15 What kind of memory should I use in my Mac? (Macintosh hardware)
Description
This article is from the Macintosh hardware FAQ, by Elliotte Rusty Harold elharo@shock.njit.edu with numerous contributions by others.
15 What kind of memory should I use in my Mac? (Macintosh hardware)
The easiest way to get this question answered is to ask your friendly,
mail-order memory dealer. If you tell them what model of Mac you
have, what memory you already have in your Mac, and how much you want
to add, they should be able to tell you exactly what you need.
Memory comes in many configurations. All desktop Macs from the Plus
through the Quadra 700, 900, and 950 use 30-pin SIMMs that normally
need to be added four at a time (except in the SE, the Plus and the
Classics where they're added two at a time and in the IIfx which uses
special 64-pin SIMMs that still need to be added four at a time).
Later Quadras, the LC III, and the Centris's use 72-pin SIMMs that
can be added one SIMM at a time. NuBus based PowerMacs also use
72-pin SIMMs but need them installed in pairs. All portable Macs
(PowerBooks, Duos, and the Portable) have one RAM slot to hold a special
card with extra RAM. Finally the PCI bus based PowerMacs use 110-pin
DIMM's (dual inline memory modules) that can be installed singly but
should be installed in pairs for maximum performance.
The chart below gives details for each model of Mac. For each model
it lists how much RAM is soldered to the motherboard, how many slots
are available to hold more RAM, what size memory is available for
those slots, different possible RAM configurations, what type of
memory is used (30-pin SIMM, 72-pin SIMM, or card type,) the minimum
speed of the RAM you should use in that model, and how many SIMMs or
cards need to be replaced or added at the same time.
Available Physical RAM Minimum Upgrade
CPU Onboard Slots Sizes Configs (MB) Pins Speed in
__________ _______ _____ _________ _____________ ____ _____ _____
Plus 0 4 256K,1M 1,2.5,4 30 150ns 2
SE 0 4 256K,1M 1,2,2.5,4 30 150ns 2
SE/30 0 8 256K,1M 1,2,4,5,8,16 30 120ns 4
4M,16M 17,20,32,64
65,68,80,128
Classic 1 3 256K,1M 1,2,2.5,4 30 120ns 2
Classic II 2 2 1M,2M,4M 2,4,6,10 30 120ns 2
Color Classic 4 2 1M,2M,4M 4,6,8,10 30 120ns 2
Mac II 0 8 256K,1M 1,2,4,5,8,17 30 120ns 4
4M,8M,16M 20,33,36,65,68
Mac IIx 0 8 256K,1M 1,2,4,5,8,16,17 30 120ns 4
4M,8M,16M 20,32,33,36,64
65,68,80,96,128
Mac IIcx 0 8 256K,1M 1,2,4,5,8,16,17 30 120ns 4
4M,8M,16M 20,32,33,36,64
65,68,80,96,128
Mac IIci 0 8 256K,512K 1,2,3,4,5,6,8 30 80ns 4
1M,4M,8M 16,17,18,20,32
16M 33,34,36,64,65
66,68,80,96,128
Mac IIsi 1 4 256K,512K 1,2,3,5,17,33 30 80ns 4
1M,4M,8M 65
16M
Mac IIvi 4 4 256K,512K 4,5,6,8,20,36 30 80ns 4
1M,4M,8M 36,68
16M
Mac IIvx 4 4 256K,512K 4,5,6,8,20,36 30 80ns 4
(Performa 600) 1M,4M,8M 36,68
16M
Mac IIfx 0 8 1M,4M,16M 4,8,16,20,32 64 80ns 4
64,68,80,128
