I have a 4 year old iMac that has been running a bit slow, I bought an ext HD and plan a fresh install but will be editing a lot of video soon and only have 512mb of Ram (2x256)

DIMM0/J22:
Size: 256 MB
Type: DDR SDRAM
Speed: PC2100U-25330

My question is that I'm thinking I should replace one of the 256 sticks with 1gb?

Is there anything else I should look at upgrading?

Is there anywhere cheaper than Ebay in Sydney (I'd prefer a store, but needn't be new)?

Thanks.

I have a G4 iMac 1Ghz and I have upgraded it several times. Your iMac will only take 1GB of ram maximum, so 512mb in each slot. I also upgraded the internal HD with a 250GB Seagate PATA drive. Overall goes great and well worth the money! You can do it yourself with a repair manual (google) and a few special tools.

Thanks, yeah, I remember now there is a 1gb limit,
and I can definitely replace the internal drive ( It's the dome shaped Lamp Shade(?) model)? I seem to remember some limitations with this model?

Cheers,

Just for your information fellers , you can get 2Gb of Ram in these models using 2 x 1 Gb sticks.Bear in mind that they use different kinds of Ram in either slot.One I recall is mostly used for laptops.You also have to be comfortable with taking your iMac apart although you could get a dealer to do the job. Here is one link although I'm sure I had more to guide you.
http://www.transintl.com/store/categ...estTimeOut=500
I had a big cleanup of bookmarks a couple of months ago and these may have gone. We replaced the standard Ram in a friends G4 imac a while back and installed 2Gb into it. Runs really well now although putting in the factory installed chip was a tad daunting!
Stewie

i have the same model but the basic version, i bought a 512 stick from nextbyte for 169 which was the cheapest in melbourne (that i could access)
Its not easy to upgrade the second stick as it involves more than just taking the cover off the bottom. And from memory, i think they can only accomodate 1Gig of ram. Thats what ive been told but my techie anyway.
Start with a 512 and you will notice the difference straight off. That should be enough for you to do editing off, just make sure you dont have a billion programs running at once.
M x

P.S. as far as other upgrades, try a bigger harddrive and get a superdrive if you dont already. And if you kill your imac i got dibs on the logicboard

Grab Mactracker, it'll let you know!

Just checked it then, if you have a USB 2.0 model iMac G4 (the last model before the jump to G5) then you can take up to 2Gb. Otherwise (considering it uses DDR) the only other model you could have is a 17" from the generation beforehand, and that can take up t 1.5Gb (I'm guessing a 1Gb DIMM and a 1Gb soDIMM.

I'd definately reccomend a RAM and internal HDD upgrade for your video editing needs. And perhaps you could consider installing screen spanning doctor and hook up and external video display - either a VGA based monitor or a television for either toolbars or just making sure your stuff looks good on a telly. I've gotten screwed once or twice by fonts that jsut don't handle the interlaced nature of TV very well. They worked fine in iMovie/FCP though. So might be something to consider.

Oh! And if you do a HDD upgrade, whilst you've got it open, drop a new DVD burner in there, you can get Pioneer 111D's for about $60 (a few months ago) so you'll get DVD +/- R/RW and +R DL support...just in case you ever want it ;P Plus, I don't think the iMac G4 is one of those computers you WANT to open very often, so best to do it all in one go - RAM, HDD and Burner. It'll be like a new computer...sort of...well...you get the idea.

I opened my iMac G4 800mhz up, and added in 200GB HDD (7200RPM) and a DVDRW (dual Layer) LG, I didn't upgrade the internal ram (should have, but it was pretty rare and exy back then)... it has 768MB of ram!

Yes the model we upgraded to 2 Gb of Ram was the 1.25 GHz one with 17" flat panel. I think it is only this plus the 1.25 GHz and 20" FP that can be upgraded to 2Gb not any of the 1.0 GHz series or before although I could be wrong on this. I havent come across any links or articles to suggest otherwise. The upgrade to 2 Gb Ram was necessary because my friend wanted to do a lot more Photoshop work . Video work would similarly benefit from this update as well . A_E's suggestion of a second monitor is also an excellent one and with the spanning hack would be a real goer. Be also aware of the necessary precautions to take if you do these upgrades yourself as in replacing the thermal pads etc although a techie would know this if you chose someone else to do the upgrading for you.
Stewie

...I have a billion programs running at once

So I'm use to slow... I'm planning on another external HD anyway, so will probably just spend money on the memory and new Burner,


I have a G4 iMac 1Ghz, so yeah, 1gb seems to be the limit... my original brochure boasts that this model comes with 256kb (DDR SDRAM) - twice that of the standard model! I seem to remember being rorted to fill the "empty slot"


DIMM1/J20(&22):
Size: 256 MB
Type: DDR SDRAM
Speed: PC2100U-25330

I seem to remember when I bought it that there weren't any replacement drives at the time, though I'm guessing this changed

Thanks for all the suggestions and the link,

Cabel,

I may be of assistance where your concerns on Memory may rely.

Cheers,

CW

Don't forget to put in a new PRAM battery! Pick one up for about $10 at Jaycar. They normally last 3-4 years & require a bit of work to get them in; I always put in a new one when opening up an iMac for upgrades.

I also have a iMac 1GHz (pre USB2.0) model see details below: All I have done is add another 512 meg of ram which at the time made a world of difference. Now it seems really slow. Its nearly 5 years old which it PC terms is ancient. (pre Mac days I would replace my PC every 2 years)

I am at a cross roads on whether I should upgrade this current Mac or simply buy a new one. It runs fairly slow especially when I use photoshop.

Before I simply spend a few thousand dollars, I have tried to consider what I really need versus what I would like.

On the essentials list I really need

USB2.0 - importing photos is very slow
Larger hard drive - minimum 250 gig
dual layer burner
more speed

Also the other question I need an answer to is, if I had 2 iMac's what would I do with my old one?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Please note I live in the country and I do not have access to a Mac techie.

My current iMac details are:


CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (3.3)
CPU Speed: 1 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
Memory: 768 MB
Bus Speed: 133 MHz

Thanks

I think you need to upgrade Secoa but wait for the next release of Macs (anytime now). Your iMac is worth a few bucks as a sale if you dont plan to keep it, and a Mini (and ext HDD) or better yet an iMac would sevre your needs well. When the new Macs come out the current Macs are available for a few hundred less - and also the Apple refurb store has older models a fair but cheaper, so whether you want a current Mac or future one, wait the next few days-months for the 2007 releases before you buy.

I have a iMac 800mhz and I upgraded it to 1GB of ram 16 speed dvd - DL -+R burner a 400 GB hdd with no problems under $350 at this store in sydney

www.msy.com.au

they are the cheapest in aust trust me
cheers
darksplat

According to Mactracker, whichever 1GHz model iMac you have, you can go up to either 1.5Gb or 2Gb. 1.5Gb is available to the 1GHz 17" with USB 1. I am assuming it is the DIMM slot that supports the 1Gb, and not the soDIMM slot, which would be cheaper anyway. Otherwise you can go up to 2Gb, which isn't necessary, but it can make some difference when working in video and using other apps at once. Heck, just when using a bunch of apps at the same time, especially photoshop + a digital NLE software.