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pldelisle

macrumors 68020
Original poster
May 4, 2020
2,248
1,506
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
I have a RAM question.

Is it better to get a single 32 gig stick (so I have the option of later on adding another one if it seems it's needed), or two 16 gig sticks?
2x16 GB to benefit from dual channel.

In fact, buying RAM in paired sticks is always better because of that reason, whatever the capacity.
 
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alteredwalters

macrumors newbie
Aug 28, 2020
1
0
So aside from it being a generic/off brand company... whats the opinion on these for a total 128gb setup?


should i just get the crucial and save $2000 over apple instead of $2200 lol
 

pldelisle

macrumors 68020
Original poster
May 4, 2020
2,248
1,506
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
So aside from it being a generic/off brand company... whats the opinion on these for a total 128gb setup?


should i just get the crucial and save $2000 over apple instead of $2200 lol
Lol. I would’t touch that. It’s even pricier than Crucial RAM (in canada at least). Don’t do that.
 

Sheza

macrumors 68020
Aug 14, 2010
2,091
1,807
A question guys - should I boot up and get everything set up with the usual 8GB, or can I swap out for me 32GB kit before I even turn the iMac on for the first time?
 

ZBoater

macrumors G3
Jul 2, 2007
8,498
1,325
Sunny Florida
A question guys - should I boot up and get everything set up with the usual 8GB, or can I swap out for me 32GB kit before I even turn the iMac on for the first time?

I’m planning to set it up first and then put the new RAM in. That way I eliminate the RAM as being a possible source of issues if I run into any.
 

arctair

macrumors member
Aug 21, 2020
58
22
Confused about Crucial's part numbers vs their "Configuration IDs":

Back in June I bought and returned the newest Mac Mini model. I had purchased the following 32 GB Crucial card to go with it, but forgot to return it to Amazon in time:

Crucial 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM Memory for Mac, Part #: CT32G4S266M, Configuration #: CT19038861

Now that I am about to order a 2020 iMac, I'm wondering if I can use this same card. The part number (CT32G4S266M) is listed in the compatibility list further up the thread, but when you run the 2020 iMac through Crucial's memory selector the same card comes up, but with a different configuration ID:

Crucial 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM Memory for Mac, Part #: CT32G4S266M, Configuration #: CT19090528

The specs look exactly the same. Is it the same? What exactly does Crucial's configuration ID represent?

Also, even though the compatibility list above says the 2020 iMac requires PC4-21333 speed memory, both configurations of this chip are listed as PC4-21300. Do those 33 MB/s make a difference?
 

pldelisle

macrumors 68020
Original poster
May 4, 2020
2,248
1,506
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Confused about Crucial's part numbers vs their "Configuration IDs":

Back in June I bought and returned the newest Mac Mini model. I had purchased the following 32 GB Crucial card to go with it, but forgot to return it to Amazon in time:

Crucial 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM Memory for Mac, Part #: CT32G4S266M, Configuration #: CT19038861

Now that I am about to order a 2020 iMac, I'm wondering if I can use this same card. The part number (CT32G4S266M) is listed in the compatibility list further up the thread, but when you run the 2020 iMac through Crucial's memory selector the same card comes up, but with a different configuration ID:

Crucial 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM Memory for Mac, Part #: CT32G4S266M, Configuration #: CT19090528

The specs look exactly the same. Is it the same? What exactly does Crucial's configuration ID represent?

Also, even though the compatibility list above says the 2020 iMac requires PC4-21333 speed memory, both configurations of this chip are listed as PC4-21300. Do those 33 MB/s make a difference?
It’s the same. It’s probably only an index in their system to find the correspondence between RAM modules and Mac model. It will work.
 
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wilberforce

macrumors 68030
Aug 15, 2020
2,930
3,207
SF Bay Area
Confused about Crucial's part numbers vs their "Configuration IDs":

Back in June I bought and returned the newest Mac Mini model. I had purchased the following 32 GB Crucial card to go with it, but forgot to return it to Amazon in time:

Crucial 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM Memory for Mac, Part #: CT32G4S266M, Configuration #: CT19038861

Now that I am about to order a 2020 iMac, I'm wondering if I can use this same card. The part number (CT32G4S266M) is listed in the compatibility list further up the thread, but when you run the 2020 iMac through Crucial's memory selector the same card comes up, but with a different configuration ID:

Crucial 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM Memory for Mac, Part #: CT32G4S266M, Configuration #: CT19090528

The specs look exactly the same. Is it the same? What exactly does Crucial's configuration ID represent?

