Thread

Mixed Info About G4 1Ghz RAM Capacity

· Hardware · 11 posts · May 4, 2005 — May 12, 2005 View original thread ↗

#1 Wed, 4 May 2005 - 17:26

So.

I have an ibook g4 1ghz that I bought in November 2003. It has a 128mb bank built in, and as soon as I bought it I filled the open slot with a 512mb (PC2700U-25330 DDR SDRAM) for a total of 640mb. Since the 1gb banks have been coming down in price, I've been wondering if I can upgrade yet again.

First off I went to the apple store and checked under memory. I clicked on ibook g4 1ghz, and yes, they say that there's a 1gb bank (PC2700 DDR33) available for my system.

So off I go to crucial to see what the more reasonable price is. I go through their menus telling them what my system is, and yes, they also tell me I can get a 1gb bank (PC2100 DDR) for the ibook g4 1ghz (and yes, about $250 less).

But then I notice that up in the corner they say the 1ghz g4 ibook comes with 256mb of installed RAM, not my 128. So I'm suspicious and ask one of the reps at the apple store by me, and she tells me the largest bank I can install is the 512 that I already have.

Any ideas who is right, or how to figure it out?

I'd love to believe I can use a 1gb bank (though, the one from crucial is different from the apple one, yes? 2700 vs 2100?), but I'm getting the feeling that this must have been an early 1ghz g4 before they upped the maximum memory. But then again, everyone seems to be telling me something different.

#2 Wed, 4 May 2005 - 17:51

If you have the 1Ghz G4 iBook then you have 256MB of RAM on-board and can add one PC2100 or PC2700 1GB SO-DIMM module for a total of 1.25GB of RAM. You'll have to remove the 512MB module that you added before.

Voch

#3 Wed, 4 May 2005 - 18:01

I click on "About This Mac" and it says:

Processor 1GHz PowerPC G4

Memory 640 MB DDR SDRAM

I click on "More Info..." and go to memory and it says:

DIMM0/Built-In 128MB Built-in Built-in
DIMM1/J31 512MB DDR SDRAM PC2700U-25330

So no, I don't think I do have 256 built in, I have 128.
But thanks

#4 Wed, 4 May 2005 - 19:23

I am not sure why you have 128mb built in RAM, it should be 256mb but as i am aware iBook RAM is PC2100. However you can install PC2700 but if i remember correctly computer's will operate at the lowest RAM capacity. So although you might have PC2700 installed, it will be operating at PC2100 capacity.

Correct me if i am wrong though, as i am not certain of this.

ThrillSeeker

#5 Wed, 4 May 2005 - 20:02

> I am not sure why you have 128mb built in RAM, it should be 256mb

The original ibook g4s shipped with 128mb of built in RAM, so I think that's why. They later changed it to 256 and added the option of a superdrive instead of just a combo. And that's why I wasn't sure if the system would make use of the extra memory.

Is it just a matter of matching the correct type (since the 512 is 2700, it shouldn't matter), or is it also a matter of what the system was designed to accept?

If the apple rep is telling me, after looking at the ibook's serial number, that the max is 640, should I believe that, or is there reason to believe the crucial website - and perhaps apple's own store - know something she didn't, since they and everyone else seems to think the 1gb bank will be fine.

thanks, to everyone

#6 Wed, 4 May 2005 - 21:45

The iBook G4/800 had 128MB soldered to the motherboard. The iBook G4/1Ghz had 256MB soldered to the motherboard.

I think this iBook G4/800 LowEndMac.com link is wrong in saying the machine takes PC133 RAM (it takes PC2100) and that it's expandable to 640MB (it's really 1.12GB with a 1GB module, which may not have been available at the time of release so I'm not sure).

Now I'm getting a headache. This isn't as bad as when Apple did that funky Performa model stuff (631CD vs. 635CD

). I'm done pasting links for the night. Goodnight...

Voch

#7 Thu, 5 May 2005 - 13:57

Thanks very much for your help voch.

As it turns out, I was doing some browsing earlier and figured out what is going on.

http://everymac.com/systems/apple/i..._g4_1.0_14.html
this is the mac that i got. 1ghz G4 (7457) w/ 128 built in, released oct 2003. 640 max

http://everymac.com/systems/apple/i...4_1.0_14_2.html
this is the 1ghz G4 (7447a) that has 256 built in, released 6 months later when they re-speced the line for 1.25 max and a few other upgrades.

Now that's straightened out, I guess I'm probably stuck with 640mb. I guess it's worth asking one of the techs, though, if that's a hard limit or simply the specs because the 1 gig chips weren't really available yet.

Thanks again

#8 Thu, 5 May 2005 - 14:02

Oh...DUH on me.

I forgot the first rev of the iBook 14" ran at 1Ghz and had 128MB build-in. I always forget about the 14" model...

Voch

#9 Fri, 6 May 2005 - 11:23

I got my G4 933mhz in November 2003, and sure enough it came with built-in 128mb RAM. I had an extra 256 put in as a build option, and later upgraded that to a 512mb, giving me 640mb in total.

It is true that for a long time Apple were saying the maximum capacity was 640mb, but this is only because 1gb sticks were not readily available. Only a few suppliers did them (Apple wasn't one of them) and they were very very expensive.

I know several people who have installed third party 1gb sticks in RevA G4 iBooks such as ours and they work perfectly. I am considering it myself now the price has dropped significantly, but I am getting a new mac soon anyway, and to be honest, RAM is not a problem for me, it is the CPU and GPU holding me back.

#10 Mon, 9 May 2005 - 19:26

Thanks for your input, too. If that's true, I'd be very happy.
I'll be getting a powermac at some point in the future - maybe with the next update or so - but i still plan on using my ibook as a daily portable, and the extra ram would be great.

So far, crucial seems the best bet for people like us. If i try to update it soon, I'll post a reply regarding my success.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozzpot

#11 Thu, 12 May 2005 - 07:45

I have the 1GHz iBook with the 256 soldered in.

I have recently installed a 512 PC2700 MB 200pin SODIMM from Crucial in preparation for my Tiger install.

Crucial gouge you if you go through the memory chooser for the iBook. The 2700 are cheaper than the 2100s. Yet the 2700s work just as well of course. This was a saving of nearly £30 for me.