Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
nutmac said:
Although dual channel memory access translating to tangible performance gain is debatable, the new iMac does indeed support it. According to Apple:
Do you have the link to that? They don't have developers notes posted yet that I can find. I would like to see where they state explicitly that Dual Channel is supported.
 
RedSponge said:
So while once again adding up and comparing the specs for my impending iMac (i swear i'm not the only one who does this...please?) i noticed the Memory upgrades.

I deffinately intend to have the 1GB upgrade, but do I go for the 2x512MB cards, or the one 1GB? They are both the same price (£70.01, why on earth 1p?).

What is the reason behind having these options anyways? And what, if any, are the differences? Apart from, you know, two of them, and stuff, yeah...

Oh, and as soon as I find this out, consider an iMac sold.

Much appreciated, again,
Graeme

Definitely take the one 1GB chip. Here is the reason: You can only put two memory chips into your iMac, of any size (currently the biggest sold is 1 GB). If you have 2x512 MB, you cannot add more memory. The only way to add more memory is to remove one of the 512 MB chips, and put 1 GB in, so you are stuck with a 512 MB chip that is no use. With one 1GB chip, you can add another chip anytime you want.
 
MacRumorUser said:
Interest to know the Cas Latency... Crucial list their modules as CL=5 which is quite poor. Decent fast memory usually has a CL=2

What is apple using I wonder? If it's faster memory CL=2 -3, you'd almost be better off getting your mem from apple as mixing memory with different latencys will either make the faster chip slower, or lead to possible compatability headaches in the future...

This is a huge misunderstanding. CL=3 is not necessarily faster than CL=5. The CL number means how many clock cycles you have to wait until data is available. 333MHz memory with CL = 3 waits 3/333 microseconds. 666MHz with CL = 5 waits 5/666 microseconds, so it is actually faster. You just wait for more clock cycles, because the clock cycles are much smaller.
 
CanadaRAM said:
Do you have the link to that? They don't have developers notes posted yet that I can find. I would like to see where they state explicitly that Dual Channel is supported.

I do, it's right here, off the Store's description on RAM for the new iMac. Here's a screengrab as well. Interesting, I didn't know this either...
 
~Shard~ said:
I do, it's right here, off the Store's description on RAM for the new iMac. Here's a screengrab as well. Interesting, I didn't know this either...
Thanks ~Shard~. I'll make note of this but I'm waiting for the developer's hardware specs to see whether they are really claiming dual channel access (which would be unusual on a laptop motherboard) or whether this is marketing-speak from Apple. There is no mention of this on the technical specifications page for the iMac Intel.
 
Well, it's you pay now or pay later...

If you use memory in pairs the system is faster. It can do reads from both at the same time. That's a 128-bit wide data path.

So if your plan is to stick with a 1GB total yu want it split into two 512MB sticks as the result is nearly twice as fast

On the other hand if later you want to upgrade to 2GB if you had installed two 512MB stics you would have to replace them both with 2 1GB sticks. Had you started with one 1GB stick the next upgrade would cost half as much.

I thing the best plan is the go with two of the 1GB sticks from day one.
Simply max out on RAM and be done with it. memory prices (aside from Apple's web site) have been staic. If they were falling I'd say "upgrade later" but with staic prices you gain nothing by waiting



RedSponge said:
So while once again adding up and comparing the specs for my impending iMac (i swear i'm not the only one who does this...please?) i noticed the Memory upgrades.

I deffinately intend to have the 1GB upgrade, but do I go for the 2x512MB cards, or the one 1GB? They are both the same price (£70.01, why on earth 1p?).

What is the reason behind having these options anyways? And what, if any, are the differences? Apart from, you know, two of them, and stuff, yeah...

Oh, and as soon as I find this out, consider an iMac sold.

Much appreciated, again,
Graeme
 
ChrisA said:
If you use memory in pairs the system is faster. It can do reads from both at the same time. That's a 128-bit wide data path.
Chris, 128-bit != Dual channel.
Where have you seen confirmation from Apple that the intels use either 128-bit access or Dual channel?
We can't assume anything from the spec of the first iMac G5 , it was the only Mac to use 128 bit access on matched pairs, but it did not implement Dual-channel (as the PowerMac G5's do) - and its architecture was totally differerent from the new ones.
 
Save time... worry... and frustration. Buy the Apple RAM when you get the machine. Trust me. If you are worried about having problems with the machine due to 3rd party RAM... You'll always wonder what if. If it just works, plus has Apple backing it up... You'll just be happy with your machine.
 
