What do I need to know about buying aftermarket RAM for Mac?
 

looking to upgrade the RAM on my imac g5. currently has 512 and depending on price would like to add additional 512 or 1 GB. current specs, Type: DDR SDRAM, Speed: PC3200U-30330.
did a search on ebay and prices and brands are all over the place. what do i look for in buying RAM? do you guys have a preferred place to purchase from? TIA!!!

I purchase all of my hardware from www.newegg.com

I have probably spent $5k in parts over the years. They are not the cheapest, but they have good service. Their credit card authorization proces is a cumbersome, but I don't mind.

PC3200 ram is standard 400mhz memory. Memory prices are dictated by speed and quality. 400mhz is the clock speed, but better memory has lower latency. If you are going to bother upgrading, put in a GB. Some memory has ECC(error correction code). I am not familiar enough with MACs to know.....but I doubt it. Thats typically reserved for servers.

EDIT: Do you have a Frys Electronics around? (isn't there one in Berkley?). Go see if they have any cheap sticks of PC3200 'no name' memory on sale. Take it home and slap it in. If it works, great, if not return it. Iam all for abusing Frys liberal return policies....

You need a compatibility guarantee. Apple has some pretty high standards. Bad RAM acts exaactly like a corrupted system file: kernal panics, etc.

But most of the usual suspects are fine. I like to buy from

OtherWorldComputing http://www.otherworldcomputing.com/

MacSolutions http://www.macsolutions.com/

DealMac http://www.dealmac.com

Last time around, these guys had the best price:
RamJet http://www.ramjet.com

I buy from newegg as well as everyone on Techs list.

I find my best deals by being patient and shopping the circulars.

You can regularly find name brand stuff at fire sale prices.

Just put 512 Kingston into a laptop and paid like $35 after rebates.

Keep an eye on this site.

http://www.bensbargains.net/

It has some killer deals fairly frequently, just do your comparisons first.

Scott

http://dealram.com/

Get good stuff... Like Techweenie has said, bad ram is just plain bad.

I put 2GB from www.memoryx.net into my G5 iMac. I chose the cheapest memory that they recommended for this model Mac. Worked fine. If I'd had any weirdness, I'd have pulled the RAM to see if that was it.

From what I've read, the difference in prices really doesn't translate into differences in quality.

I'd bet much of what is being sold all comes from just one or two manufacturers. The differences is probably just in the packaging and mark-up.

I need a 1GB chip for my mini. It has serious real memory isssues :mad: The MAC guys have told me to go to 18004memory.com

thanks guys! i sure as hell appreciate the help.

shuie - how's that mini working out for you?

Yeah Shuie, do tell. I was thinking of picking one up as the 'family' computer.

I purchased PC memory from these guys and have had very good luck. http://www.stalliontek.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=41

Also, there are many memory chip manufacturers. The way the arrays are structured can have an impact on compatibility. Best to match all features of the module.


G5 Memory question:
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=30526

They recommend Crucial.com. I've also used them with good results.