Skip to main content

Model A1311 / Mid 2011 / 2.5 & 2.7 GHz Core i5 or 2.8 GHz Core i7 Processor

429 Questions View all

What is the maximum RAM that the 2011 21" iMac can take?

On intel.com the processor in my machine is the i5-2400S. It is listed as being able to support 32 GB of RAM.

Can the board in the iMac support that much?

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Score 1
1 Comment

imac mid 2011 21" too: 32gb max 1333 1,5v

by

Add a comment

4 Answers

Chosen Solution

Everymac has the maximum listed as 16 GB: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/im...

By default, 4 GB of RAM is installed as two 2 GB SO-DIMM modules. Two slots free. This model supports four 4 GB modules -- one in each slot for a maximum of 16 GB of memory.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 7

8 Comments:

I installed 32 gb ram in my mid 2011 iMac 2.7 GHz without issues it addresses 32 gb/recognizes it

by

Findings change over time. Everymac now has it listed at 32. We also now know what Pluto looks like.

by

While its cool to push the limits, do you have an app they can even leverage this much RAM or can you even load up multiple apps that collectively would leverage this much! We work on very large CAD & DB files and we are just bumping up to 12GB. While we don't run many apps concurrently I just don't see the need yet to push past 16GB.

by

@Mayer - I like it! ;-}

by

Show 3 more comments

Add a comment

Hi Mayer, the Everymac website says

"Officially, this model supports four 4 GB modules -- one in each slot for a maximum of 16 GB of memory. However, third-parties have discovered that it actually will support 32 GB of memory using four 8 GB modules."

what do you think? is the 32 GB correct info?

Update

Daniel Shugert, where did you buy the 2x8gb chips? do they have an specification for Mac? i thing something related to Mhz speed i guess. Cheers.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1

1 Comment:

I have a 2011 21" iMac i5. I installed 4 8GB RAM from Crucial. It struggled a little bit and finally worked flawlessly. I am using these RAMs to run multiple VMs with Parallels Desktop.

by

Add a comment

i have 20gb installed. the stock 2x2gb and an additional 2x8gb chips

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1

2 Comments:

i got them here:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.a...

they're now almost half what i paid for them. may just have to grab another couple of sets and bump the iMac up to 32 and the i5 mac mini we have up to 16.

by

I just got this now, how is your mac running? Ever since?

by

Add a comment

I have seen this model work with 4 x 8GB = 32 GB

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1

2 Comments:

But are there any downsides. I am told there may be a throttling of the memory making it slower. Is this correct?

by

Unless you are working with very large data sets, images or video animation. One does not need this much RAM. We do some very large CAD drawings and 16 GB is more than enough.

by

Add a comment

Add your answer

Matthew Brusven will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 5

Past 7 Days: 33

Past 30 Days: 121

All Time: 32,672