I'm testing ram on a 2010s macbook pro using memtest on the ultimate boot cd. When I run the test, no matter if I have both sticks of ram, or one of the two, it fails at a specific range in the memory. When I
move the ram to a different macbook pro from the same year and run memtest, it passes. Is this a sign of a bad motherboard?
MacBook Pro
You should try using Memtest86 as it may be more up to date than the memory tests on the UB CD.
Are you actually experiencing system issues or are you just running the memory test for other reasons? Memory tests can report false positives. Have you tried running the Apple Diagnostics as well?
A lot of times the memory slot nearest the bottom case goes bad due to bad solder joints. The slot nearest the keyboard seems less likely to fail (although I just encountered a laptop last week with this slot bad -- first one that I can remember). It is very unusual to see both memory slots fail at the same time or even both memory modules.
If a memory slot is bad, then the Logic Board needs to be replaced.
Keep in mind a power issue with the laptop could make the memory fail.
Is this original Apple memory? Or is it memory that is guaranteed compatible with a Mac? Even memory from Crucial which is not guaranteed to be compatible with a Mac can have compatibility issues. Macs are extremely picky about the memory they use.
You should try using Memtest86 as it may be more up to date than the memory tests on the UB CD.
Are you actually experiencing system issues or are you just running the memory test for other reasons? Memory tests can report false positives. Have you tried running the Apple Diagnostics as well?
A lot of times the memory slot nearest the bottom case goes bad due to bad solder joints. The slot nearest the keyboard seems less likely to fail (although I just encountered a laptop last week with this slot bad -- first one that I can remember). It is very unusual to see both memory slots fail at the same time or even both memory modules.
If a memory slot is bad, then the Logic Board needs to be replaced.
Keep in mind a power issue with the laptop could make the memory fail.
Is this original Apple memory? Or is it memory that is guaranteed compatible with a Mac? Even memory from Crucial which is not guaranteed to be compatible with a Mac can have compatibility issues. Macs are extremely picky about the memory they use.
Is the other MBP the exact same specs for RAM?
My guess is one/both RAM slots are bad or it has not been inserted properly. Macs are very particular about their RAM so it has to be good quality and the exact specs.
Thank you. I'm guessing it's also a bad slot because when I test the individual sticks in the machine it gets the error at the same memory range. I will attempt to clean it. Normally, is the fix for bad ram slots is a new motherboard?
Thanks so much again. I never ran the apple test because I didn't have a way of making a bootable usb in apple format but I ran the new memtest and it passed even after letting it run for days. Your information was very helpful.
Thank you. I will try those two now. The ram sticks that came in it were two OWC 4 gig. I looked it up and it claims to be compatible. I will update you after I try out your recommended programs.
Ram test fails, but when I move ram to other computer it passes