LC 2 2 1M,2M,4M 2,4,6,8,10 30 120ns 2
LC II 4 2 1M,2M,4M 4,6,8,10 30 120ns 2
LC III 4 1 1M,2M,4M 4,5,6,8,12,20 72 80ns 1
8M,16M,32M 36
LC 520 4 1 1M,2M,4M 4,5,6,8,12,20 72 80ns 1
8M,16M,32M 36
LC 550 4 1 1M,2M,4M 4,5,6,8,12,20 72 80ns 1
8M,16M,32M 36
LC 575 4 1 1M,2M,4M 4,5,6,8,12,20 72 80ns 1
8M,16M,32M 36
LC 5200 4 2 4M,8M,16M 8,12,16,24,40 72 80ns 1
32M 64
Centris 610 4 2 4M,8M,16M 4,8,12,16,20,24 72 80ns 1
32M 28,36,52,68
Centris 650 8 4 4M,8M,16M 8,12,16,20,24 72 80ns 1
32M 32,40,68,72,132
Centris 660av 4 2 4M,8M,16M 4,8,12,16,20,24 72 70ns 1
32M 28,36,52,68
Quadra 605 4 1 4M,8M,16M 4,8,12,20,36 72 80ns 1
32M
Quadra 610 4 2 4M,8M,16M 4,8,12,16,20,24 72 80ns 1
32M 28,36,52,68
Quadra 630 4 1 4M,8M,16M 4,8,12,20,36 72 80ns 1
32M
Quadra 650 8 4 4M,8M,16M 8,12,16,20,24 72 80ns 1
32M 32,40,68,72,132
Quadra 660av 4 2 4M,8M,16M 4,8,12,16,20,24 72 70ns 1
32M 28,36,52,68
Quadra 700 4 4 1M,4M,16M 4,8,20,68 30 80ns 4
Quadra 800 8 4 4M,8M,16M 8,12,16,20,24 72 60ns 1
32M 28,32,36,40,44
48,52,56,60,64
68,72,80,84,88
104,108,112,120,132
Quadra 840av 0 4 4M,8M,16M 8,12,16,20,24 72 60ns 1
32M 28,32,36,40,44,48,52,56
60,64,68,72,76,80,84,88
96,100,104,112,128
Quadra 900 0 16 1M,4M,16M 4,8,12,16,20 30 80ns 4
24,28,32,36,40,48,52,64
64,68,72,76,80,84,88,96
100,112,128,132,136,144
148,160,192,196,208,256
Quadra 950 0 16 1M,4M,16M 4,8,12,16,20 30 80ns 4
24,28,32,36,40,48,52,64
64,68,72,76,80,84,88,96
100,112,128,132,136,144
148,160,192,196,208,256
PowerMac 6100 8 2 4M,8M,16M 8,16,24,40,68 72 80ns 2
32M
PowerMac 7100 8 4 4M,8M,16M 8,16,24,32,40 72 80ns 2
32M 48,56,72,80,88
104,132
PowerMac 7200 0 4 8M,16M,32M 8,16,24,32,40, 110 80ns 1
64M 48,56,64,72,80,
88,96,104,112,
120,128,136,144,152,160,168,
176,192,200,208,224,256
PowerMac 7500 0 8 8M,16M,32M 8,16,24,32,40, 110 80ns 1
64M 48,56,64,72,80,
88,96,104,112,120,
128,136,144,152,160,168,176,184,192,
200,208,216,224,232,240,248,256,264,
272,280,288,296,304,312,320,328,336,
344,352,360,368,376,384,392,400,408,
416,424,432,448,456,464,480,512
PowerMac 8100 8 8 4M,8M,16M 8,16,24,32,40 72 80ns 2
32M 48,56,64,72,80,
88,96,104,112,120,
128,136,144,152,
160,168,176,184,
208,216,232,264
PowerMac 8500 0 8 8M,16M,32M 8,16,24,32,40, 110 80ns 1
64M 48,56,64,72,80,
88,96,104,112,120,
128,136,144,152,160,168,176,184,192,
200,208,216,224,232,240,248,256,264,
272,280,288,296,304,312,320,328,336,
344,352,360,368,376,384,392,400,408,
416,424,432,448,456,464,480,512
PowerMac 9500 0 12 8M,16M,32M 8,16,24,32,40, 110 80ns 1
64M 48,56,64,72,80,
88,96,104,112,
120,128,136,144,152,160,168,176,
184,192,200,208,216,224,232,240,
248,256,264,272,280,288,296,304,
312,320,328,336,344,352,360,368,
376,384,392,400,408,416,424,432,
440,448,456,464,472,480,488,496,
504,512,520,528,536,544,552,560,
568,576,584,592,600,608,616,624,
632,640,648,656,664,672,680,688,
704,712,720,736,768
Portable 1 1 1M,2M,3M,4M 1,2,3,4,5 100ns 1
