marigold
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Upgrading my MacI want to upgrade my PowerPC G4/OSX 10.3.9 iMac which is beginning to clunk a bit, but I'm really nervous about it 'cos I've not done much fiddling with the insides of computers and could do with some reassurance/advice.
I've just downloaded and run the scan thingy from crucial.com (thank you Chez for mentioning that). I've currently got 512MB of RAM (2x 256 SDRAM in each of two available slots).
The crucial whatsit say at the top: | Quote: | | According to our scan, your system already has the maximum amount of memory installed. |
But it also says:
| Quote: | Currently installed memory:
256MB 256MB
SDRAM SDRAM
Each memory slot can hold SDRAM, PC133 with a maximum of 512MB per slot.*
*Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Maximum Memory Capacity: 1024MB
* Currently Installed Memory: 512MB
* Available Memory Slots: -1
* Number of Banks: 1
* Dual Channel Support: No
* CPU Manufacturer:
* CPU Family: PowerPC G4 (2.1) 700 MHz
* CPU Speed: 700 MHz
* The DIMM socket is not user accessible. The SODIMM socket is accessible from the bottom of the system.
Q: What memory goes into my computer, and can I mix speeds?
A: SDRAM memory with support for SDRAM, PC133 speeds.
Because SDR memory is backward-compatible, you can safely upgrade your system with any of the guaranteed-compatible SDR speeds listed below.
Q: How much memory can my computer handle?
A: 1024MB.
Adding the maximum amount of memory will improve performance and help extend the useful life of your system as you run increasingly demanding software applications in the future.
Q: How much memory can my computer handle?
A: 1024MB.
Adding the maximum amount of memory will improve performance and help extend the useful life of your system as you run increasingly demanding software applications in the future.
Q: Do I have to install matching pairs?
A: No.
No, you can install modules one at a time, and you can mix different densities of modules in your computer. But if your computer supports dual-channel memory configurations, you should install in identical pairs (preferably in kits) for optimal performance.
Q: Does my computer support dual-channel memory?
A: No.
Your system does not support dual channel.
Q: Does my computer support ECC memory?
A: No.
Your system does not support ECC. Because ECC and non-ECC modules should not be mixed within a system, install the same type of modules that are already in your system. |
I assume that if I buy 2x512MB SDRAM, I can install them in place of the current 2x256 as maximum memory is 1024MB - am I right???
If that's OK my plan of action is to:
1. Give thanks that I'm doing this to a Mac, not a PC 
2. Back everything up to an external hard drive
3. Install the new RAM
4. Check everything still works
5. Assuming it does, install OSX 10.4 Tiger
6. Repeat 4
7. Breathe a huge sigh of relief and enjoy my whizzy new system...
Any flaws in my cunning plan? Looks like it will cost a bit over £200 all in, which is cheaper than a new computer, but a lot of money if I screw it up!
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tahir
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In the old days not all systems could take the (physically) max amount of ram, it's quite possible that this is the case with yours.
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marigold
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"the old days"  . It's only 6 years old!! I seem to remember dougal saying he had 1024 in an older Mac than mine... I miss dougal!
Ed. after a search:
Actually his is also 2002 vintage, mine is 700mhz - would that affect how much RAM I can usefully install?
| dougal wrote: | | By the way, my 2002 933mhz G4 (currently with 1gig of ram) runs 10.4 (and all the apps I've asked it to) very very happily indeed. |
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vegplot
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I always thought the natural upgrade path for a Mac was a PC 
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sean
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There's always one.
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tahir
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| marigold wrote: | | Actually his is also 2002 vintage, mine is 700mhz - would that affect how much RAM I can usefully install? |
Maybe, it's going to be down to the motherboard. Not something I know much about really.
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vegplot
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Re: Upgrading my Mac | marigold wrote: | | I want to upgrade my PowerPC G4/OSX 10.3.9 iMac... |
Crucial are pretty good what they don't know about memory probably isn't worth knowing.
If their analyser suggest you use that memory in that configuration then I'm 100% sure it's correct, so go ahead and upgrade the memory.
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marigold
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Re: Upgrading my Mac | vegplot wrote: | | marigold wrote: | | I want to upgrade my PowerPC G4/OSX 10.3.9 iMac... |
Crucial are pretty good what they don't know about memory probably isn't worth knowing.
If their analyser suggest you use that memory in that configuration then I'm 100% sure it's correct, so go ahead and upgrade the memory. |
What the analyser says isn't clear - on one had it say max memory installed, but the detail seems to suggest otherwise. Best bet is to contact them direct perhaps...
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vegplot
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Re: Upgrading my Mac | marigold wrote: | | vegplot wrote: | | marigold wrote: | | I want to upgrade my PowerPC G4/OSX 10.3.9 iMac... |
Crucial are pretty good what they don't know about memory probably isn't worth knowing.
If their analyser suggest you use that memory in that configuration then I'm 100% sure it's correct, so go ahead and upgrade the memory. |
What the analyser says isn't clear - on one had it say max memory installed, but the detail seems to suggest otherwise. Best bet is to contact them direct perhaps... |
If that would put your mind at rest then it's a good idea. Also check what their return policy is. If you do order check the chips before breaking the seal on the anti-stack wrapper to see if they look identical pin-wise. That way it will be much easier to return the chips if they look wrong.
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Shane
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Why not take a look at the RAM in there at the moment? It should have the model number and speed written on it. Should then just be a case of getting identical replacements but with double the capacity.
