iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017 won't boot after RAM upgrade to 64GB

Currently my iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017 has 4 x 8GB DDR4 (2400MHZ) OEM RAM installed.


I wanted to max out the RAM to the full 64GB allowed for my model, so I purchased 4 x 16GB DDR4 RAM (2400MHz) to replace the OEM RAM from the following link on Amazon.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07YDR5MXK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


But when I replace the OEM RAM with the 4 newly purchased RAM, my iMac won’t boot up (no Apple logo or chime sound) just stuck on a black screen when the power button is pressed. I've left it in this state for a few minutes as I understand it takes 30secs or so for the iMac to recognise the new RAM, but still nothing.

 

If I remove all the OEM RAM and install 1 of the newly purchased RAM sticks on its own, the machine boots up.  I’ve tested all 4 of the new RAM sticks individually and all 4 boot up the machine and are recognised.


I can then add a 2nd and 3rd newly purchased RAM stick and the iMac still boots up.  But once I add the 4th new RAM stick the iMac fails to boot and remains on a black screen.


If I then remove the 4th stick and put back 1 of the OEM sticks along side the 3 other newly purchased sticks the iMac boots up.


Is there a reason I can’t get my machine to power up using all 4 newly purchased RAM sticks? Or is there something I’m missing and need to do? Any help or suggestions would be welcome. Its as if any combination will work as long as its not trying to use the full 64GB size.


Combinations I have tried are:


1-New 16GB (Tried with all 4 sticks)

2-Empty

3-Empty

4-Empty

iMac Boots up


1-Empty

2-New 16GB

3-Empty

4-New 16GB

iMac Boots up


1-New 16GB

2-New 16GB

3-New 16GB

4-Empty

iMac Boots up


1-New 16GB

2-New 16GB

3-New 16GB

4-New 16GB

iMac FAILS to Boot up


1-New 16GB

2-New 16GB

3- Old 8GB

4- New 16GB

iMac Boots up

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 12.6

Posted on Nov 9, 2022 2:58 PM

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4 replies

Nov 11, 2022 11:39 AM in response to wolvesfcfan

There's only two RAM vendors that most of us will recommend: Crucial.com and OWC (MacSales.com). That's because they test the RAM modules in the Mac model it's intended for so they can guarantee it will work.


So to test this remove all of the 3rd party RAM and install the original Apple RAM to see if it will boot. I'm guessing it will.


Return the RAM to Amazon and order new RAM modules from either of the two vendors I mentioned previously.


Nov 9, 2022 11:47 PM in response to wolvesfcfan

macs are seen as pretty picky when it comes to memory modules


people usually stick and crucial, but they have your mac listed as maximum supporting 32 so it's impressive you can get it to boot with more, crucial usually tests with the models, and often support higher amount of memory than apple gave as an option

Apple iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch 3.4GHz Intel Core i5, 2017) iMac18,3 | Memory RAM & SSD Upgrades | Crucial.com

Nov 10, 2022 2:51 PM in response to Rudegar

Thanks for the reply. My mac is capabale of supportig 64GB, below is the link to my mac on crucial site


https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/apple/imac-(retina-5k--27-inch--2017)-imac18-3


So i would expect the 4 x 16GB sticks to work when all inserted together. Just not sure whats stopping them all working together considering the sticks work when inserted individually or in pairs or in groups of 3.

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iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017 won't boot after RAM upgrade to 64GB

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