[tannenhauser]

Is it possible that with the next update we see a RAM upgrade in terms of capacity, say up to 3 or 4 gigs on the iMac? or are they going to keep this 2 gig cap on for a while so as not to compete with the upcoming intel towers?

[rasmits]

I guess you can put as much RAM as you want that will fit in 2 slots, someday soon that might be 4 gigs. Most iMac customers wont need more than that, if you do, you should be looking into a PowerMac.

To answer the question, I doubt another motherboard redesign is going to happen any time soon.

[hiltond]

Originally Posted by rasmits I guess you can put as much RAM as you want that will fit in 2 slots, someday soon that might be 4 gigs.

The max for the Intel iMac is 2GB right now.

Most iMac customers wont need more than that, if you do, you should be looking into a PowerMac. To answer the question, I doubt another motherboard redesign is going to happen any time soon.

Agreed

[tacvbo83]

PowerPC towers are ridicuoulosly large even if they look nice. Apple should do something about the size in order to get me interested. The reason I would need more memory is for studio recording.

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by tacvbo83 PowerPC towers are ridicuoulosly large even if they look nice. Apple should do something about the size in order to get me interested. The reason I would need more memory is for studio recording.

The G5 towers seem to fit this category, but those G4 towers... now those are teh sexy.

[MacConvert]

When dual booting of Vista happens (if Vista ever happens), how much ram are we speculated to need in order to run it effectively (not minimal)?

[v.noir]

I read somewhere that to get the 'Vista Certified' sticker on a new computer, it must have at least 1GB of memory. I imagine Vista would at least run on 512mb, but it probably wouldn't be pretty - 1GB seems like it's the recommended amount. 2GB would be even tastier.

[tannenhauser]

Originally Posted by rasmits I guess you can put as much RAM as you want that will fit in 2 slots, someday soon that might be 4 gigs. Most iMac customers wont need more than that, if you do, you should be looking into a PowerMac. To answer the question, I doubt another motherboard redesign is going to happen any time soon.

By soon, do you mean August? or 2007?

[Banana]

Originally Posted by v.noir I read somewhere that to get the 'Vista Certified' sticker on a new computer, it must have at least 1GB of memory. I imagine Vista would at least run on 512mb, but it probably wouldn't be pretty - 1GB seems like it's the recommended amount. 2GB would be even tastier.

That's mm.. a lot. (But then again, by time they actually release Vista, we might as well be pumping 10 gigs in our computer)

[beardedmacuser]

Originally Posted by rasmits I guess you can put as much RAM as you want that will fit in 2 slots, someday soon that might be 4 gigs. Most iMac customers wont need more than that, if you do, you should be looking into a PowerMac. To answer the question, I doubt another motherboard redesign is going to happen any time soon.

Yep, sometimes the quoted maximum RAM limits are determined by what RAM is available when the computer is released. I don't know about modern Macs, but previous Macs (such as the Pismo G3 PowerBook) could take more RAM than Apple claimed so long as the RAM was compatible and the correct physical size. My Linux VAIO (now dead thanks to Sony's cheapo designs!) had 512 megs despite Sony saying it'd only take 256. It had a RAM slot on the top and one on the bottom of the motherboard which meant pretty much a complete dismantle to upgrade the RAM. Thanks Sony!

[chucker]

Originally Posted by tannenhauser Is it possible that with the next update we see a RAM upgrade in terms of capacity, say up to 3 or 4 gigs on the iMac? or are they going to keep this 2 gig cap on for a while so as not to compete with the upcoming intel towers?

I doubt there is an enforced limitation. You'd need two 2 GB sticks, SO-DIMM, PC2-5300, and those are currently rare (and expensive). In fact, Newegg.com doesn't appear to carry any such items at all yet, and a quick search through Froogle only shows offerings at $800 per stick and beyond. So you'd be looking at easily $1500 just to upgrade your RAM to 4 GB, vs. about $300 for two very high-quality 1 GB sticks. I'd wager to say it's not currently worth it, if ever. 2 GB is well above the sweet spot for optimum performance on the iMac.

[copland]

Well in older designs there was a limitation by the memory controller.
Apple said you can have 1 Gig of RAM with 4 slots (that's 256 MB each). When you put in 512 MB sticks the controller would only recognise 256 MB.
However it's been said that Intel controllers aren't that restrictive, concerning size and speed of the memory you put inside. Somebody will just have to test it.

[cozmo]

Is 2 GB enough for Aperture and iLife on the 17" iMac?

[alexluft]

Originally Posted by cozmo Is 2 GB enough for Aperture and iLife on the 17" iMac?

iLife - definately; my girlfriend has the Rev A with PPC G5 with 1GB RAM and it runs like knife through chocolate butter

Aperture - don't know; haven't used it at all

[Brad]

Originally Posted by cozmo Is 2 GB enough for Aperture and iLife on the 17" iMac?

http://www.apple.com/aperture/specs.html

Please see the "Minimum System Requirements" and "Recommended Systems" sections.

[doublem9876]

Wow, that's a lot of RAM for a photo-editing app!

[runner91786]

Your working with RAW photos though, that are huge, and can have several instruction sets attached depending on what your doing with them. Its a pretty neat program.