G5 Memory Shows Up as PC2-3200U-288?

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G5 Memory Shows Up as PC2-3200U-288?

Just installed new PC2-5300 RAM in a G5 running Leopard..however it shows up as PC2-3200U-288

Any ideas why this would be happening?

Thanks!

Frank

Posted on Jan 28, 2008 6:34 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 28, 2008 6:37 PM in response to frankmcma

"however it shows up as PC2-3200U-288"

Because that's what a G5 uses...PC-3200, and no matter what faster RAM you put in there, it will only run at 3200 speeds, and therefore that's what it recognizes it as.

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Answer 2

frankmcma Author

Level 1

23 points

Jan 28, 2008 6:46 PM in response to Templeton Peck

So that is 400MHz correct?

The reason it is odd is because I took out some older RAM chips from the G5 which all showed as PC2-4200 in the system profiler.

So I thought I was putting faster ram in with PC2-5300

I have a G5 Dual 2GHz

I had 1.5 GB which showed as PC2-4200...took it out..added PC2-5300 and it shows as PC2-3200

Why is faster ram showing up as slower?

Any ideas? I am stumped!

Thanks!

Frank

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Answer 3

frankmcma Author

Level 1

23 points

Jan 28, 2008 8:55 PM in response to frankmcma

My G5 supports 4200:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86414

It is the late 2005 model

Any ideas why the ram is showing incorrectly?

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Answer 4

Feb 3, 2008 5:38 PM in response to frankmcma

This also happened to me. I have looked all over for an answer and haven't really got anywhere. I ran the hardware test from the disk and it shows the RAM as "unknownu-288." I bought the memory from Crucial about a year ago and it's supposed to be 533.

I don't think I can return it 😟

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Answer 5

frankmcma Author

Level 1

23 points

Feb 3, 2008 5:41 PM in response to listenson

Yeah I am surprised no one knows the answer...i thought it was a pretty easy question!

Let me know if anyone knows...

Frank

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Answer 6

Feb 3, 2008 6:12 PM in response to frankmcma

Again I've experienced the exact same issue with my Quad G5. I purchased the 5200 memory from crucial and mine displays the exact same of 3200. I contacted Crucial and they assured me that is was an issues with the system profiler not recognising the memory, some kind of glitch. However they said that I would definitely be getting the speed of the 4200. Because I had a pre installed 4200 module from apple when I bought the computer originally, the memory will only run as fast as the lowest paired module. To get the benefits of the 5200 every ram module would have to be 5200.
They offered me a refund and said I could exchange it but I didn't bother. Now that memory has dropped so much in price I'm gonna stick with the recommended 4200 and install the maximum.

I hope this helps

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Answer 7

Feb 11, 2008 7:41 AM in response to frankmcma

G5s with dual cores that use DDR2-533, will not recognize DDR2-667 correctly. These G5s must have the SPD in the memory's EEPROM programmed for 533MHz or the memory will not show up correctly in Apple System Profiler. As a memory manufacturer (TechWorks/Buffalo Technology), we have verified this on these G5 models: M9592LL/A, M9591LL/A, and M9590LL/A.

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Answer 8

frankmcma Author

Level 1

23 points

Feb 11, 2008 9:08 AM in response to memoryman

Good info..thanks!

I less concerned that they show up correctly..just want to make sure they are working correctly. So they work at 667? Or throttle down to 533?

I have had them in for several weeks now..have not had any problems.

Frank

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Answer 9

Apr 10, 2008 9:37 AM in response to frankmcma

I'm having a similar problem, but in my case the sticks aren't labeled with a speed.

Is there a way to verify they are running at 4200 speeds and find out if profiler is wrong, or if they are actually slower?

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Answer 10

Apr 13, 2008 12:31 PM in response to memoryman

A bit off topic, but still G5 and RAM based and since you seem to be an insider....
I have a problem with with two Buffalo DD4003-1Gb in my June 2004 G5. Are there any known problems or is it just a fluke or a bad DIMM?

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