PNY Memory

Sorry to hear you found out the hard way that Kingston value ram, which is generic memory, doesn't work in our Powerbooks. The memory you cited, KTA-PBG4333/1G is the regular 1GB Kingston memory, which works fine.

Crucial and Samsung memory also works well. If you go to http://www.crucial.com , use their memory selector to find the right memory (they guarantee their memory will work when chosen through the memory selector). Samsung is sold through distributors, and I've used OWC at http://www.macsales.com .

When I looked earlier today, Samsung, through OWC, was a little less expensive than Crucial, which was less expensive than the Kingston memory. I've used all 3 memory brands in 1.67Ghz Powerbooks, and they work without issues.

You can also try 18004Memory for the Samsung... it is even cheaper. The caveat is that I have not tried it yet, though they claim it is a Samsung Factory original.

http://www.18004memory.com/focuscfg.asp?upgID=117769&mfgID=6

Hey there. I'm a "newbie" in this forum but am a seasoned poster in the 12-inch PowerBook forum.

I did a Google search on PNY memory to find out its reputation with PowerBooks and I came across this thread as the top hit. I recently acquired last week, a second PowerBook on eBay (third really since my first was the PowerBook "Pismo") to supplement my main portable, the 12-incher and wanted to start by upgrading the RAM to the max.

It came with 768MB and I wanted the 2GB cap.

I know that PowerBooks have had issues with being picky over RAM. Over at the 12-inch forum, I always recommend to people to buy only OEM memory from Samsung, Hynix, or Micron-- all brands that Apple uses in its machines.

When I got my 12-incher new last year (open box at CompUSA), I wanted to make sure I didn't get "cheap" RAM so I went for the Samsung modules.

With this "new" (used) 15-inch PowerBook I'm typing from, I wanted to do the same. However, with the holidays around the corner, and just having bought this machine, I didn't have the money for it. It's $88 at Data Memory Systems, and $99 at Other World Computing. It would cost me $200 altogether by the time I pay tax and shipping. (1GB x 2= 2GB).

I went into Best Buy tonight to see what they had (really by accident... I was returning a Dynex adapter I had bought, a DVI to VGA adapter) and lo and behold?? They have PNY memory, 1GB modules for? $54.99 each. It's for their pre-Thanksgiving sales and ends Wednesday. I got two modules for $120.

I just put them in and crossed my fingers, and bang, they're working great! I was hesitant to use PNY in this PowerBook, only because of the finicky issues I've heard about. But I do use PNY in my other systems. An old iMac G3, and my "top of the line" PowerMac G4 Dual. Never have had any problems with them.

Now it's too early to tell with this PowerBook 15-inch, but I'll be sure to post back here, or in a new thread in the future.

Try it out! If you need some confidence in their memory, I don't know if this is a new thing or if it's always been (I don't think so), I noticed that the Hynix logo is on these RAM modules from PNY!!! I only noticed this when putting the RAM in the slot.

If I had any doubts over this PNY memory being compatible with this 15-inch PowerBook, they've disappeared. It's blazing fast. (My unscientific observation).

I do know never to use Kingston RAM. I always hear bad stories about them. Centon is not as well known, but they are Mac compatible (CompUSA and OfficeMax sell them). I just put one module in for my boss's iMac G4 which was running at 256MB, and I upgraded it to 1GB. Works fine.

By the way, this is the part no. for the PNY memory I bought at Best Buy. "Optima Memory."

N1GBD270PT-BB

(The BB at the end signifies that it was purchased at Best Buy, I think). Go to PNY's website, www.pny.com, and if you search their memory finder for Apple products, you will turn up that same product number for being compatible with the aluminum PowerBook G4 line.

P.S. Don't forget that if you want them, the sale ends Wednesday. If you don't have a Best Buy near you, they're in stock at BestBuy.com... let's hope some other retailer doesn't have a Black Friday sale on these modules and make them less! (Price protection doesn't apply on Black Friday sales).

Now I see this thread again lol, after this weekend I think that even adding 500 more megs (switching out a 512 for a gig)would benefit me so I'm tempted to try it. Does anyone know of anything Pismo 900 can try to stress the ram? If what he is saying is true then this might be an ok replacement.

Jammer Jones,

Don't forget that the sale ends today, Wednesday 11/21. My recommendation is buy it now and then if it doesn't work for you, return it (save your receipt). They told me that I could return it if it doesn't work. I believe RAM is 30 days. (Just checked, it is).

However? It's the holidays, so you have until??

January 31st, 2008 to return it. As long as you have your receipt.

I haven't run into any trouble yet. Do tell me about the stress test. Though, doesn't TechTool do that? I have a CD from an AppleCare package that came with my Mac mini.

The information I have heard about ram and the PB is that the G4 PBs we have , there is a special "slewing" that is needed in the ram. I'm not sure what all this affects or how to test for it. Possibly the test on the Techtool will be able to tell maybe. Right now all the ram in my system is from 2003 and it's all Crucial (I was working for Micron at the time). I just feel with the way I use the PB (so many browser windows open, etc) I need the ram. Right now the PB is doign the duties I woould normal do on my G5 dual 2.0 (4 gigs ram) but that machine is in storage in another state 😟

The information I have heard about ram and the PB is that the G4 PBs we have , there is a special "slewing" that is needed in the ram. I'm not sure what all this affects or how to test for it.

