What RAM do I need?

[DougY]

I have an iMac, 27", 3.06gig that I bought in January, 2010.
What model of RAM to I need to upgrade this computer?

 

[spinnerlys]

204 pin PC8500 DDR3 1066MHz SO-DIMM RAM
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/DDR3_21.5_27

 

[Hellhammer]

Or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146878

That's cheaper than OWC's RAM

 

[spinnerlys]

Or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146878

That's cheaper than OWC's RAM

Thanks, but I don't get paid by NewEgg yet, unless you count eggs.

Some time in the future I will think about Newegg when replying to a similar thread, but I find their page to be a bit "harder" to navigate, that's why I always think of OWC.

the nonessential smiley:

 

[DougY]

204 pin PC8500 DDR3 1066MHz SO-DIMM RAM
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/DDR3_21.5_27

OK, good info. Now another question. My iMac is obviously a late 2009 model, so would it be better to buy 2, 4gig strips or 1, 8gig to go with the existing 4gig strip already in the computer?

 

[Hellhammer]

Some time in the future I will think about Newegg when replying to a similar thread, but I find their page to be a bit "harder" to navigate, that's why I always think of OWC.

I access it like dozens of times per day so nowadays I could find things blindfolded

OK, good info. Now another question. My iMac is obviously a late 2009 model, so would it be better to buy 2, 4gig strips or 1, 8gig to go with the existing 4gig strip already in the computer?

How much RAM do you need/want? You currently have 2x2GB in your iMac and two empty slots. If you want 8GB now, then I would get 1x4GB (OWC is actually cheaper than NewEgg in this case). 2x2GB is only 10 bucks cheaper but if you ever want to get 12GB for example, it's much cheaper and easier if you have a free slot

 

[spinnerlys]

OK, good info. Now another question. My iMac is obviously a late 2009 model, so would it be better to buy 2, 4gig strips or 1, 8gig to go with the existing 4gig strip already in the computer?

There are two 2GB RAM sticks inside the iMac, thus you have two slots left to fill, which you can fill with either two 2GB or two 4GB sticks. That is up to you.

Btw, to find out how many RAM slots are taken: > About This Mac > More Info (opens System Profiler) > Hardware > Memory.

I access it like dozens of times per day so nowadays I could find things blindfolded

You are still young, that is the secret of navigating such sites, though I have seen much worse ones, especially the Dell or HP Online Stores.