Also, even though the compatibility list above says the 2020 iMac requires PC4-21333 speed memory, both configurations of this chip are listed as PC4-21300. Do those 33 MB/s make a difference?
I think the configuration ID is tied to the model of computer, whereas the part # is the specific card.
All this means is that CT32G4S266M is compatible with both the Mac Mini (represented by config CT19038861) and the 2020 iMac (represented by config CT19090528).
I think. I am not a Crucial dude.
 

arctair

macrumors member
Aug 21, 2020
58
22
Thanks for the quick response. Also for saving me $160 (for now) and/or a miserable call to Amazon customer support. 👍

It’s the same. It’s probably only an index in their system to find the correspondence between RAM modules and Mac model. It will work.
 
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Ctg44

macrumors regular
Sep 25, 2012
197
108
I really need 32gb of Crucial to come back in stock at Amazon. I've got a gift card burning a hole in my pocket.
 

ZBoater

macrumors G3
Jul 2, 2007
8,498
1,325
Sunny Florida
Just installed my HyperX RAM, and so far so good. It is reported as Kingston memory.
Screen Shot 2020-08-31 at 10.45.25 AM.png
 

Ctg44

macrumors regular
Sep 25, 2012
197
108
@pldelisle I have to purchase my RAM from Amazon. Should I wait until the Crucial is back in stock, or just go with the Kingston?
 

tyk

macrumors newbie
Aug 17, 2020
9
12
Nice. Did you see the origin of the chip on the chip itself ? I think HyperX is usually either Hynix or Micron DRAM chips.

Both of mine are Micron. Ordered 2 sets a few weeks apart directly from Kingston (HyperX). Same part number as ZBoater.

Hoping ZBoater does some Geekbench!
 

jazzer15

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2010
538
119
So, I've read through all of this and I am still a bit confused about a few things.

(1) If I buy 32GB (2 x 16) of memory (replacing the original 8 GB) and later decide to buy another 2 x 16 to go to 64GB, am I likely to have an issue? Do I have to buy the same brand?

(2) If I understand, if I have 2 sticks of 16GB they have to go in slots 2 & 4 or 1 & 3 in order to keep dual channel. But if mixing 2 kits of 32 GB (for a total of 4 x 16 GB sticks) it looked from Wilberforce's test that the best results come from putting 1 kit in slots 1 & 2 and the other in 3 & 4? Is that right?

(3) Apple uses different memory suppliers. Some people are getting RAM manufactured by Micron. Can the 8GB Apple RAM using Micron be combined with third party RAM without reducing RAM speed?
 

Ruz

macrumors newbie
Sep 1, 2020
7
0
A question guys - should I boot up and get everything set up with the usual 8GB, or can I swap out for me 32GB kit before I even turn the iMac on for the first time?
Just received my iMac and pulled out the 8GB of Apple ram and installed 32GB from OWC (2x16GB) before ever plugging the machine in and had zero issues...
 

pldelisle

macrumors 68020
Original poster
May 4, 2020
2,248
1,506
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
If I buy 32GB (2 x 16) of memory (replacing the original 8 GB) and later decide to buy another 2 x 16 to go to 64GB, am I likely to have an issue? Do I have to buy the same brand?
I’d upgrade directly to 64 GB. You have to pick the same brand and same capacity for all your memory modules. It also have to be the same DRAM chip manufacturer. With Crucial and Samsung it’s more easy than the others since you know it’s going to be Micron or Samsung chips. Not the same for OWC which buy DRAM chips from different manufacturers.
If I understand, if I have 2 sticks of 16GB they have to go in slots 2 & 4 or 1 & 3 in order to keep dual channel. But if mixing 2 kits of 32 GB (for a total of 4 x 16 GB sticks) it looked from Wilberforce's test that the best results come from putting 1 kit in slots 1 & 2 and the other in 3 & 4? Is that right?
Modules are in pair in slots 1-3 and 2-4. Don’t mix. Rule #1.


Apple uses different memory suppliers. Some people are getting RAM manufactured by Micron. Can the 8GB Apple RAM using Micron be combined with third party RAM without reducing RAM speed?
You need to discard the Apple modules. I’ve seen no experiment showing a working dual channel and full memory speed with Apple stock RAM and aftermarket. Resell the memory modules to someone having a 2019-2020 iMac that have the exact same chips in it to ensure it will function properly.
 
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