2019 Mac Pro Bottom Memory Slots Not Working

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Level 1

12 points

2019 Mac Pro Bottom Memory Slots Not Working

So I purchased a used Mac Pro off of Ebay and after getting everything setup it shows that the Memory is all installed on the top section. So after getting everything the way I like it I opened it up to find that Memory is actually in the bottom slots. So I took everything out and put it back in like it should be. Booted up and non of the stuff on the bottom shows up at all. I even tried just booting with ram on the bottom and it won't boot. As a extra point the speaker has been removed at some point and the cable ripped from the housing. I don't thing that should have anything to do with this but thought that I would at that note. I have now filled all the ram in the top slots and it works but I know this is not ideal. Any Ideas? I feel like I may have been screwed!

Current Pro Desktops

Posted on May 5, 2022 3:17 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

140,309 points

May 5, 2022 4:38 PM in response to Rubicon0630

What module goes in what slot is more complicated in this machine than ANY Mac that came before it. You need to follow one of the MANY charts in this article to have any hope of working RAM:

Install and replace memory in your Mac Pro (2019) - Apple Support

Also, it would be prudent to test smaller groups of modules so that you know you are starting with modules that have some hope of working.

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Answer 2

Johnb-one

Level 6

9,180 points

May 5, 2022 2:48 PM in response to Rubicon0630

Hmmm… something might be off, might not be right… here’s a link to Apple’s recommendation and guide for installing, removing and configuring RAM/memory sticks/memory modules( whatever you call ‘em) … i’d say stick with that… seeing as how the 2019 Mac Pro is Intel and not M1( at least, not YET) it should respond to resetting the smc/pmu and zapping the pram at least 3 times on startup… how to do that can be found Here; see link: https://www.macworld.com/article/224955/how-to-reset-a-macs-nvram-pram-and-smc.html.. yes… your 2019 should have an internal speaker and it should connected internally… however to solve that problem( officially anyways) you should take it in for service… or find an AASP ( apple authorized service provider) and contact them.. some parts Apple considers user -replaceable… here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210556

the internal speaker + cable ain’t one of ‘em…

john B

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Answer 3

wjpjr

Level 1

101 points

May 5, 2022 5:36 PM in response to Rubicon0630

That's a weird memory configuration for a 2019 Mac Pro. The base 2019 ships with 32GB (4 x 8GB DIMMs). Take 4 of the 8GB DIMMs and put 2 in slots 3 & 5 and 2 in slots 8 & 10. If that memory configuration doesn't work then I think you got screwed. Both the upper and lower memory slots need to be populated for a balanced configuration.

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Answer 4

Rubicon0630 Author

Level 1

12 points

May 5, 2022 5:18 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yea I tried a ton of different configurations and no matter what the bottom slots showed nothing. I'm really at a loss. A lot of people said to blow out the slots with a can of air even if they don't look dirty they might be. I guess I'm going to try that tonight. If not there is a apple service provider like an hour and a half from here.

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