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Level 1

0 points

Unstable after RAM upgrade

I installed 4GB of Patriot RAM from Fry's. The specs are:

2 x 2GB, DDR3 PC3 8500

Model: PSD34G1066SK

This is the same set at newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220338&Tpk=psd34G1066SK

During various operations, including SuperDuper, downloading files and watching YouTube, the machine froze and I had to restart by holding down the power button.

I've run memtestosx in single user mode and it didn't turn up any issues.

Should I return the RAM and get a replacement set? Should I go with a different brand?

Thoughts?

MacBook (late 2008) 2.4GHZ, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 18, 2008 7:03 PM

237 replies

mmike70

Level 2

324 points

Oct 27, 2008 4:59 AM in response to XJ-linux

I've heard about at least one other case where an apple upgraded macbook is freezing as well.

I'll see how the micron memory fares but I'm not too confident it'll be any better. I've gone through 2 batches of memory from OWC and both caused lockups. The second set I tried didn't lockup the first time until after about 40 hours of uptime.

XJ-linux

Level 1

30 points

Oct 27, 2008 3:03 PM in response to mmike70

Dropped in the OWC 4GB kit this afternoon. I'll disable sleep, etc and let it run on the new MBP for a few days and see what happens. Fingers crossed.

tmiele

Level 1

19 points

Oct 27, 2008 6:31 PM in response to jtokash

Just had my MacBook upgraded to 4GB Ram at an Apple Store. $150 installed (w/exchange of 2GB units).
Seems to be working great right now.
.

jtokash Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 27, 2008 8:23 PM in response to tmiele

That's great! When I asked them last week, they said $400 and didn't mention any refund for the 2GB. I'll take mine into the store ASAP!

Thanks!

Oct 27, 2008 10:42 PM in response to jtokash

I just did the same thing. I called apple earlier in the day and they went through a few things with me like resetting the ram but it didn't help. As soon as we turned it back on while still on the phone, it froze. I decided to go back to the apple store (which is 1 1/2 hours away and the reason I ordered it in the first place because they didn't have the ram when I bought it). They returned my macbook and recharged me for the ram upgrade which came out to $150. I'll just return the Crucial ram. Hope there's no problems there. My laptop seems fine now.

I still don't understand this though. Is there that much bad RAM out there? The people that have had problems upgraded with various brands. It wasn't just one brand that was the problem. So if there is just that much bad RAM out there then why weren't there any problems with the RAM apple supplied? I'm just curious if it's the RAM that is the problem or if it's the macbook?

Oct 28, 2008 2:18 AM in response to colecole79

sounds to me that it is a problem with the macbooks not the ram.

I was going to buy ram from crucial, but now I'm really skeptical on what to do. 😟

aliciar

Level 1

40 points

Oct 28, 2008 4:54 PM in response to crazyxzer0

I have ordered 4gb of Kingston ram so I will post back here if my new mb freezes when it is installed. Have been running for a week with no lock ups on original ram so I hope the new ram will be ok

XJ-linux

Level 1

30 points

Oct 28, 2008 6:39 PM in response to XJ-linux

24+ hours so far - no reboots and no freezes. Fingers crossed.

pal8x

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2008 8:14 PM in response to aliciar

anyone know which ram do apple store use?
Is it Transcend?
i upgraded 4gb ram when purchase mac in apple store (singapore)
i feel system unstable too restart about 9 time since i bought 2 days ago.
regret to upgraded it

JDGT

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2008 8:53 PM in response to jtokash

I had the exact same issue. I purchased the Patriot RAM from Fry's. ( 4GBs ). For some reason after a while the memory becomes unstable and freezes the system up with no warning.

The solution I found - so far no issues - was to

a) Replace the Memory with the original Factory 2GB Memory
b) Upgrade the Memory altogether for 300.00 usd at the Apple Store with Certified RAM Memory.

jtokash Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2008 10:20 PM in response to jtokash

I stopped by the Apple Store today and they upgraded me to 4GB for $150. They called the discount a 'buy back' of the 2GB. Tmiele, thanks for the tip!

So far, no issues, but I've only been using it for an hour.

jf2009

Level 1

1 points

Oct 28, 2008 11:10 PM in response to jtokash

Was this an extreme act of customer service? Or do you think they're doing it a lot now? How would I go about getting this discount? I should've just bought Apple RAM when I configured it online, after it ships, the RAM upgrades become so much more $$$..

pal8x

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2008 11:28 PM in response to jf2009

Anyone here upgraded 4 gb ram from apple store got unstable problem?

jtokash Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2008 11:57 PM in response to jf2009

I got the impression that this is the normal way of doing things now, but I didn't ask too many questions.

jljbiz

Level 1

0 points

Oct 29, 2008 2:32 AM in response to jtokash

Ordered from Crucial and received bad RAM. Went to Apple store had them put it 4GB to test that it wasn't the MBP. Apple store wanted $300. Pulled the Apple RAM and had Crucial send more RAM. Hope the first batch was just unlucky and will repeat until I get good RAM from Crucial.

Unstable after RAM upgrade