RAM limits

Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
first off ... i tried to search for this info, but the search engine here wouldn't work.



I have an iMac 266 and an iBook 466.



They were both advertised (when new) as being able to accept "up to" 256 MB chips in the RAM slot (the iMac might have been 128?).



Is this a real limit or could I put a larger (512MB) RAM chip into either of these computers ?



Thanks
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 40
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    You should be able to put more RAM in them. The reason why Apple said that limit was because at the time higher capacity chips weren't around.
  • Reply 2 of 40
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
  • Reply 3 of 40
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    The first slot-loading iMacs accommodate up to 512MB of RAM; iMacs released in the summer of 2000 and later take a maximum of 1GB.
  • Reply 4 of 40
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    But the 266MHz iMac wasn't the slot-loading variety. It was, I believe, the second rev (Rev. B?) model in Bondi blue. Hell, the first version of the fruit colors may have been 266MHz also.



    But, in any case, the 266MHz were indeed the tray-loading, non-FireWire, "hard as hell to add RAM to" iMacs.







    They advertised some ridiculously low (by today's standards) "maximum RAM" figure, although, as EmAn says, I think they can probably take more, now that higher capacity DIMMs exist?



    Also, I think shose first generation tray-loading iMacs used that smaller, 144-pin DIMM, which seems to be a tad pricier than the 168-pin type.



    My iMac DV took those inexpensive 168-pin PC100 DIMMs and, because of that cool little "trap door" around back, were MUCH easier to install!
  • Reply 5 of 40
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    The 266 iMacs are the first of the 5 "flavored" iMacs, Rev C.



    And yeah, they're hard as hell to upgrade the RAM, at least compared to the slot-loaders. My dad and I upgraded my iMac when I had it and we almost couldn't get it back together. When we upgraded his Rev D we had less problems, probably because we had experience doing it. But it's pretty difficult.



    [ 12-29-2002: Message edited by: EmAn ]</p>
  • Reply 6 of 40
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    That's right. The 233MHz were both Rev. A & B (Bondi). I forgot what Rev. B actually was (4MB of VRAM or something like that? Plus the removal of that "mezzanine slot"?)



    Something like that.



    Rev. C was the intro of the iFruits at 266MHz. Then those eventually went to 333MHz?



    I used to actually know this stuff pretty well, back when it was clear-cut and easy and Apple didn't have 42 versions of each model like they do now.



  • Reply 7 of 40
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> yeah, I used to know all the specs perfectly but now it's WAAAAY too complicated.



    Yeah, the Rev D's were the 333MHz ones, the last ones before the slot-loaders. I think the Rev B's still had the mezzanine slot.



    [ 12-29-2002: Message edited by: EmAn ]</p>
  • Reply 8 of 40
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    what was that mezzanine slot anyway ?
  • Reply 9 of 40
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    It was some type of expansion slot or something like that but not many things were made for it.
  • Reply 10 of 40
    OK, thanks, I think I'll try it. Gonna put a 512 in the iBook and put the 256 from it into the iMac.



    I've put RAM in it before .... complicated, but not difficult. (although one slot is about twice as much work as the other)



    This particular machine has a sticker inside it stating it is Rev.B (if i remember correctly). It's also the first 266 mHtz Blueberry model available. And the first model available with the 6MB video card. (and 6 Gig HD)



    I think that ought to verify (or vilify) the speculations above.
  • Reply 11 of 40
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by KingOfSomewhereHot:

    <strong>



    This particular machine has a sticker inside it stating it is Rev.B (if i remember correctly). It's also the first 266 mHtz Blueberry model available. And the first model available with the 6MB video card. (and 6 Gig HD)

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    If that's the case then it's the Rev C. They were the first ones that had "Blueberry", they were 266MHz, had 6MB Rage whatever, and the 6Gig HD.
  • Reply 11 of 40
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    [quote]Originally posted by KingOfSomewhereHot:

    <strong>I've put RAM in it before .... complicated, but not difficult. (although one slot is about twice as much work as the other)</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Yes, "complicated" in that you pretty much have to dismantle the entire damn thing to do it.



