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Level 1

2 points

Problem with 16GB on 2010 iMac 27" i5 & i7.

I've 8 X 4GB 1333Mhz DDR3 RAM, latest 2010 iMac i5 & i7.
Trying to install 16GB on each iMac.

1. Both work well with 2X2GB.
2. After installing 4 X 4GB RAM , they freeze, cursor spinning ball or kernel panic within 10 to 15mins.
3. Removed all RAMs & installed another batch of 4X4GB, same problem.
4. Installed 2 X 4GB RAMs, they work well.
5. Repeat step 4 with the rest of the 6 pieces of 4GB, they work well with 8GB.
6. Also tested with 4 X 2GB, they work well.

I can only conclude that the new 2010 iMac 27" does not support 16GB well. No doubt it recognizes 16GB at "About This Mac" but it freezes after 15mins. I suspect is due the firmware issue.

Anyone else have the same issue?

Found similar problem at http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2567543&tstart=15

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4), iMac

Posted on Sep 4, 2010 3:13 AM

125 replies

Switch900

Level 2

232 points

Nov 27, 2010 11:53 PM in response to mcsys

I second the opinion of Den go to OWC I just got 2 of 4gig and left the 2 of 2 gig that came with the imac and the ram is from OWC and it works like a charm I got 12 gigs and its perfect.

your probably not using the ram that is mac specified.

Switch900

Level 2

232 points

Nov 27, 2010 11:56 PM in response to orangeme

it all depends if your machine is the late 2010 iMac 27 and 21 inch or the Late 2009 iMac 27 inch like mine if you get the wrong specified ram it would not work you have to look at your specs and if it is either late 2009 or july 2010 imac.

Switch900

Level 2

232 points

Nov 28, 2010 12:12 AM in response to peterwillem

are you willing to sell your ram here in europe maybe someone could be interested. Paying what you pay in euros for the OWC 8 Gig of ram.

Switch900

Level 2

232 points

Nov 28, 2010 12:39 AM in response to mcsys

hey how do you post screen captures in your post.

Switch900

Level 2

232 points

Nov 28, 2010 12:41 AM in response to orangeme

I got the NuRam one which they sell its cheaper than their branded OWC and it works perfect on my machine I wanted to post a screen capture but it does not post correctly
/Users/Tony/Desktop/Screen shot 2010-11-28 at 9.26.50 AM.png/Users/Tony/Desktop/Screen shot 2010-11-28 at 9.27.39 AM.png

Xelation

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2010 4:21 AM in response to peterwillem

Bad RAM perhaps?

I upgraded from 2x2GB to 4x4GB OCZ Memory SODIMM DDR3,1333-8GB KIT,
model: OCZ3M13338GK. €153,- per kit.

http://oi55.tinypic.com/261m0pt.jpg

http://oi56.tinypic.com/313hz7t.jpg

ps what is the forum code to show a link as an picture?

orangeme

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2010 7:27 AM in response to Switch900

I have not bought it yet. Going to buy the quad i7 in the christmas period, hoping for discounts in the Singapore online apple shop. So the RAMs in the link that I have provided would be able to work on the latest imac?

Dec 1, 2010 2:59 PM in response to Switch900

Of course I am willing to sell my surplus 8 G of OWC ram. Who wants to buy it ,just say so.
I am sure we can agree on a price.

peterwillem

Dec 15, 2010 8:17 AM in response to apple_enthusiast

Maybe it is a good idea to summarize your problem and the steps you have taken.
Use the following link for it, if you have not done so already.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/

peterwillem

Jeff.C

Level 1

0 points

Jan 19, 2011 8:11 AM in response to peterwillem

UPDATE:

A user by the name of Gianfri has confirmed that OWC recently "tweaked" their RAM to address the issue.

reference: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2548180 (see near bottom of page 13 in that thread for the comment from user Gianfri).

For those still having the problem (with OWC RAM), I'd suggest contacting them to get the RAM replaced (OWC gives lifetime warranty on their RAM, so they'll replace it).

Arno V.

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2011 8:58 AM in response to mcsys

Same problem here with iMac 21" i5 2010.

I had the freezing/blocking/shutdown issue with 2x2 Apple + 4x4 OWC (hynix) = 12Gb
After reading other threads, I removed the Apple RAM, reducing my total RAM to 8Gb, all from OWC. It worked like a charm, never failed for month.

Then I decided to buy the same brand from OWC ( http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1333DDR3S08S/) to try to get to 16Gb. I installed it yesterday (01/19/2011), it crashed this morning...

Just a couple of info: OS is up to date, no SSD, no Photoshop. And I cannot reproduce the problem at will... it's always after a while (sometimes several hours, sometimes several days)

I can't bring myself to go to the Genius Bar as I cannot reproduce the issue...
Don't really know what to do at that point.

ChoPraTs

Level 1

41 points

Jan 20, 2011 10:09 AM in response to Arno V.

Seems that only Samsung RAM is valid to use 16 GB.

Other users haven't problem using 2 x 2 GB Samsung (Apple) + 2 x 4 GB of other RAM (OWC, Crucial, etc.) But you have problems with this total amount of 12 GB, isn't it? That's new! What kind of RAM do you have from Apple? Is Samsung? Other? Perhaps this is the problem.

I think the best solution today is to use only Samsung RAM.

Arno V.

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2011 10:24 AM in response to ChoPraTs

The Apple RAM is from Hynix.

Now I need to update my post. I bought a total of 16 GB from OWC (4 x 4 GB) but in two separate purchases. The reference online is the same for both but I realized today that the first batch (2x4 GB) bought in August 2010 is Hynix and the second batch (2x4 GB) bought in January 2011 is ... well I don't know... it says "OHDI2 D9LCK".

State 1: OWC Hynix 2x4 GB + Apple Hynix 2x2 GB= fail
State 2: OWC Hynix 2x4 GB = ok for month
State 3: OWC Hynix 2x4 GB + OWC 01/2011 2x4 GB = fail
State 4: Apple Hynix 2x2 GB + OWC 01/2011 2x4 GB = trying now... will keep you updated!

Arno V.

Level 1

0 points

Jan 22, 2011 10:17 AM in response to Arno V.

Darn.. it just crashed this morning 😟
So to recap, here are my results so far:

State 1: OWC Hynix 2x4 GB + Apple Hynix 2x2 GB= fail
State 2: OWC Hynix 2x4 GB = ok for month
State 3: OWC Hynix 2x4 GB + OWC 01/2011 2x4 GB = fail
State 4: Apple Hynix 2x2 GB + OWC 01/2011 2x4 GB = fail

I will contact OWC and try to see if they can exchange the first batch of RAM with a newer one so that I could try a full 16 GB with the exact same type/brand/model of RAM... wish me luck!
To be continued...

Jeff.C

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2011 8:41 AM in response to Arno V.

@Arno,

Since the problem has been resolved, you need to contact OWC to get the RAM replaced with the revised RAM chips (I would replace all 4 chips with the same new chips since you bought them all from OWC anyway). When I've had to replace RAM with them in the past, I just cross-ship the RAM and have them cover shipping both ways (you might have to ask them to offer that).

Problem with 16GB on 2010 iMac 27" i5 & i7.