RAM recommendations?

[alexf]

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick question:

I am looking to upgrade my 24" iMac (model Feb. 2009) with either 6 or 8 GB of RAM, as the factory 4 GB are starting to show their performance limitations.

In the past, I have always ordered RAM from Crucial, as I have heard they are one of the best and I know that Apple often uses (or at least used to use) Crucial themselves.

However, at the moment I can't really afford to scoop out $300+ for 8 GB of RAM via Crucial, and have noticed that RAM is often cheaper from other suppliers.

Thus my question is: what would you recommend? Is there someone out there comparable in quality / reliability to Crucial, but at a better price? The last thing I need is to have my Mac crash due to bad RAM, so I am willing to pay more than the bottom-of-the-barrel prices; however, I would like to find something of good quality that is less expensive than Crucial.

Any advice GREATLY appreciated.

 

[Hellhammer]

What RAM does it use? DDR2 or DDR3? I know you said Feb 2009 but just double-checking as in early March iMacs were updated with DDR3. Just go  -> About this Mac and you will see the RAM type.

If it uses DDR2, then you can only have up to 6GB of RAM. If it uses DDR3, then you can have up to 8GB. OWC is a good place to buy from

 

[alexf]

What RAM does it use? DDR2 or DDR3? I know you said Feb 2009 but just double-checking as in early March iMacs were updated with DDR3. Just go  -> About this Mac and you will see the RAM type.

If it uses DDR2, then you can only have up to 6GB of RAM. If it uses DDR3, then you can have up to 8GB. OWC is a good place to buy from

Thanks for the reply. It uses DDR3.

 

[alexf]

Anyone else have any experience with OWC, or is there any other supplier you would recommend? Is OWC RAM comparable in quality to Crucial?

 

[whoda]

Anyone else have any experience with OWC, or is there any other supplier you would recommend? Is OWC RAM comparable in quality to Crucial?

I ordered http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1333DDR3S04S/ and could not be happier. I ordered mine Sept 30 for $94.99 and I see now that there is a price drop to $87.99. OWC has outstanding support as far as I am concerned.

 

[Weaselboy]

Anyone else have any experience with OWC, or is there any other supplier you would recommend? Is OWC RAM comparable in quality to Crucial?

I have used both OWC and Crucial in the past and fine them comparable. Good service from both. I would go with whichever gives you the best price.

Another trick I read here was to use the Crucial web site to find the Crucial part number you need, then check Amazon for that item. Often cheaper at Amazon.

 

[alexf]

Many thanks for the advice

 

[B.A.T]

I have a similar imac with 4gb of ram. I plan to upgrade soon and have always assumed that I have a single 4gb stick of ram in my machine. Does anybody know if Apple used 2 x 2 sticks of 2gb ram or 1 4gb stick of ram on these machines? Short of opening it up, how do I find this out?

 

[Hellhammer]

I have a similar imac with 4gb of ram. I plan to upgrade soon and have always assumed that I have a single 4gb stick of ram in my machine. Does anybody know if Apple used 2 x 2 sticks of 2gb ram or 1 4gb stick of ram on these machines? Short of opening it up, how do I find this out?

Apple uses 2x2GB

 

[Corruptitudes]

To be honest, most ram is made by the same manufacturer, and just relabeled for who's selling it. It really doesnt matter what brand you get as well as its "name-brand". I typically purchase mine through www.newegg.com and usually get the cheapest name brand I can find...

In 2008, I bought 4 Gigs of G Skill Ram for 47 bucks for my 24" Imac...

 

[Weaselboy]

I have a similar imac with 4gb of ram. I plan to upgrade soon and have always assumed that I have a single 4gb stick of ram in my machine. Does anybody know if Apple used 2 x 2 sticks of 2gb ram or 1 4gb stick of ram on these machines? Short of opening it up, how do I find this out?

Click on the Apple at top left of your screen, then "About This Mac" then "More Info" and you will see this screen. This is from my 27" i3 iMac.

 

[Hellhammer]

To be honest, most ram is made by the same manufacturer, and just relabeled for who's selling it. It really doesnt matter what brand you get as well as its "name-brand". I typically purchase mine through www.newegg.com and usually get the cheapest name brand I can find...

In 2008, I bought 4 Gigs of G Skill Ram for 47 bucks for my 24" Imac...

It's not that simple really. Most of the memory chips are made by Samsung or Micron but the OEM (Crucial, OWC, Kingston etc) then decides the other specs such as capacity and timings. Macs, especially older ones with NVidia chipsets are very picky when it comes to timings so not just any RAM from NewEgg works, it has to have correct specs. Newer Macs with Intel chipsets can use pretty much any RAM because Intel chipsets are so universal.

If buying outside the Mac section in NewEgg, at least check the feedback for Mac compatibility.