticks of another and it makes no difference.
Click to expand...

thanks for you quick answer. A very good experience as a regular reader and "new" poster. Orderd an i7 IMac today. Estimated Delivery date 20 MAY, cant wait
 
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