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Why do you need 4GB in your iMac?
- Thread starter mhnajjar
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Depends on what you do on your computer. Most likely you will not need more than 2GB. But if you do plan to use VMWare/Parallels and keep tons of apps open, work with large RAW image files, then the extra RAM could come in handy.
As I said, I do not need the 4GB, because I use my iMac mostly for regular daily uses and school work. (Safari/MS Office 08/Games under Vista/iTunes/Real player/etc.) nothing memory hungry besides Vista but yet 2GB are enough for Vista HP. I am just planning to get a new 24" iMac 3.06 this weekend and I thought of getting it 4GB. I am even thinking of getting 750GB HDD even though 500GB is more than enough for me since I already have a laptop and a Time Capsule so my data is kind of scattered 
If this all you do 4GB would be a waste of money. Why are you even asking if you already know 2GB is enough to meet your needs?
I went for the 2Gig standard because I think the upgrade is way too expensive. I'll evaluate my needs as I go along, and buy a 3rd party 4GB kit when needed.
Chances are that it will be less than the 2->4GB Mac option. And I will have 2 x 1GB of perfectly good RAM collecting dust somewhere afterwards.
Chances are that it will be less than the 2->4GB Mac option. And I will have 2 x 1GB of perfectly good RAM collecting dust somewhere afterwards.
Buy the iMac stock and then, if you feel that it is sluggish because of low memory (lots of disk swapping), buy the 4GB aftermarket (currently $75-$100).As I said, I do not need the 4GB, because I use my iMac mostly for regular daily uses and school work. (Safari/MS Office 08/Games under Vista/iTunes/Real player/etc.) nothing memory hungry besides Vista but yet 2GB are enough for Vista HP. I am just planning to get a new 24" iMac 3.06 this weekend and I thought of getting it 4GB. I am even thinking of getting 750GB HDD even though 500GB is more than enough for me since I already have a laptop and a Time Capsule so my data is kind of scattered
As good as OS X is at memory management, as the new versions release they will need more and more. Plus all the applications will see some "RAM creep" over the years. With RAM so dirt cheap now - 4GB of top-grade stuff is under $100 - why not max it out now, safe in the knowledge that years from now you'll be glad you did?
My thoughts exactly when I went to 4gb. It was not an absolute necessity for me, but in the future when I do need it I will be happy I did it. If you got the cash, buy it. If not put $10 aside a week till you can.
The way prices fluctuate nowadays it could be 3xs as much this time next year.
I have 4GB on my MacBook - Photoshop, Illustrator, all that stuff launches nigh on instantly (on their second launch of course) but man it's amazing to see the light go on under the icon as it reaches the top of it's first (and only) bounce and have the app ready to go about a second after.
Vista 32-bit only supports 3.2 gb of Ram and for 64-bit only 8gb.IF your doing a lot of audio, video, and photo editing, or if you are playing resource intensive games under boot camp. Or if you are running vista, but if you plan on running vista, you should go get a mac pro and put in 32GB of ram
This is why MAC OSX ROCKS
I am trying to convince myself to get 4GB of ram but I am not finding any use for that
Because you can get 4GB for only $100 nowadays...
at the moment ram is inexpensive so why not plus it can only be a plus. I got my ram from OWC because they will buy your apple ram. I don't know how much yet because the ram should be here tomorrow and then I will do the rebate thing for the old ram.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/6400DDR2S4MP/
to find your model
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/6400DDR2S4MP/
to find your model
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac
Vista 32-bit only supports 3.2 gb of Ram and for 64-bit only 8gb.
This is why MAC OSX ROCKS
Depends what version of Vista, ultimate and enterprise support something like 128 GB of RAM
Please let me know how much they pay you for your Apple ram. Actually, I might be getting my ram from Apple directly just to play it safe and save the hassle of removing/inserting/selling!
If you listen to the pundits, RAM prices are believed to have "cratered" and will start rising again.
Why?
1) RAM is cheap
2) You're getting a top spec iMac apart from the RAM
3) You can never have enough RAM
Why are you even asking? Are you trying to be noble by saying 4Gb isn't necessary for you, even though you shelling out for top spec and RAM is the cheapest upgrade?
1) RAM is cheap
2) You're getting a top spec iMac apart from the RAM
3) You can never have enough RAM
Why are you even asking? Are you trying to be noble by saying 4Gb isn't necessary for you, even though you shelling out for top spec and RAM is the cheapest upgrade?