Ticket Options

Question Profile

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> What type of RAM for my eMac?

andrew52 - Nov 3, 2006 - 7:04 pm

I have a 1.42 ghz eMac with superdrive. I am looking to upgrade my ram but I have been to many sites each telling me different things. Some sites say I need 168 pin and others say 184 pin. Most sites have said to use PC2700 RAM, but looking into System Profiler, the RAM that came standard on my computer is PC3200. This is really confusing me. Can anyone help?
-Andrew

icampbell - Nov 4, 2006 - 1:27 am

Good Morning,

Since the eMac was first introduced in Apr 2002 it has gone through several revisions or speed upgrades. The original eMac used PC133 memory (the 168 pin that you refer to). In 2004 Apple introduced the eMac with USB 2.0 ports and at the same time changed the ram requirements to use faster chips. This is the 184 pin PC2700 DDR333. The confusion sometimes comes in when people think that DDR333 is the same as PC133 but they are very different. DDR333 stands for Double Data Rate with a bus speed of 333. In your specific machine, Apple's designation of "eMac 2005", would need a minimum of PC2700 ram but you could also use PC3200 DDR400 memory as it is downward compatible with the PC2700 standard, thus the reason you see 3200 memory in your system profiler. Generally speaking if you are only upgrading 1 chip then I would try to get a PC3200 module to match what is already existing. Your eMac has 2 slots and can accomodate 1GB chips for a total of 2GB of memory.
If you have any questions let me know.
Cheers,
Ian

Ian Campbell
Global Graphics Inc.
3971 Beacham Street
Mississauga, Ontario L5N 6S9
905 568 9566 Phone & Fax
icampbell@glogra.com
----------------------------------------
Apple Specialist™ ? Apple Authorized Reseller & Service Provider

andrew52 - Nov 4, 2006 - 10:20 am

Thank you for the EXCELLENT response! I wanted to submit another question about ram for another computer but I will just ask you because you have been extremely helpful in clearing things up for me.

For upgrading ram in a mac mini, apple's website recommends upgrading in pairs. for example 2 256mb chips or 2 512mb chips. Why do they recommend upgraing in pairs and what disadvantages are there for not upgrading in pairs? for example 1 1gb chip instead of 2 512mb chips. Also seeing that you are an "Apple Specialist," do you personally recommend upgrading it myself (opening up the mac mini) or sending it in for an upgrade?

Thank you!!!

icampbell - Nov 4, 2006 - 10:59 am

HI,

Your very kind, I've been an Apple tech since 1988 and have seen alot of changes. As for the Mac Mini, it depends on which model you have. If you have an older PowerPC Model then it only has 1 slot and thus only needs one chip (PC3200). The newer Intel models (introduced this year) can have 2 PC2-5300 DDR2 667. This is the same memory used in all the intel models ie: Macbook's, Macbook Pro's, and Imac's. When using Double Data Rate 2 memory the bus structure is designed to give optimum bandwidth when chips are paired. Using any combination of chips is fine. You would see a small increase in performance if you paired the chips during heavy processor tasks such as a Photoshop filter etc, but quite frankly the MacMini is really not designed as a "speed demon" in the first place so you really wont see much of an improvement if your using it for things like web, email, word etc. If you have the cash and want to squeeze out all the speed you can then no problem, pair them up.

Cheers,
Ian

andrew52 - Nov 4, 2006 - 12:08 pm

Thank you for the immediate response. Do you recommend doing the upgrade myself?

icampbell - Nov 4, 2006 - 12:48 pm

Sorry, I forgot that part. It's not that difficult to do if you have any "tool" skills whatsoever. You will need a standard medium flex paint scraper. About 1-2 inches wide. This is inserted along each of the edges (left, right,front). It is held in place by plastic clips along these 3 sides. It's a bit of a technique but once you get it you can do hundreds and a career in Apple repair awaits you :-). There is not really much you can break in removing the case. Worst case scenario is you put a few scratches in the plastic on the bottom.