Upgrading hardware in an Apple desktop....

[DeltrusDisc]

First of all, for people who don't peruse these forums very much, this is for a friend of mine, NOT ME, before you decide to start talking crap.

Onto the subject: I just wanted to ask and make sure whether this is fact or not: does the Mac OS indeed not allow one to upgrade the hardware in their computer on their own? My friend recently got an Apple desktop and he does a lot of video, photo, music editing and is not happy with the 4GB of RAM his computer has. He wishes he had learned how to build his own computer and realizes how much money he could have saved, but I'm just trying to make sure of whether or not we could stick another 4GB of RAM in there or so.

Please only post if you know yes or no, this isn't a theory thread, I'm just trying to get a quick fact confirmed.

[Tradewind]

While installing memory in a Mac isn't much different than a PC since Mac OS is built on top of Unix you can pretty much just fire it in and go. The biggest pain in the ass with servicing Mac's is Warranty. Everything except the G5 towers AFAIK is considered "non-user serviceable" in the warranty. Unless this has changed recently.

[DeltrusDisc]

Yeah I'm just wondering if we stick more RAM in his computer if it will work properly or not. I've heard that if you want to add or update some piece of hardware in an Apple you pretty much have to just buy a new computer because the OS will stop working or some shit like that.

[Tradewind]

It's possible, similar to how OOBE works for Windows and hardware changes deactivating XP. Again I haven't worked on them in a few years and even then it was mostly G5 towers, XRaids and and earlier Intel systems...hardly ever had to touch them with the exception of adding more memory to G5's.

[DeltrusDisc]

Thanks, yeah I'm asking this forum because I don't expect Apple to just tell him he can go ahead and do that, they would rather get his money, so yeah. =/

[Tradewind]

At worst you'd have to take it somewhere that is an authorized apple service center to have it installed. At worst it's just a hit to the old nerd pride and $40 out of pocket asking someone to "please install this memory for me sir!"

[DeltrusDisc]

I can only expect the RAM to cost like $200 for him. Simply because it's going to be at an Apple store, I'd like to just take him to a local tiger direct or micro center and get him some for $40. >_<

[Dispersedshadow]

I don't think you'll have an issue with Mac OS X - some older Macs had a hardware limit where you couldn't have more than 3 MB for example, even though you could buy 4MB RAM that would fit into the slots. Just make sure the RAM you have matches the specs set forth by Apple in the hardware manual and that the total RAM won't exceed the hardware maximum.

[Tradewind]

Check the crucial website and try their memory adviser and match it up to his particular model. After a quick google search, the Apple website actually includes instructions on how to upgrade the memory on certain models. So I would say it's a safe bet you can go ahead and do it on your own these days.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3918

[kritisk]

How ridiculous.

You can buy RAM anywhere. It's standard. Crucial was a good site mentioned above. www.crucial.com another reputable one is www.macsales.com who have been in business for years.

You can change hard drives, etc. Video cards on the towers, etc.

This mess about changing this and that and it stops working is just BS based on 15 year old or older info. The motherboards, etc. are intel designs with apple tweaks at this point.

[Dispersedshadow]

Check the crucial website and try their memory adviser and match it up to his particular model.

This. Or try Ramjet - copy the exact specs they state and shop around for price. Don't buy directly from Apple.

[Eled.]

Yeah I'm just wondering if we stick more RAM in his computer if it will work properly or not. I've heard that if you want to add or update some piece of hardware in an Apple you pretty much have to just buy a new computer because the OS will stop working or some shit like that.

Where did you hear that ?
You can change the RAM without any trouble (same limitations as in any other PC, you need type of RAM your motherboard supports and have to check the maximum), change the hard disk (again, same thing), exchange de DVD player for another disk if it's a MBP (you'd need a case if you want to try that but anyway, it's possible), and some people also manage to change other parts but then it might become a bit trickier (again, I'm talking about their laptops and iMac, MacPro are completely standard nowadays)

MacOS is optimized for the hardware Apple uses, they want it OPTIMIZED, not COMPLETELY CLOSED.

Edit : And NO, just check Crucial buy 8Gb for 45-55€, that's it. There is no way in hell you need to spend 200$ for memory.

[Tradewind]

How ridiculous.

You can buy RAM anywhere. It's standard. Crucial was a good site mentioned above. www.crucial.com another reputable one is www.macsales.com who have been in business for years.

You can change hard drives, etc. Video cards on the towers, etc.

