iMac RAM question

PardonTheWait · 23 Oct 2011 at 10:41

Hello,

My iMac can officially take 4gb of RAM according to Apple but apparently will happily recognise 6GB.

Only question is, how do I put 6GB in? Do I put in 4GB + 2GB or 2 x 4GB?

Cheers

MikeHiow · 23 Oct 2011 at 10:54

Which iMac do you have?

PardonTheWait · 23 Oct 2011 at 17:52

24", late 2008 I think. All I'm trying to work out is whether or not mismatched memory would be 'wrong' - I suspect it will, and to get it to see 6GB I'd need to fit 8GB.

MikeHiow · 23 Oct 2011 at 18:25

If it's late 2008 it should be fine with 8GB?

I suspect what you've read regarding it not supporting 8GB is people trying on Leopard.

Given that two 4GB sticks cost around £33 for the pair, I see no reason not to try it to be honest.

PardonTheWait · 23 Oct 2011 at 18:52

Just looked, it's early 2008. The official amount it can take according to MacTracker is 4gb but apparently they will register 6GB.

Part of the reason I asked as well is that I get asked this at work and I've always wondered what the official line is on matched pairs in Macs - I've always played it safe and said matched pairs is best.

MikeHiow · 23 Oct 2011 at 20:22

Well it depends what you're doing.

If you're hitting swap a lot then 6GB that isn't paired is going to be better than 4GB that is.

That said, if you're never using over 4GB then you may as well just have pairs, although the performance hit from not running matched pairs is minimal afaik.