PowerBook 100 2 1 2M,4M,6M 2,4,6,8 TSOP 100ns 1
PowerBook 140 2 1 2M,4M,6M 2,4,6,8 TSOP 100ns 1
PowerBook 145 2 1 2M,4M,6M 2,4,6,8 TSOP 100ns 1
PowerBook 145b 4 1 2M,4M 4,6,8 TSOP 100ns 1
PowerBook 150 4 1 2M,4M 4,6,8 TSOP 100ns 1
PowerBook 160 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 85ns 1
10M 14
PowerBook 165c 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 85ns 1
10M 14
PowerBook 170 2 1 2M,4M,6M 2,4,6,8 TSOP 100ns 1
PowerBook 180 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 85ns 1
10M 14
PowerBook 180c 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 85ns 1
10M 14
PowerBook 520 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 70ns 1
10M,32M 14,36
PowerBook 520c 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 70ns 1
10M,32M 14,36
PowerBook 540 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 70ns 1
10M,32M 14,36
PowerBook 540c 4 1 4M,6M,8M 4,8,10,12 TSOP 70ns 1
10M,32M 14,36
PowerBook 5300 8,16 1 4M,8M,16M, 8,16,24,32 ???? ???? 1
(all models) 32M,48M 40,64
Duo 210 4 1 4M,8M,10M 4,8,12,14,16 85ns 1
12M,14M 18,24,32
20M,28M
Duo 230 4 1 4M,8M,10M 4,8,12,14,16 85ns 1
12M,14M 18,24,32
20M,28M
Duo 250 4 1 4M,8M,10M 4,8,12,14,16 85ns 1
12M,14M 18,24,32
20M,28M
Duo 270c 4 1 4M,8M,10M 4,8,12,14,16 85ns 1
12M,14M 18,24,32
20M,28M
Duo 280 4 1 4M,8M,10M 4,8,12,14,16 70ns 1
12M,14M 18,24,32,40
20M,28M,36M
Duo 280c 4 1 4M,8M,10M 4,8,12,14,16 70ns 1
12M,14M, 18,24,32,40
20M,28M,36M
The Mac Classic requires an adapter card to expand the RAM from 1 MB.
This card includes 1 MB of extra memory and has two SIMM slots that
can either be left empty or filled with 256K or 1MB SIMMs. The slots
must be filled with the same size SIMM.
The Color Classic, LC, and LC II can only address 10 megabytes of
real RAM even if twelve megabytes of physical RAM are installed.
In the Mac II the first memory bank can only hold 256K or 1MB SIMMs
unless the FDHD upgrade is installed. Otherwise 4, 8, and 16 MB
SIMMs can to be installed only in Bank B. Furthermore both the Mac
II and IIx need an extra PAL chip on each four-megabyte or larger
SIMM as well as the normal eight DRAM chips. This is not the same as
the nine-chip SIMM used by PC's and workstations.
The Quadra 700 requires non-composite, low-profile 16 megabyte SIMMs
to fit under the internal hard drive. Composite SIMMs should also
not be used on 68040 AV Macs as they are practically guaranteed to
cause problems with the system due to the extra load and timing
required. Specifically you need to avoid 16MB SIMMs that use 32
4M-bit DRAMs rather than 8 16M-bit DRAMs.
PowerBooks use pseudo-static thin small-outline package cards
(TSOP's) of varying capacities. Duo's use special low-power,
self-refreshing dynamic RAM cards. Be sure to specify the model
you're ordering for when buying PowerBook RAM.
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