14 DAY TRIAL // If you’re out to get some RAM for your new iMac and think you can do better than Apple (price-wise), it might be a good idea to check out the official memory specifications before leaving the house.
Apple’s KB article HT5908 explains that the newest (Late 2013) iMacs are pretty much the same as the ones before them, in that the RAM is only user-accessible on the 27-inch model.
If you have this model you can safely journey over to OWC’s site and order yourself a nice 32GB upgrade kit for total bragging rights among your Apple fanboy circles.
But first, you need to know which type of RAM your iMac accepts.
Apple says, “iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) computers have four SDRAM slots in a compartment located on the rear of the computer.”
“The computer comes with at least 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM installed as two 4 GB DIMMs into two slots. The maximum amount of RAM you can install in your computer is 32 GB (an 8 GB SO-DIMM in each slot),” the company reveals.
Apple then notes that users can source any SO-DIMM modules that meet all of the following criteria: PC3-12800, unbuffered, nonparity, 204-pin, 1600 MHz, DDR3 SDRAM.
Now for the specs that your iMac doesn’t accept:
“DIMMs with any of the following features do not work in iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) computers,” Apple says: registers or buffers, PLLs, ECC, parity, EDO RAM.
Finally, the document directs customers to another Support article which shows how to properly install new memory on your Mac: “iMac (27-inch, Late 2012 and later): Installing or replacing memory.”
Apple stresses that owners of a 21.5-inch iMac model must visit an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for memory upgrades (though we’re pretty sure iFixit has us covered with a special screwdriver and a demo video).