If you google on 'powerbook memory bus slewing' you'll bring up the Apple developer document that discusses it. Essentially, memory bus slewing has to do with controlling the power to the memory bus, reducing it as needed to reduce battery usage and to help control heat. It's not something inherant to the memory itself, so you can't test memory for it. Generally, if the memory won't work, there will be kernel panics.

Ok I ended running around town until I got to Staples, I had them do a price match to the 54.99 per stick. Best Buy and Circuit City had the newer ram type. I will install both sticks and then come back with a report after running for a few days.

What did you mean by "the newer RAM type"?

I went to Staples too tonight just out of curiousity (plus, because they have a Black Friday sale for a 2GB memory kit for $48.99 on Friday... PC2700 RAM, and wanted to see if it was the same thing; they didn't have it on the shelf-- must be a special product offering) and they only have 256MB and 512MB modules in stock.

Glad you were able to get the price match. I do that a lot at Best Buy since I have a "Reward Zone" card and you get the sale price of the other store too. Instead of going to the actual store for the low price and not getting points for it.

Was yours the "Optima Memory" in the gold package or the "Memory Master" in the red packaging? Mine was the gold package. I think the red package is akin to the Kingston "Value RAM" series. The cheapo, only good for PCs line.

I had to hunt for the silver Optima package, everywhere else it was the "Master"with the darker packaging (also marked with speeds up to pc3200). So far the system as been running with the new ram at least 12 hours, also going in and out of sleep mode with no problems. Should I try in battery mode to see if stable?

Message was edited by: Jammer Jones

If you want to test the memory, download rember from http://www.kelleycomputing.net:16080/rember/ and run it overnight. If it passes it's tests, it's good memory.

I've done both, though not extensive or scientific tests. I've run it in power adapter and battery modes, and nothing so far.

Though...

I just noticed this, but Safari and System Preferences did a Windows attitude (unexpectedly quit) a few minutes ago. I reopened them and nothing so far.

I got those on my PowerMac G4 recently, and I'm sure it has to do with the 10.4.11 update. (It can't be the RAM because I installed that on the system back in 2002!!).

P.S. Anyone reading this thread who's interested, CompUSA has a 2-day sale--their after Thanksgiving deals sale--on the same memory we have been talking about here. The PNY Optima Memory PC2700 RAM in 1GB capacity, for $49.99. Since they've closed a lot of stores, the easiest way is to order online. Though it may be sold out for delivery. Those of you with stores nearby, order online--so you don't have to wait in long Black Friday lines--and pickup any time within 72 hours. If you're brave enough, from 7:00a to 12:00p Friday only, they have the PC2700 RAM in 512MB capacity, for $19.99. Good luck! (The 5-hour deal is not available for purchase online)

P.S.S. I don't work for CompUSA. =)'

Message was edited by: Pismo 900

I don't have the original restore discs so I can't do an Apple Hardware Test to do an extended test on the RAM. I will have to acquire those on eBay too, as the seller didn't have his discs available.

David,

I noticed you never responded back to any of us. (Unless you're also "Jammer Jones").

So, which RAM did you end up getting? I only ask, speaking of CompUSA, because as I'm looking at their deals for tomorrow, I noticed that the ACP memory you talked about--never heard of it before until I saw your posting--is on CompUSA's website as being for Mac only.

No wonder why you asked. (I thought it was another SKU or something for the Kingston memory).

In the UK for Thanksgiving? =)

Sorry about the CompUSA treatment. I remember when I got my 12-inch PowerBook, the Apple Solutions rep gave me a discount via their main store manager, because he couldn't find the manuals and original install discs, nor the adapters.

I was allowed three accessories from any department at 10% off.

I went back two days later, because the slipcase I bought was used and the cashier told me to come back later in the week to get a new one substituted. I came back because the case didn't fit. There were no tags on it so the manager wouldn't give me back my money, nor offer the same 10% on a new one. (I told him that was the exact condition I bought it in, so it was their fault for allowing the product to be sold to me in used condition in the first place... his employee signed for it and the current one at the register vouched for the signature on the receipt).

I told him the name of the person who approved the deal. His face went blank and he changed his tone in two seconds and said, "Oh... okay. You dropped the right name so I'm approving." I take it it was the head honcho, a woman, in the store.

This was after protesting WITH evidence on my receipt. I like them and love to hate them. =)

Good luck with your RAM journey when you get back.

P.S. Again, to any readers out there... the PNY memory in Staples one-day sale tomorrow is not PC2700 as advertised. It's $47.98 for a 2GB kit, but does not match the specs in the ad. Online, it shows it to be PC3500, the exact item being offered during the Black Friday sale. However, you CAN order the Optima Memory--the same as has been previously discussed in this thread--for discount online and delivered, for the same price, but for one stick of memory only. Not a 2GB kit. Still a good price! (I do not have info as to whether this discount will be honored in-store).