    :eek:



    My favorite thing about the slot-loading series was that little door around back that opened with a quarter and let you easily pop the RAM (and an AirPort card) in. Pretty nifty!
  • Reply 13 of 40
    [quote]Originally posted by Defiant:

    <strong>The first slot-loading iMacs accommodate up to 512MB of RAM; iMacs released in the summer of 2000 and later take a maximum of 1GB.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I've got a graphite iMac DV/400--I got it used, but I'm fairly certain this is pre-summer 2000--and it's running with 640MB (512+128).



    I'm just saying...
  • Reply 14 of 40
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    [quote]Originally posted by josephg:

    <strong>



    I've got a graphite iMac DV/400--I got it used, but I'm fairly certain this is pre-summer 2000--and it's running with 640MB (512+128).



    I'm just saying...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    hey, I'm no expert. wired, well they are maybe.
  • Reply 15 of 40
    bartobarto Posts: 2,246member
    [quote]Originally posted by pscates:

    <strong>



    Yes, "complicated" in that you pretty much have to dismantle the entire damn thing to do it.

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Not really. You take off the base, then remove cables, then slide out the logic board.



    Just be thankful you don't have to discharge iMac CRTs. It really gives you the heeby-jeebies



    Barto
  • Reply 16 of 40
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by Barto:

    <strong>



    Not really. You take off the base, then remove cables, then slide out the logic board.



    Just be thankful you don't have to discharge iMac CRTs. It really gives you the heeby-jeebies



    Barto</strong><hr></blockquote>



    The worst part for me at least was always getting the logic board in the right way after the RAM was installed. On my iMac we didn't get it in the right way but after trying a million times we just left it and the CD drive wasn't lined up right and it was difficult to deal with it but after a while I finally found a way to use the CD drive. It really isn't fun installing RAM in those iMacs.
  • Reply 17 of 40
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    [quote]Originally posted by Barto:

    <strong>



    Not really. You take off the base, then remove cables, then slide out the logic board.



    Just be thankful you don't have to discharge iMac CRTs. It really gives you the heeby-jeebies



    Barto</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Yeah really... i mean its not like you are building a computer....



    print out a guide from accelerate your mac and go to town, just follow directions...



    I've taken apart my trusty Rev A 4 or 5 times now w/o a hitch...



    and I probably will do it again when (if?) i get the harmoni G3 600MHz/FW upgrade...



    as for the slot loaders... the summer 2000 expo held the debut of the Cube and the sage/indigo/ruby/snow iMacs with the pro keyboards



    i believe the first version of the kielehi (sp?) came out the winter before, Apple Expo Paris maybe?



    I know my brother got a DV SE the christmas of 99

    and a year later i pounced on a 999 DV indigo to get f/w



    all three macs are still going strong
  • Reply 18 of 40
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    oh and to get back on topic...



    both computers mentioned use the SAME RAM



    and i believe the 66MHz bus of each machine (is it 33 in the original iBook??)

    and the So-Dimm 144 Pin nature of the ram prevents it from recognizing the full 512...
  • Reply 19 of 40
    the mezzanine slot was an unsupported port that was on the original iMac only. Rev. B no longer had them. i know some people came up with a way to set up a VooDoo3 card via that port, and there were a few other cool hacks as well. the only other difference that i'm aware of is that the Rev. B iMac did away with the IrDa port in exchange for another speaker.



    -alcimedes
  • Reply 20 of 40
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    Ummm what are you smoking <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> :confused: ?



    the mezzanine was present in the Rev B iMacs, as was the IRDa port...



    the only difference between the Rev A and Rev B was $100 off, 6 gig HD instead of 4 Gig and the Race Pro 6MB instead of Rage IIc 2MB in the Rev A....



    at least if my memory isn't failing me at 18
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