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iMac i5/7 Frontside bus/Memory question: 1066 or 1333?

Speaking from PC experience -- even if you buy 1333MHz memory, the BIOS controls the speed at which the memory operates...simply changing out the hardware won't do anything in and of itself. Now, I realize that Apples don't have BIOS, but I imagine the functionality is similar. In other words, the EFI (or something similar) will have to tell the system to run the memory at a higher clock speed. In other words, I highly doubt that simply changing the installed memory from 1066MHz to 1333MHz will do anything. Besides, the actual performance increase going from 1066MHz to 1333MHz would be negligible at best.
 
Well, I ordered 16GB from RamJet (the order said it was 1066 MHz) but they sent me 1333 MHz at no extra charge. I didn't even realize it was 1333 MHz until after I installed it and checked System Profiler. Everything seems to be working well (except my HD temp is high...nothing to do with the RAM though :)). I'm still going to ask RamJet about it tomorrow...
 
macgyver2 said:
Well, I ordered 16GB from RamJet (the order said it was 1066 MHz) but they sent me 1333 MHz at no extra charge. I didn't even realize it was 1333 MHz until after I installed it and checked System Profiler. Everything seems to be working well (except my HD temp is high...nothing to do with the RAM though :)). I'm still going to ask RamJet about it tomorrow...
Click to expand...

So did your MAC recognize the memory as 1333MHz? It would be great to see some benchmarks to see if it is worth the cost to go with 1333MHz.
 
macgyver2 said:
Well, I ordered 16GB from RamJet (the order said it was 1066 MHz) but they sent me 1333 MHz at no extra charge. I didn't even realize it was 1333 MHz until after I installed it and checked System Profiler. Everything seems to be working well (except my HD temp is high...nothing to do with the RAM though :)). I'm still going to ask RamJet about it tomorrow...
Click to expand...

Interesting. Mind doing a benchmark for us?
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
and benchmarking with the original 4GB 1066mHz RAM and providing picture proof
and benchmarking with 8GB 1066mHz RAM and providing picture proof
and benchmarking with...


nevermind....;)
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im with you there! if the imac can take 1333MHz RAM its awsome! *drool*. there probably wouldnt be a big improvement, im guessing 5% or so?
 
DoFoT9 said:
im with you there! if the imac can take 1333MHz RAM its awsome! *drool*. there probably wouldnt be a big improvement, im guessing 5% or so?
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I reckon similar or maybe even larger than the improvement from 4-8GB or 8-16GB 1066mHz would be, at least for the not terribly memory intensive applications I have lined up for mine...
But its not worth paying the extra 15% or so for 1333 if Apple has limited it to 1066mHz.
Any benchmark will do.
Compare the 4GB original RAM with just 4GB 1333mHz on the same system, any improvement will let us know that it works, and then the extra 15% cost is worth it!
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
I reckon similar or maybe even larger than the improvement from 4-8GB or 8-16GB 1066mHz would be, at least for the not terribly memory intensive applications I have lined up for mine...
But its not worth paying the extra 15% or so for 1333 if Apple has limited it to 1066mHz.
Any benchmark will do.
Compare the 4GB original RAM with just 4GB 1333mHz on the same system, any improvement will let us know that it works, and then the extra 15% cost is worth it!
Click to expand...
not worth the cost atm nopppe. not for me!

macgyver2 said:
http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/187022
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interesting. the stocks get 9638... so a 3% increase. which is about what i said :D

so by the looks of it the change from 1033MHz -> 1333MHz for just 4GB isnt worth it at all. RAM isnt the bottleneck clearly.
 
DoFoT9 said:
not worth the cost atm nopppe. not for me!



interesting. the stocks get 9638... so a 3% increase. which is about what i said :D

so by the looks of it the change from 1033MHz -> 1333MHz for just 4GB isnt worth it at all. RAM isnt the bottleneck clearly.
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yeah the bottleneck is the HDD
but an SSD is expensive, and most importantly, voids the warranty ;(
I'd be happy to lose the superdrive for a SSD since I have a FW800 external dvd burner and will probably be buying a bluray drive at some stage in the future, but it isn't worth the cost or the loss of warranty.
I will be buying applecare once I've had my machine for 11 months.
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
yeah the bottleneck is the HDD
but an SSD is expensive, and most importantly, voids the warranty ;(
I'd be happy to lose the superdrive for a SSD since I have a FW800 external dvd burner and will probably be buying a bluray drive at some stage in the future, but it isn't worth the cost or the loss of warranty.
I will be buying applecare once I've had my machine for 11 months.
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im more a storage person rather then a speed person, so SSD is a no-go for me (even if i could afford them lol).

the first 3.5" SSD has been annouced by OCZ, but at $3kUS for 1TB its hardly cost effective.

i will be doing the same with my warranty as you.
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
yeah the bottleneck is the HDD
but an SSD is expensive, and most importantly, voids the warranty ;(
I'd be happy to lose the superdrive for a SSD since I have a FW800 external dvd burner and will probably be buying a bluray drive at some stage in the future, but it isn't worth the cost or the loss of warranty.
I will be buying applecare once I've had my machine for 11 months.
Click to expand...

Who told you this? Obviously if you put in a SSD on your own, Apple won't cover it since it wasn't from them. However that won't void the rest of your warranty in say the instance that your CPU goes bust or your speakers...etc.
 