Where is Dougal, anyway? Have I missed something?
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sean
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He's bought a PC and is too ashamed to post.
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tahir
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| Shane wrote: | | Why not take a look at the RAM in there at the moment? It should have the model number and speed written on it. Should then just be a case of getting identical replacements but with double the capacity. |
It';s not that easy, but worth a try
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Shane
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| tahir wrote: | | Shane wrote: | | Why not take a look at the RAM in there at the moment? It should have the model number and speed written on it. Should then just be a case of getting identical replacements but with double the capacity. |
It';s not that easy, but worth a try |
ebay - RAM aplenty! Just check for good feedback and a decent returns policy.
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tahir
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| Shane wrote: | | a decent returns policy. |
above all else
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marigold
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I hate being poor . When I had a nice big fat income I'd have just gone and bought a lovely new computer instead of trying to save a few quid upgrading the old one  .
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LynneA
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We're running a 1st generation iMac now - Howard found it in the computer graveyard at the office and bought a new 80gb hard drive and some extra memory.
If you want, I'll get him to post a more technical description of what he did later on.
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marigold
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| LynneA wrote: | We're running a 1st generation iMac now - Howard found it in the computer graveyard at the office and bought a new 80gb hard drive and some extra memory.
If you want, I'll get him to post a more technical description of what he did later on. |
Ooh great, yes please! Thank you .
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spicycauldron
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I don't think it's likely to be worthwhile upgrading your system. The cost, no matter how large and small, would bring little benefit if you're wanting the latest apps because, since the switch to Intel processors, the latest applications - including OS X 10.5 (Leopard) - indeed, most everything made to run on Macs, won't run on older G3, G4s, and so on. An Intel processor is a requirement.
I guess if the applications you're currently running are running slow, and you just want them to run faster, then it might be worth adding more RAM if your system can handle it. Crucial.com/uk is the site I always recommend - great service, cheap prices.
I've got an iBook G4 gathering dust somewhere. I keep meaning to sell it, as it's in good nick and they sell to collectors on eBay for not too small sums. It's maxed out at, if I recall correctly, 512MB of RAM. It won't run today's applications, but runs those 'of its time' perfectly well. I upgraded the hard drive a few years back, first time ever 'under the bonnet' of a Mac, following instructions I found online, and it was easy and not too expensive to up the, 10Gb drive I think it was, to 40Gb. But of course 40Gb is small these days - a 'classic' iPod comes in 80Gb and 160Gb sizes by comparison!
So, in summation: if you just want to run the stuff you've got faster, and there is the ability to add more RAM, you could go for it. If you're wanting to access newer applications, forget it. You might also seek out old documentation relating to your model online. ifixit.com is great for help if you're wanting to open up a Mac and do some DIY upgrading.
You almost certainly can't upgrade logic boards and processors but you can replace them. There's a site, I can't recall the address but I found it using search engines, that sells second-hand parts for Mac models, even Mac clones, going way, way back.
I'm lucky in that I have both a current iMac 24 and MacBook Pro 17. Well, I say lucky - they cost an arm and a leg, and I don't intend to be upgrading them within the next ten years or more if I can help it.
No, really. See... I hop everywhere and I type with one hand... 
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spicycauldron
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Doh. I forgot completely to say you're right on the RAM module substitution outlined in your opening post!
But you can pick up a far more powerful Mac Mini on eBay for around the £200 price point. You might consider that, given you've already got the monitor, keyboard and mouse - the Mac Mini comes with none of those - and you'd have a much faster computer.
If you do get rid, I'd advise to either sell on eBay or take great care to ensure nobody puts your machine on landfill as computers leak all sorts of nasties into the environment.
And do check out ifixit.com. It's a very good site, and you can print out step-by-step guides to getting the job done, whether installing drives, memory, logic boards...
I hope at least some of what I've said is helpful to you!
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marigold
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Cheers spicy - I've got one of the screen on a stick jobbies, so I guess the mini mac idea isn't an option. I'm not intending to upgrade Office or anything like that, just hoping to make it go faster and last a bit longer before the internet gets too clever for it .
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spicycauldron
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In that case, I definitely recommend, as you've already had from someone else, crucial.com. Their customer service is excellent, respectful and quick to deal with your order and, should any problems arise, equally quick to resolve them. And no, I don't work for them.
Macs are funny things. We get quite attached. Back in 2000 I had to sell my strawberry iMac, and the buyer who answered the ad in Loot was a sleazebag intending to use the machine, he was far too willing to tell me, to download German pornography. Why German exactly, I've no idea. But as he handed over the cash, I swear I almost said no... But at the time, my need was great...
My partner and I still lament the fate of our old pink machine!
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Gervase
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Use the System Profiler in your Utilities folder - that will tell you what RAM you have currently in the iMac. Maxing the RAM will definitely make it work better.
Why the urge to run 10.4 though? It hogs slightly more memory and will make your elderly processor work a bit harder. The newer iPods need 10.4 to synch with iTunes, but otherwise 10.3.9 is a nice stable OS that should keep you chugging along for years to come.
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sean
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I can't be bothered to upgrade my OS for much those reasons. 10.3.9 works fine, and anything really new is going to need a Pentium chip.
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happytechie
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I've got some sticks of PC133 RAM here somewhere, I'll post them to you if you pm me your address. I think they are upstairs hold on a second...
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happytechie
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I do indeed have three sticks of 256Mb of PC133 just like yours.
they are from a PC but it's all the same RAM. Anyone can have them if they will make your computer faster,
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