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Will the refresh allow for more than 16GB of RAM?
- Thread starter Amnesiac1
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Just a lot of work. Currently too much boring ass work. makes me need to take breaks all the time.
I see on intel's website that the Sandy Bridge Core i7-2600, Core i7-2600K & Core i7-2600S will allow for 32GB of RAM.
As others pointed out 8GB SODIMM modules cost too much at the moment. I'd bump up the RAM once the sticks at least costs $100 each.
When the 2011 iMac comes out I am thinking either to add 2x4GB or go all out with 4x4GB by swapping out whatever comes stock.
Man 32GB would be wild to have on an i7 Machine.
As others pointed out 8GB SODIMM modules cost too much at the moment. I'd bump up the RAM once the sticks at least costs $100 each.
When the 2011 iMac comes out I am thinking either to add 2x4GB or go all out with 4x4GB by swapping out whatever comes stock.
Man 32GB would be wild to have on an i7 Machine.
Get an SSD then. SSD + 12 GB of RAM will chew almost everything you can throw on it.
I've averaged a new desktop every 8 years and I'm due for a new one this summer.
Even though I don't put a huge demand on my computers, with my past purchases, I've maxed out the processor and RAM to ensure that the machines run well for several years. That approach has served me well.
Other than playing the latest Civilization game and using the Adobe Creative Suite, I mostly use word processors, browsers, iTunes and word-processing (well, it's considerably more than that, but in pretty much the same way that computer geeks who don't edit video or audio professionally have a bunch of different apps on their machines) ... so, clearly, based on what others have said in this thread, it would be a waste for me to max our RAM in my next purchase.
My question is this: Is that recommendation taking into account the requirements that software produced in, say, five or six years likely will have?
I mean, sure, my computing needs with Adobe CS4 in 2011 wouldn't warrant such an upgrade, but aren't software companies like the federal government? If they see they are able to do something (spend tax revenue or create memory-intensive applications), they do.
Even though I don't put a huge demand on my computers, with my past purchases, I've maxed out the processor and RAM to ensure that the machines run well for several years. That approach has served me well.
Other than playing the latest Civilization game and using the Adobe Creative Suite, I mostly use word processors, browsers, iTunes and word-processing (well, it's considerably more than that, but in pretty much the same way that computer geeks who don't edit video or audio professionally have a bunch of different apps on their machines) ... so, clearly, based on what others have said in this thread, it would be a waste for me to max our RAM in my next purchase.
My question is this: Is that recommendation taking into account the requirements that software produced in, say, five or six years likely will have?
I mean, sure, my computing needs with Adobe CS4 in 2011 wouldn't warrant such an upgrade, but aren't software companies like the federal government? If they see they are able to do something (spend tax revenue or create memory-intensive applications), they do.
Prior to Apple moving to the Intel chips it was crucial to get the correct RAM. The PPC chips were very sensitive to RAM choices, so much so that when some users upgraded their OS from 10.3 to 10.4 the RAM wouldn't work. This is not as much of an issue anymore. Keep in mind that whatever RAM you purchase after the fact will come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
Common practice is to purchase a Mac with the base amount of RAM and buying after market RAM from more competitive dealers.
I guess both of you guys coming from different place than the rest of us here ...
While most of us would buy best/next to best CPU, we'll roll with 4GB RAM just because you can upgrade it much cheaper/later yourself.
Most of us know that today there is no difference in RAM (Apple or not)
And most of us are not "afraid" to mess with our Macs ...
Yet you guys - if it's more comfortable for you to have preconfigured Mac, fully supported by one single party, "fireproofed" as well - you are more than welcome to do it ...
But then technical merits become secondary to individual psychology
Somebody's trash is someone else's treasure
For example, Ram from OWC has a lifetime warranty.
If you buy Applecare it warrants your Mac, and its ram, for 3 years.
Millions and millions of Apple users have upgraded their Macs with 3rd party ram with zero side affects -- except for having more cash in their pocket.
ummm...
From your questions and responses that you don't know very much about computers. Not being rude- just stating how it looks.
1. To use 16 GB RAM is truly A LOT of multitasking. I mean seriously?!?! You could run so many programs that I can't even think of why 16GB was necessary!
2. You must now know very much about computer components but here's the deal- Most RAM manufacturer's sell their RAM with LIFETIME warranties! A LIFETIME is longer than 3 years for most cases. Therefore, third party RAM will last you MUCH longer than Applecare's warranty. However, you would need to do the swap yourself- or more likely from your comments- pay someone to do it for you.
Either way- you've most likely decided to get 16GB of RAM no matter what, and will most likely pay for Apple RAM (not worth it). No worries tho. Hope you enjoy your machine.
From your questions and responses that you don't know very much about computers. Not being rude- just stating how it looks.
1. To use 16 GB RAM is truly A LOT of multitasking. I mean seriously?!?! You could run so many programs that I can't even think of why 16GB was necessary!
2. You must now know very much about computer components but here's the deal- Most RAM manufacturer's sell their RAM with LIFETIME warranties! A LIFETIME is longer than 3 years for most cases
. Therefore, third party RAM will last you MUCH longer than Applecare's warranty. However, you would need to do the swap yourself- or more likely from your comments- pay someone to do it for you. Either way- you've most likely decided to get 16GB of RAM no matter what, and will most likely pay for Apple RAM (not worth it). No worries tho. Hope you enjoy your machine.
Actually, I wasn't coming with any particular viewpoint. I was sincerely asking a question, not disguising opinion as question. I was approaching this as someone who drew an inference from some of these posts that some posters felt that 4GB of RAM would be fine for the life of our machines. If the recommendation is to get 4GB now and only upgrade when performance lags under the requirement of new software, then I certainly could understand that. (Hey, I'm all about saving money if the DIY work is limited to a few screws and snap-in memory. And I don't care if it's the same brand Apple buys.) If people were saying we'd never need more than 4GB of memory ... well, that's why I added my post.
So, safe to say the bottom line recommendation for those who expect to stick with the same machine for a while is to upgrade the processor but to save money by holding off on adding RAM until it becomes apparent that we ought to do so?
I don't know what you are going on about. Let me try and clarify...I want lots of ram, but not at apple prices. It's currently really easy to access the memory and swap or add more. My concern is if this has always been the true on iMacs, or just on this generation. If it's always been that way, I can order day one and not really worry about being stuck with minimal ram. This will be my first Mac so I don't have any previous history.
Obviously there will be ram slots
I have a 2009 i7 iMac with 12GB of RAM, and I don't know if I've ever seen more than 10GB actually used (it's usually under 8GB). That's with running Aperture with a huge library, plus DxO Optics Elite, plus Photoshop CS5 64-bit, plus Safari with multiple tabs, iTunes, Sparrow (e-mail), Skitch, and Twitter all at the same time. You'd really have to work to use 16GB.
As others have mentioned, most 3rd-party RAM has a lifetime warranty - I purchase mine from OWC (www.macsales.com) and have always had a positive experience with them. As for reliability, my i7 iMac had some major issues shortly after I bought it, and after a lot of testing, the culprit turned out to be one of the 2GB SO-DIMMs that came stock from Apple.
As others have mentioned, most 3rd-party RAM has a lifetime warranty - I purchase mine from OWC (www.macsales.com) and have always had a positive experience with them. As for reliability, my i7 iMac had some major issues shortly after I bought it, and after a lot of testing, the culprit turned out to be one of the 2GB SO-DIMMs that came stock from Apple.