Installing memory to iMac Mid 2011 model

[smacrumon]

Anyone clued up on what kind of performance increase could be expected by installing extra memory into an iMac Mid 2011 model? Is there any data on this, some benchmarking?

The base installed memory currently is 4 GB, but it can be configured up to 16 GB. For iMac Mid 2011 models, 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM can be used in each slot.

Install memory in an iMac
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191#2

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[Hellhammer]

Amount of memory can't really be benchmarked as its main benefit is that more apps can be run simultaneously without performance loss as the system doesn't have to swap to the SSD/HDD. However, 4GB is really the bare minimum nowadays - you really want at least 8GB for smooth experience and preferably 16GB if you do anything heavier.

 

[Richdmoore]

Actually, the 2011 iMac can take 8gb modules, more than the official specs. I am running the full 32gb in my 21" 2011 iMac now.

I found a much bigger speed increase was simply using a delock thunderbolt enclosure with a ssd drive. (I also have a caldiget thunderbolt station to add usb 3 (non-bootable however).

 

[dogslobber]

Anyone clued up on what kind of performance increase could be expected by installing extra memory into an iMac Mid 2011 model? Is there any data on this, some benchmarking?

The base installed memory currently is 4 GB, but it can be configured up to 16 GB. For iMac Mid 2011 models, 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM can be used in each slot.

It can take up to 32gb but if you're a typical user who doesn't run VMs then even OS X will struggle to gobble above 16gb. E.g. I only have 24gb in my 2011 21.5" iMac but OS X only consumes 16gb right now running lots of stuff.