Yes, it is dual channel

CanadaRAM said:
Thanks ~Shard~. I'll make note of this but I'm waiting for the developer's hardware specs to see whether they are really claiming dual channel access

Quote from www.apple.com:

".... All systems will support up to 2GB of main memory using a maximum of two 1GB SO-DIMMs filling the two accessible memory slots. To maximize memory performance, it is recommended that memory SO-DIMMs be installed in pairs. "

If you'd like to read this yourself go to the apple online store and "buy" an Intel iMac and then where you get to select the memory options click "learn more"
 
ChrisA said:
Quote from www.apple.com:

".... All systems will support up to 2GB of main memory using a maximum of two 1GB SO-DIMMs filling the two accessible memory slots. To maximize memory performance, it is recommended that memory SO-DIMMs be installed in pairs. "

If you'd like to read this yourself go to the apple online store and "buy" an Intel iMac and then where you get to select the memory options click "learn more"
OK, we covered that earlier in the thread. Nowhere on Apple's site that I have been able to find does it actually say that the iMac intel implements either 128-bit or Dual channel (and as mentioned, they are different things). I am looking for the actual words from Apple.
 
hcuar said:
Save time... worry... and frustration. Buy the Apple RAM when you get the machine. Trust me. If you are worried about having problems with the machine due to 3rd party RAM... You'll always wonder what if. If it just works, plus has Apple backing it up... You'll just be happy with your machine.

You may even get lucky. I upgraded my 256MB Mac Mini last night to 1GB. The memory stick I removed, which was supplied by the Apple factory was actually "over spec'd" the Mini uses PC2700 and the 256MB part I removed was tagged as "PC3200".
 
CanadaRAM said:
Thanks ~Shard~. I'll make note of this but I'm waiting for the developer's hardware specs to see whether they are really claiming dual channel access (which would be unusual on a laptop motherboard) or whether this is marketing-speak from Apple. There is no mention of this on the technical specifications page for the iMac Intel.

No worries - and understood, I'd like confirmation on that as well. :cool:
 
Apple Store Intel iMac Memory Problems

I went into my local Apple store last night to pick up my new 17" iMac. I wanted to replace the 512 MB of memory with a 1 GB stick, when the salesperson came back from back room with a stick of PC42000 SO-DIMM. I tried to convince him that it was the wrong chip, but he checked with two more 'Geniuses' (including one manager) and they all looked at the screen and told me it was correct. Just before the transaction went through I asked to see the screen on their iMac transaction terminal that was telling them that it was the correct memory. Apparently they were just looking to make sure it was SO-DIMM and not paying attention do the PC number!!!:eek:

If you do go to an Apple Store, make sure they're putting the right stuff in.

I was shocked that I had to tell them that they were about to put the wrong memory in. Now, since they don't have 1GB sticks in, we had to order through the in store website and I have to wait for it to come in the mail :(
 
weezer4272 said:
I went into my local Apple store last night to pick up my new 17" iMac. I wanted to replace the 512 MB of memory with a 1 GB stick, when the salesperson came back from back room with a stick of PC42000 SO-DIMM. I tried to convince him that it was the wrong chip, but he checked with two more 'Geniuses' (including one manager) and they all looked at the screen and told me it was correct. Just before the transaction went through I asked to see the screen on their iMac transaction terminal that was telling them that it was the correct memory. Apparently they were just looking to make sure it was SO-DIMM and not paying attention do the PC number!!!:eek:

If you do go to an Apple Store, make sure they're putting the right stuff in.

I was shocked that I had to tell them that they were about to put the wrong memory in. Now, since they don't have 1GB sticks in, we had to order through the in store website and I have to wait for it to come in the mail :(


Good thing Apple charges a premium for its RAM... :rolleyes:
 
simply258 said:
Does it have to be 200 pin ?

Unless you wish to install your RAM with a hammer, then yes, it does. The SODIMM memory supported by the Intel iMac has to be 200 pin, no more and no less.
 
thing is that the speed of the memory is equal to the speed of the bus, aka their is no point in running dual channel as the bottleneck is the bus.
 
I think many people are confused about matched memory pair. In order to get dual channel memory support, in addition to having a dual channel enabled computer (which many of us now assume new iMac Core Duo is), you must add a pair of memory chips that are identical in 3 ways:
  1. Both modules must have the same capacity -- add either 512 MB and 512 MB modules or 1 GB and 1 GB modules
  2. Both modules must be the same speed -- since you are trying to maximize performance, you shouldn't use anything but DDR2 PC2 5300 (667 MHz)
  3. Both must have the same number of chip configurations (e.g., same number of memory chips per side and both must be either double-sided or single-sided)
Later is commonly overlooked. For instance, if you are order your iMac from Apple with 1 GB DIMM with an intend to buy 2nd 1 GB DIMM from another source, you will likely end up with a mismatched pair.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.