Ibook ram upgrade, what MHZ?

[ziomatrixacs]

Im looking for some ram for my Ibook.. I want to get a 256mb chip from ifixit.com since its only $20. I have a 12" ibook G4, with a 1.2ghz ppc processor. The part im not sure about is the MHZ rating. One chip says 333mhz and the other says something in the 200 range. I know bigger is better but im not sure if its compatible with my ibook. Could anyone offer some insight on this?

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Use the following configurator to see what kind of RAM your iBook needs... I'm thinking it's either PC2100 or PC2700; everything listed under "iBook (Early 2004)" lists PC2700, which is 333MHz, but that may be backward-compatible with PC2100 (which is 200MHz).

http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Models.cfm?stype=Memory&2812

 

[ziomatrixacs]

I used mac tracker, and it says I either have the late or the early 2004 model

It says this for the late model:
1 - PC-2100 DDR266 200-pin SO-DIMM (PC-2700 supported; however it will run at only 266 MHz)

And it says this for the early model
1 - PC-2100 DDR266 200-pin SO-DIMM (PC-2700 supported; however it will run at only 266 MHz)



http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/2700DDRS256/

$4 for this ram chip??? Really?

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Yep, it's small in size (only 512MB), and it's "used" in the sense that it was pre-installed in another machine, then pulled out of that machine and put up for sale.

Old (read: technologically old) RAM is super-cheap.

 

[ziomatrixacs]

So that $4 ram would work in my ibook? That link was to a 256mb chip, not 512mb.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/2700DDRS256/

just a double check. Shoot, I was about to pay $20 for 256mb ram at ifixit.com. I rather just get the $3.50 chip. I just hope it works.

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Whoops, yep, typo... 256MB chip -- another reason why it's so cheap.

Just remember that you only have one RAM slot in that iBook, with a factory-installed chip of 256MB (which I think is either non-replaceable, or only replaceable by taking a lot of the computer apart). So, if you really want to "max" the RAM out, you need to get a 1GB RAM stick (for a total of 1.25GB).

If you add the 256MB RAM stick you linked to, then you will have 512MB of RAM (256MB on-board RAM + 256MB RAM chip) and will be able to go no further.

 

[ziomatrixacs]

I know, Id like to put that much ram into my comptuer but I cant afford it ATM. Its only $4 anyways.

So that ram chip will work for sure?

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

It should work, yes.

There's no harm in calling OWC/MacSales directly and verifying, though -- they're smart and helpful over there.