iMac Intel 27" EMC 2309 and 2374 RAM Replacement

Written By: Andrew Bookholt
  • Comments: 18
iMac Intel 27" EMC 2309 and 2374 RAM Replacement

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

3

Time Required

5 - 10 minutes

Introduction

Upgrade RAM modules for an instant boost in speed.

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    • Loosen the three Phillips screws securing the access door to the bottom edge of your iMac.

    • These screws will remain captive in the access door.

    • Remove the access door from your iMac.

    • During reassembly, fasten the access door loosely and align it with the pocket cut into the outer case of the iMac before fully tightening the screws.

    I am going to put a very important comment here. Before you start this process listen to the fans on your iMac do any of them sound obviously loud (think about how quiet your iMac used to sound as a reference) If you notice one or more of them sounding substantially loud compared to the others consider locating a replacement fan prior starting this process. After all if you are already “in the neighborhood” it is a shame to do all this work only to have to disassemble your imac a couple weeks later because you realize the fan is failing. I speak from my own personal learning experience of having to disassembly my iMac 3 weeks later because the HDD was failing and apparently the moving the fan around was just enough to push it to start really under performing.

    Wizbang FL -

    I’m not sure why it is necessary to remove the RAM. As far as I can tell, it can remain in place during this procedure.

    gordonhamachi -

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    • Use your fingers or the tip of a spudger to slide the black plastic RAM tray pull tab out of the RAM slot.

    Bonjour, j’ai arraché la languette. Conséquence, elle est inutilisable et je ne peux pas retirer la barrette. Comment faire autrement ? Est-ce que cet outil peut être utile ?

    Robert Ainstain -

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    • Pull the black plastic tab away from the iMac to eject the RAM chip from its socket.

    • The RAM modules are firmly seated and may require a fair amount of force to remove.

    • Use your fingers to slide the RAM chip out of its socket.

    • If necessary, repeat this process for the other RAM module(s).

    How many 4MB cards can I install?

    nowsc -

    None. 4mb ram is too old to fit into any computer manufactured after like 1998.

    Brett Davison -

    @Brett

    I suggest that you learn your unit symbols before you try to appear clever:

    4mb == 4 milli bits

    4MB == 4 mega bytes

    nowsc was obviously meaning 4GB not 4MB, try not to be a dick.

    Simon -

    Just for the records :

    4 millibits are 0,000000004 MB

    There was never any RAM in mb and the question states MB and nobody except you is talking of millibits.

    You are also a dick if you try to spread “your knowledge” nobody has asked for

    Hein Blöd -

    Take care to note which way out the RAM comes - there is a notch in each RAM and it is not centered, therefore either the notch will be on the left or to the right (depending on which way up you have your iMac). This will make it easier to replace the RAM without damaging anything.

    Mike Haines -

    If damaged the notch inside one pair of RAM slots, is it fixable ?

    Gavriil Bordyukov -

    its not that hard to say that you can add up to 4GB sticks, bringing a total to 16GB

    Charlie Amis -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Andrew Bookholt

585795 Reputation

8 comments

Interestingly, the mid 2011 iMac 27 inch also goes to 12GB!

I originally thought I'd be upgrading to 8GB today but found 4 slots instead of 2 :-)

As long as the two front (close to the screen) slots are paired with the exact same RAM config.

For example:

Two front slots Apple 2GB chips = 4GB.

Two rear slots, Crucial Lexar 4GB chips = 8GB

Total 12GB

Hoorah no waste and more RAM, come on Lion... I'm Ready!

spaceshipdev -

Need a#0 screwdriver, not #1

vince Greco -

Be sure to really push the RAM all the way into the socket. I had a "no RAM" error beep when I first booted up my iMac after doing this. Just an extra two millimetres was all it needed to be properly installed. It can be quite tough to get in.

Magda Stremeski -

Hi,

I've got a 2309 and just received my two additional 4GB RAM Cards. Put them in and I can say that the speed improved (now with 16GB). Not dramatically, however, some applications did always show the little rainbow disc when my Mac was "thinking". This is now gone.

I am on OS X 10.9.5 still and the whole Mac feels as if it can "breathe" more lightly with the additional RAM.

Thanks!

peterschiemann -

My 11,1 27” 2.66Ghz iMac happy eats up all the 4x8GB I put in there.

Brad Anderson -

Ditto here.

I’m currently running in Recovery Mode awaiting a lesser replacement video card to get by with until I do the dreaded bake for this 4850. I’m not sure if anything will change once I can boot into normal mode or not, but here’s what I’m seeing now-

Strangely enough, I realized after booting that I had bought completely the wrong ram.I don’t know what the heck I was thinking! All seems fine, though. Currently as it sits, things are running fine with 32GB of “Crucial 8GB DDR3 Laptop DDR3L 1600MHz 204-Pin Sodimm PC3L-12800 1.35V Memory” (ebay description). I’m not sure if this will cause any issues or not- if someone else knows better, please chime in!

“About This Mac” reports that it is running at 1333Mhz, but specs call for 1066Mhz?

No erratic behaviour as of yet.

Matt

Matt -

I agree with Magda the boards are not easy to install.

I used a piece of wood the length of the board to help push the board in.

dan1947kelly -

Hi I have 27” A1312 2309 and originally 2X2GB purchase same type 2X8GB and now getting 3short beeps with the new rams when install alone or combine with the old memories is my mac doesn’t support 8GB sticks?

Any comments on that greatly appreciated guys!

YCL Corp -