This mess about changing this and that and it stops working is just BS based on 15 year old or older info. The motherboards, etc. are intel designs with apple tweaks at this point.

Breathe Turbo. Was it not made clear that the concerns were based on old information and just erring on the side of caution? Who seriously uses an Apple computer anyway? :P

[Team Frosty]

If it's a Mac Pro, it's customizable in terms of RAM. If you see the inside of a Mac Pro, you'd see how easy it is to switch things out.

MacBook Pro can also be easily upgraded without issue, just take the bottom off and buy two RAM sticks of the same brand and OS X will recognize it. You could even replace the Optical Drive with an SSD or replace the HDD with an SSD, if you wanted to.

The iMac is much more difficult being an All in One computer, but is still doable. The hard drive in the iMac on the other hand, cannot be changed due to firmware, and would need to be installed by Apple.

[Meleti]

Why on earth would RAM be limited by OS? Buy some 1333 or 1600 RAM and you're fine.

iMac RAM is easy to install: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installi...nch-RAM/1630/1

[Deleted]

Where did you hear that ?
You can change the RAM without any trouble (same limitations as in any other PC, you need type of RAM your motherboard supports and have to check the maximum), change the hard disk (again, same thing), exchange de DVD player for another disk if it's a MBP (you'd need a case if you want to try that but anyway, it's possible), and some people also manage to change other parts but then it might become a bit trickier (again, I'm talking about their laptops and iMac, MacPro are completely standard nowadays)

MacOS is optimized for the hardware Apple uses, they want it OPTIMIZED, not COMPLETELY CLOSED.

Edit : And NO, just check Crucial buy 8Gb for 45-55€, that's it. There is no way in hell you need to spend 200$ for memory.

This. I couln't have said it better myself

[TaintedOne]

Why on earth would RAM be limited by OS? Buy some 1333 or 1600 RAM and you're fine.

iMac RAM is easy to install: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installi...nch-RAM/1630/1

True story: About 3 years ago my friends room mate who hates pc's/Microsoft with a fiery passion had the dvd drive go out on his Mac desktop. So he called Apple and they wanted $350.00 to send him a new one. He went down to best buy and bought an external for $25 and claimed he got better performance out of it.

So to answer your question why on earth would RAM be limited by OS? Its mind boggling what Apple does sometimes to limit its users freedom over their own systems and it never hurts to ask if your not sure / familiar with Apples policies.

I know I haven't a clue what they currently are but I know in the past it used to be horrific.

[Deleted]

RAM is considered user-serviceable in Apple computers, how to replace it should be in the manual (Macbook Air excluded since they decided to solder the RAM straight to the motherboard to make it thinner).

As for other parts, it depends on which Apple computer you're using. The Mac Pro pretty much lets you swap most common parts out (drives, RAM, CPUs as long as they are supported by the firmware and you can replace the firmware in some cases, graphics card), the iMac is a trickier beast but if you know what you're doing and have patience and the right tools you can swap out the hard drive/SSD there as well (despite some companies that interestingly enough specialize in performing these upgrades claiming you can't), you can also swap out the DVD-R/W unit for another drive IIRC (and the 27" iMac has space for two internal hard drives and an extra SATA port internally but I don't remember if they come with the drive sled for the second drive installed if you buy it with just one drive).

[Deleted]

I don't think you'll have an issue with Mac OS X - some older Macs had a hardware limit where you couldn't have more than 3 MB for example, even though you could buy 4MB RAM that would fit into the slots. Just make sure the RAM you have matches the specs set forth by Apple in the hardware manual and that the total RAM won't exceed the hardware maximum.

You won't need 'apple issued' ram. I can officaly vouch to have Kingston valu ram in both my PowerPC G5 imac. and I installed 8GB into a Mac Book Pro 13" 2010. Kingston make exact ram for these, off the top of my head, the 8GB only cost €45 a stick.

[mafao]

Most of this has already been said in the thread, I will still repeat it for the sake of completeness.

The only Apple computer which cannot be upgraded at all is the Macbook Air (because most stuff is soldered on in order to reduce the form factor). Other Apple laptops allow you to upgrade RAM and HDD/SSD (both user-upgradable parts), on iMac you can upgrade RAM (it is also possible to update other components, but it involves a complete disassembly of the computer and may void the warranty). Mac Pro ist almost completely upgradeable, its also one of the coolest tower systems to work with I have ever seen.