JEPlanet
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Q: Installed addl RAM on late 2013 iMac, now shuts down randomly

It's the right kind of RAM, showing up in About this Mac. Works fine when I restart, stays going as long as I am working, then shuts down when I walk away for a few minutes. Upon restarting, I get the little gray box with Your Mac shut down because of a problem error message. Anybody else run into this?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Jun 20, 2015 7:43 AM

by JEPlanet,Solvedanswer
JEPlanet JEPlanet
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A:

So, took the new RAM out, and machine running perfectly again. Returned new RAM, which my iMac did recognize but obviously did not like, and re-ordered from Crucial, using their handy identifier tool. Fingers crossed that RAM directly from Crucial will fix problem. Thanks to Allan Jones and den.thed.

Posted on Jun 22, 2015 10:55 AM

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Q: Installed addl RAM on late 2013 iMac, now shuts down randomly

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  • by Allan Jones,Helpful

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Jun 20, 2015 7:51 AM in response to JEPlanet
    Level 8 (35,151 points)
    iPad
    Jun 20, 2015 7:51 AM in response to JEPlanet

    Sounds like incompatible RAM by brand and/or quality. Macs are picky about RAM quality and, although a module may meet the basic specs, it may still not work. Going way back to when Apple switched to Intel processors, we starting seeing reports of bargain RAM not working in Intel-powered Macs even though their speed ratings were correct.

     

    Kingston ValueRAM is the worst offender historically, and we see a number of simlar problem reports with Corsair RAM. In almost every case, replacing that RAM with RAM from Crucial or Other World Computing fixed the problem.

     

    So, can you tell us what RAM you bought?

  • by JEPlanet,

    JEPlanet JEPlanet Jun 20, 2015 9:23 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2015 9:23 AM in response to Allan Jones

    Actually, it is Crucial, which, from what I had read, should work fine on this iMac. Thank you very much for responding to my question!

  • by den.thed,Helpful

    den.thed den.thed Jun 20, 2015 10:08 AM in response to JEPlanet
    Level 7 (27,560 points)
    Jun 20, 2015 10:08 AM in response to JEPlanet

    The correct Crucial RAM for your model should work.

    iMac: Memory specifications and upgrades - Apple Support

     

    Did you buy it directly for Crucial or at least use their web site to verify that it is the correct RAM for your model...?

    http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/apple-memory

     

    If you bought the RAM directly from Crucial, then contact them for support and/or replacement RAM.

    If you did not buy the RAM from Crucial, then return it and buy some directly from either Crucial or OWC.

  • by JEPlanet,Solvedanswer

    JEPlanet JEPlanet Jun 22, 2015 10:55 AM in response to den.thed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 22, 2015 10:55 AM in response to den.thed

    So, took the new RAM out, and machine running perfectly again. Returned new RAM, which my iMac did recognize but obviously did not like, and re-ordered from Crucial, using their handy identifier tool. Fingers crossed that RAM directly from Crucial will fix problem. Thanks to Allan Jones and den.thed.