53x12 said:
Who told you this? Obviously if you put in a SSD on your own, Apple won't cover it since it wasn't from them. However that won't void the rest of your warranty in say the instance that your CPU goes bust or your speakers...etc.
Click to expand...

hmm i would love for that to be true. but unfortunately i dont think it is. can you back it up at all?

i dont see why apple would let you pull the WHOLE thing apart yet still cover it under warranty! if you could do it in such a way that they would never notice then yay! but most people wouldnt be able to.
 
DoFoT9 said:
im more a storage person rather then a speed person, so SSD is a no-go for me (even if i could afford them lol).

the first 3.5" SSD has been annouced by OCZ, but at $3kUS for 1TB its hardly cost effective.

i will be doing the same with my warranty as you.
Click to expand...

Yeah but you can fit them in the superdrive slot, seeing as it is ESATA. So you can leave the 2TB HDD in, and put the OS and apps on a 128 or 256GB drive. They will come down in price to something worthwhile in about a year.
I don't need the superdrive.
But the warranty. sigh.
But actually, considering what I'm using now, the new iMac is going to be blazingly fast anyway ;) I dunno why i'm complaining...
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
Yeah but you can fit them in the superdrive slot, seeing as it is ESATA. So you can leave the 2TB HDD in, and put the OS and apps on a 128 or 256GB drive. They will come down in price to something worthwhile in about a year.
I don't need the superdrive.
But the warranty. sigh.
But actually, considering what I'm using now, the new iMac is going to be blazingly fast anyway ;) I dunno why i'm complaining...
Click to expand...

well seeing as though i cant even afford the imac im buying i dont think ill be able to afford the SSD ;)

when they come down i will def consider them though.
 
DoFoT9 said:
hmm i would love for that to be true. but unfortunately i dont think it is. can you back it up at all?

i dont see why apple would let you pull the WHOLE thing apart yet still cover it under warranty! if you could do it in such a way that they would never notice then yay! but most people wouldnt be able to.
Click to expand...

Obviously YMMV, but my local store manager told me that I would be able to upgrade the hard drive myself noting that as long as I did not damage anything in the process it would not be an issue. Obviously this is dependent on how comfortable you feel doing this. He also noted that they would be happy to replace it for me if that was something I wanted to do. This is just anecdotal evidence based on my experience and talking to the manager at my store. Take it for what it is worth.
 
53x12 said:
Obviously YMMV, but my local store manager told me that I would be able to upgrade the hard drive myself noting that as long as I did not damage anything in the process it would not be an issue. Obviously this is dependent on how comfortable you feel doing this. He also noted that they would be happy to replace it for me if that was something I wanted to do. This is just anecdotal evidence based on my experience and talking to the manager at my store. Take it for what it is worth.
Click to expand...

so true. i guess it would depend on the people you know and whatnot. i am perfectly comfortable with pulling apart my computers. good to know that at least some people are nice and let you still do things yourself! i doubt my apple store would let me.
 
DoFoT9 said:
so true. i guess it would depend on the people you know and whatnot. i am perfectly comfortable with pulling apart my computers. good to know that at least some people are nice and let you still do things yourself! i doubt my apple store would let me.
Click to expand...

Yeah it doesn't sound that bad from the online tutorials, however I am a bit "worried" about taking the glass/screen off myself. I'm sure it isn't that big of a deal, but that is the only thing that I feel concerned about myself. Other than that and it should be a breeze.
 
53x12 said:
Yeah it doesn't sound that bad from the online tutorials, however I am a bit "worried" about taking the glass/screen off myself. I'm sure it isn't that big of a deal, but that is the only thing that I feel concerned about myself. Other than that and it should be a breeze.
Click to expand...

hmm yea it does worry me too a bit. but im sure if you take enough care then it cant be that hard to do. the most concerning thing is getting dust on the glass.
 
DoFoT9 said:
hmm yea it does worry me too a bit. but im sure if you take enough care then it cant be that hard to do. the most concerning thing is getting dust on the glass.
Click to expand...

Yeah taking it apart worries me, especially getting dust on the screen.
I'd happily pay a bit extra for a apple authorized reseller or someone to replace it for me, as long as I could be sure it doesn't void the warranty.
But I think it'll be a while till a good SSD drops below $200 which is probably my price point.
but it is nice to know that in 2 years I'll hopefullly be able to upgrade the RAM to 16GB and install a SSD for $200 and keep my iMac fast for just a bit longer!
 
fruitpunch.ben said:
Yeah taking it apart worries me, especially getting dust on the screen.
I'd happily pay a bit extra for a apple authorized reseller or someone to replace it for me, as long as I could be sure it doesn't void the warranty.
But I think it'll be a while till a good SSD drops below $200 which is probably my price point.
Click to expand...
$200 seems a pretty good price for 4TB or so in a few years. i would dig that.
but it is nice to know that in 2 years I'll hopefullly be able to upgrade the RAM to 16GB and install a SSD for $200 and keep my iMac fast for just a bit longer!
Click to expand...
oh most def. hopefully there isnt a 16GB limit, im hoping the limit is because of availability of RAM chips not that the hardware cant address that much. 16GRAM + 4TB HDD + 2.8GHz quad core in 3 years would easily add another 2/3 years on the time for the machine to last me. i am guessing this machine will last me +5 years.
 
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