Apple Imac 21 5inch Late 2011 User Guide

							Help Center       RAM 
www.apple.com/store 
Boost Your Memory
3  
						

							32Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
Your	iMac	comes	with	at	least	2	gigabytes	(GB)	of	Double	Data	Rate	3	(DDR3)	Dynamic	
Random	Access	memory	(DRAM)	installed	as	one	2	GB	memory	module. 	You	can	
replace	or	install	additional	2	GB	or	4	GB	memory	modules	for	up	to	a	maximum	of		
8	GB. 	Memory	modules	must	meet	the	following	specifications:
	
ÂSmall	Outline	Dual	Inline	Memory	Module	(SO-DIMM)	format
	
Â1333	MHz, 	PC3-10600, 	DDR3	compliant	(also	referred	to	as	DDR3	1333)
	
ÂUnbuffered	and	unregistered
WARNING:  Apple	recommends	that	you	have	an	Apple-certified	technician	install	
memory. 	See	“AppleCare	Service	and	Support” 	on	page	55	for	information	about	how	
to	contact	Apple	for	service. 	If	you	attempt	to	install	memory	and	damage	your	
equipment, 	that	damage	isn’t	covered	by	the	limited	warranty	on	your	iMac. 
						

							33
Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
Installing Memory
Your	iMac	has	four	memory	slots. 	One	is	filled	with	at	least	a	2	GB	memory	module. 	You	
can	install	additional	memory	in	the	free	slots	or	replace	the	memory	in	the	filled	slot	
with	2	GB	or	4	GB	memory	modules, 	for	up	to	8	GB	of	memory.
You	can	purchase	additional	Apple	memory	from	an	Apple	Authorized	Reseller, 	
an	Apple	Retail	Store, 	or	the	Apple	Online	Store	at	www.apple.com/store.
WARNING: Always	shut	down	your	iMac	and	remove	the	power	cord	before	installing	
memory. 	Do	not	attempt	to	install	memory	while	your	iMac	is	plugged	in.
To install memory : 
1  Turn	off 	your	iMac	by	choosing	Apple	()	>	Shut	Down.
2  Disconnect	all	cables	and	the	power	cord	from	your	iMac.
3  Place	a	soft, 	clean	towel	or	cloth	on	your	work	surface. 	Hold	the	sides	of	your	iMac	and	
lay	it	down	so	that	the	screen	rests	on	the	surface	and	the	bottom	faces	you. 
						

							34Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
4 Raise	the	stand	and	use	a	Phillips	#2	screwdriver	to	loosen	the	three	captive	screws	on	
the	memory	access	door .	 Turn	them	counterclockwise.
Phillips
screwdriver
Raise
stand
Memory
access
door
®
5  Remove	the	memory	access	door	and	set	it	aside. 
						

							35
Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
6 Untuck	the	tabs	in	the	memory	compartment. 	
7  To	replace	memory	modules, 	pull	the	tab	to	eject	the	installed	memory	module. 	
Remove	the	memory	modules	you	want	to	replace.
®
Untuck the tabs
Pull the tab 
						

							36Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
8 Insert	the	new	memory	modules	in	the	slots	with	the	notches	facing	right, 	as	shown	in	
the	illustration. 	
	
ÂIf	you	install	additional	memory	modules, 	insert	them	in	the	open	slots.
	
ÂIf	you	replace	the	installed	memory	modules, 	insert	a	new	memory	module	in	each	
of	the	slots	farthest	from	the	display. 	
9  Press	each	memory	module	firmly	and	evenly	into	its	slot. 	You’ll	hear	a	slight	click	when	
the	memory	module	is	seated	correctly.
10  Tuck	the	tabs	into	the	memory	compartment.
®
Memory modulesTuck the tab 
						

							37
Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
11 Replace	the	memory	access	door	and	tighten	the	three	captive	screws	with	a		
Phillips	#2	screwdriver.
WARNING:  Remember	to	replace	the	memory	access	door	after	you	install	memory. 	
Your	iMac	won’t	function	properly	without	the	memory	access	door.
Phillips
screwdriver
Raise
stand
Memory
access
door
®
12  Hold	your	iMac	by	its	sides	and	return	it	to	a	standing	position. 	Then	reconnect	the	
cables	and	power	cord.
13  Press	the	power	button	(®)	on	the	back	of	your	iMac	to	turn	it	on. 
						

							38Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
Making Sure Your iMac Recognizes the New Memory
After	installing	memory, 	make	sure	your	iMac	recognizes	the	new	memory. 	
To check the memory installed in your iMac:
1  Start	up	your	iMac.
2  When	you	see	the	Mac	OS	X	desktop, 	choose	Apple	()	>	About	This	Mac.
You’ll	see	the	total	amount	of	memory	installed	in	your	iMac. 	For	a	detailed	view	of	the	
amount	of	memory	installed, 	open	System	Information	by	clicking	More	Info	and	then	
click	Memory.
If	the	memory	you	installed	doesn’t	meet	specifications	(see	page	32), 	your	iMac	will	
sound	three	tones	every	five	seconds. 	If	this	happens,	shut	down	your	iMac	and	
check	the	installation	instructions	again	to	make	sure	that	the	memory	is	compatible	
with	your	iMac	and	that	it’s	installed	correctly. 	If	you	still	have	problems,	remove	the	
memory	and	consult	the	support	information	that	came	with	the	memory	or	contact	
the	vendor	who	provided	the	memory. 	 
						

							www.apple.com/macosx 
Help Center       help 
www.apple.com/support 
Problem, Meet Solution
4  
						

							40Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Occasionally	you	may	have	problems	while	working	with	your	iMac. 	Read	on	for	
troubleshooting	tips	to	try	when	you	have	a	problem. 	You	can	also	find	more	
troubleshooting	information	in	Help	Center	and	on	the	iMac	Support	website	at	
www.apple.com/support/imac.
If	you	experience	a	problem	working	with	your	iMac, 	there’s	usually	a	simple	and	quick	
solution. 	If	you	encounter	a	problem, 	try	to	make	a	note	of	what	you	did	before	the	
problem	occurred. 	This	can	help	you	narrow	down	the	possible	causes	of	the	problem	
and	then	find	the	answers	you	need. 	Things	to	note:
	
ÂThe	applications	you	were	using	when	the	problem	occurred. 	Problems	that	occur	
only	with	a	specific	application	may	indicate	that	the	application	isn’t	compatible	
with	the	version	of	Mac	OS	X	installed	on	your	iMac.
	
ÂAny	software	that	you	recently	installed.
	
ÂAny	new	hardware	(such	as	additional	memory	or	a	peripheral)	that	you	connected	
or	installed.
WARNING:  Do	not	attempt	to	open	your	iMac, 	except	to	install	memory.	If	your	iMac	
needs	service, 	see	““Learning	More, 	Service,	and	Support” 	on	page	54	for	information	
about	how	to	contact	Apple	or	an	Apple	Authorized	Service	Provider	for	service. 		
Your	iMac	doesn’t	have	any	user-serviceable	parts, 	except	the	memory.