Cheap RAM

joshua1

Hi all,

I recently convinced my girlfriend to start using my iMac, with its lovely big screen and addtional monitor over her aging XP laptop when doing work. Using multiple screens is great for research.

Fast user switching is a dream in OSX, but since I often leave things running in my account (which i love being able to do, mostly since i can leave a P2P program trickling out/in and so on) I sometimes get some slow down.

I remember in the old Mac Thread, that applestore RAM was a rip, and someone had provided a link to a place that sold the exact product that apple did, rebadged, for considerably less.

Anyone remember? Or just able to point me to a good online store so I can buy some delicious RAM in Aust?

Im thinking another 2GB or so......mmmmmh\

Cheers!

OremLK

Should be able to get anything you need for a good price from NewEgg, assuming you live in the U.S. I don't know what kind of memory your iMac uses, whether it's desktop or laptop, DDR1 or DDR2, so you're going to have to figure that out. It will probably be less than $30 for 2gb though.

devoir

He's in Australia, it's in the last couple of lines in the OP (unless I've totally misread it).

joshua1

In Australia, yeah. So US$30 is a good price?

OremLK

$30 is probably the most I would consider paying for 2gb, here in the US. I don't know what pricing is like in Australia though.

joshua1

Hmmm, looking on the apple website, there is some stuff about late 2006 model iMacs can only use 3GB.... how can I check what model my one is? Im sure i got it after 2006, but do they mean the model released in 2006 and sold henceforth (till the new one that has just bean released) can only utilize 3GB RAM?

joshua1

Okay, so im i the next model, so I can have 4GB max. Awesome. Unfortunately, instead of 1 2GB stick, i have 1 1GB sticks, so I have buy a whole 4GB.

So, DDR2 is fine right?

Some dinky place online is selling 4GB for $127 (http://au.ramking.com/memory_selector.php?no_ajax=true&man=Apple&prod_line=iMac&model=iMac+2.66GHz+Intel+Core+2+Duo+%2820-inch%29+MB324LL%2FA)

That a good price for RAM, people in the know?

Edit: What about DDR3 RAM?

joshua1

So, im going to buy Corsair DDR2 Twin2X 4096 6400C5 4Gb @ Internet Price: $88.00 from Umart.com.au

Is there any reason why not I haven't thought of?

OremLK

If it's from 2006 it won't be DDR3 memory. It's probably DDR2, just make sure your iMac uses desktop (240-pin) memory, not small form factor laptop memory.

Triko

Why does older model RAM cost so much more? Cheapest I can find for 2GB of regular DDR was $45

Should really just buy a whole new computer...but I think a videocard upgrade (basic 256MB Geforce FX series) and more RAM should be enough to run Starcraft II, and that's all I really need...2.53ghz Celeron processor worries me though.

OremLK

I wouldn't count on being able to run Starcraft 2 with that machine, Triko, even if you upgrade the video card and memory. (Also if you only have AGP that will make things even worse.)

Triko

My computer is so old (a Dell Dimension 1110), that a PCI slot Geforce FX 256MB DDR RAM video card is just about the best card that I can upgrade too. With the extra 2GB of RAM, I'm hoping that's just barely enough to run Starcraft II on minimum settings. I'm going by the tech specs listed on - http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/comments/starcraft-2-system-requirements

StarCraftWire.net Minimum Specifications:

* CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz
* Memory: 1 GB RAM
* Graphics Card: Nvidia Geforce FX 5500
* Hard Disk Space: Undeterminable*

I've seen higher minimum settings on other sites, but Blizzard always supports piss poor older machines with their games; so I'm hoping for that :P

OremLK

As I said, I wouldn't count on it... Even if it works, it almost certainly won't on any kind of a pleasurable level. Minimum specifications are usually just that, minimum--barely playable frame rates, the worst possible visual settings, 800x600 resolution. Hideous, in other words, and not anything approaching the optimum experience.

In any case, it sounds like you're long past due for an upgrade. If you already have a Windows XP disc, you could throw together a low-end machine for $385.

Triko

I want to play Starcraft II for the single player campaign more than the multi, so I'm not too worried about having a top of the line system, as long as it works. I figure I can hold out for another year or two before getting a new comp, but not being able to play games like Bioshock or Mass Effect for PC (especially when they're under $20 used) kinda sucks.

OremLK

Well, your choice I know that I had a very similar system to yours a little less than two years back and it was killing me. I plan to upgrade again after the summer. You can get a lot of system for not-so-much money these days.