iMac: 16 GB or 20 GB?

I'm running an iMac 3.4 GHz Intel quad core i7. I want to upgrade my RAM from the installed 4GB (2X2GB). The Applecare reps tell me that I can't configure beyond 16GB (4X4GB); that higher RAM will not be recognized or even cause a problem. The guy at the Apple dealer (Microcenter) tells me that I can install two 8 GB chips in two additional slots and leave the 2X2GB chips in place and have a total of 20 GBs of RAM. The dealer is not making more money that way. It would actually be less.
I'm compressing 60 minute videos for the Youtube and I need as much speed as possible.

What's the right answer?

Thanks,
Phil

[ that higher RAM will not be recognized or even cause a problem.]

??? Thought those days were over. And with 4 slots available why not go to 32GB? Are the original 4GB soldered to the motherboard or what?

- Loren

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No. This is what the Apple reps say. Why? I don't know.

Specifically which iMac are you running? The 2012 27" or the 21.5"? The 27" iMac is configurable up to 32GBs. The 21.5" has un-upgradable RAM.

[eshop.macsales.com]



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The 27", thanks.

You've got 4 slots and you can put what you like in them as long as it's compatible with your rig and properly paired (at least, I think you still have to pair correctly). FCP 7 or earlier won't use more than 4GB of RAM - maybe this is what they were referring to?

Really? Is that true about FCP 7?

Yup. I mean, you'll have some extra system resources if you've got more than 4GB, but FCP itself won't improve much.

Yup. FCP7 uses a very old code base that was written in the late 1990s, which limits the amount of RAM it is capable of addressing to 4GBs, with over 1GB reserved for the OS and background processes (which means FCP effectively is only able to use roughly 2.5 gigs of RAM). This is one of the reasons FCP is a crash fest if you do not manage the project well.



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Thanks. That's good to know. This does not apply to FCP X, correct? It's 64 bits.

Correct.



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