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Mac mini (2010) won't accept documented memory amount (8GB)

My Mac mini (mid 2010) came with 2GB of RAM installed, each being 1GB. I upgraded awhile back to 8GB, (two 4GB DDR3 SODIMs) and my Mac worked, but heated up quickly, so I went back to the original 2GB of RAM and exchanged my purchased 8GB. I just got my new 8GB before posting this, and while my Mac works with one of them, (either one, but not at the same time) and even one of the 4GB sticks and one of the 1GB sticks my Mac came with, it will not boot when the total RAM is 8GB. Instead, I get the beeping tone corresponding with the power light that says, "something's wrong, I can't boot" in Mac language.


My first pair of 4GB sticks of RAM was determined to be a manufacturing error, so what is the deal with this new RAM? I am currently using 5GB total, one of the 4GB sticks and the other a 1GB stick. I would like full use of my memory, especially since Apple claims the model of Mac I have can run with 8GB and I have done it before with the same exact RAM I am using now. Any suggestions?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.3), Mac mini 2010 with OS X Lion

Posted on May 18, 2012 8:20 PM

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Posted on May 18, 2012 8:49 PM

Hi, is it good Mac compatible RAM? Who from? What numbers are on them?


Can you count the beeps or flashes?


1 beep = no RAM installed

2 beeps = incompatible RAM types

3 beeps = no good banks

4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)

5 beeps = processor is not usable


In addition to the beeps, on some computers the power LED will flash a corresponding number of times plus one. The LED will repeat the sequence after approximately a 5-second pause. The tones are only played once.


Note: In this case, a flash is considered to be 1/4 second or 250 ms or greater in length.


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

17 replies
Question marked as Best reply

May 18, 2012 8:49 PM in response to macteen94

Hi, is it good Mac compatible RAM? Who from? What numbers are on them?


Can you count the beeps or flashes?


1 beep = no RAM installed

2 beeps = incompatible RAM types

3 beeps = no good banks

4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)

5 beeps = processor is not usable


In addition to the beeps, on some computers the power LED will flash a corresponding number of times plus one. The LED will repeat the sequence after approximately a 5-second pause. The tones are only played once.


Note: In this case, a flash is considered to be 1/4 second or 250 ms or greater in length.


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

May 19, 2012 1:14 PM in response to BDAqua

It is the same type of RAM that my Mac worked with before, just new sticks of RAM. I know the brand (PNY) works and is Mac compatible, my old Mac mini (2006) that I sold ages ago had an upgrade to its maximum with the same brand. (Just a lower total RAM amount, since the older Mac mini didn't support 8GB; I think it was 4GB)


My Mac beeps once with the power light flashing right in time with it. But it doesn't make sense to me that it doesn't detect the RAM, since it works with just one of them in.


Bottom line here, I guess, is whether or not I need to exchange my RAM from the store again or not. I'm getting really sick and tired of trying to get my memory to work above the preinstalled 2GB that doesn't let me do much simultaneously. (Or many of the Adobe Creative Suite programs even by themselves, particularly Premiere Pro and After Effects)

Sep 26, 2012 7:48 PM in response to macteen94

I think I'm having a similar problem. Last year, I successfully upgraded to 4GB (2 x Crucial 2GB CT25664BC1067.8FD) from the original 2GB. Today, I bought 8GB (2 x Corsair 4GB CMSA8GX3M2A1333C9). I discovered that I get the no RAM present beeping (1 beep every 5 seconds) when I install both 4GB sticks. When I install one 4GB and one 2GB, I can boot and the O/S reports 6GB, regardless of which size is in which slot. I also verified that both 4GB sticks worked with a 2GB - the problem only arises when I attempt to boot with two 4GB sticks. Almost sounds like a power problem, but that is just speculation. Any insight?

Sep 27, 2012 1:58 AM in response to ddrg

ddrg wrote:


I think I'm having a similar problem. Last year, I successfully upgraded to 4GB (2 x Crucial 2GB CT25664BC1067.8FD) from the original 2GB. Today, I bought 8GB (2 x Corsair 4GB CMSA8GX3M2A1333C9). I discovered that I get the no RAM present beeping (1 beep every 5 seconds) when I install both 4GB sticks. When I install one 4GB and one 2GB, I can boot and the O/S reports 6GB, regardless of which size is in which slot. I also verified that both 4GB sticks worked with a 2GB - the problem only arises when I attempt to boot with two 4GB sticks. Almost sounds like a power problem, but that is just speculation. Any insight?

Have you tried a PRAM or SMC reset?


Seems odd as I have used paired Corsair RAM on

multiple machines without issue (8 gig in a 2011 MBP

and 16 gig in a 2011 Mini Server). Also, on a previously

owned 2009 iMac I had an 8 gig Corsair pair in it.


BTW, which OS are you running? Also, is it running in

32 bit or 64 bit mode (can find this in Activity Monitor and

find what is listed for kernel task)?

Sep 28, 2012 2:13 AM in response to ddrg

I just noticed something, do you have a 2010 Mini as

stated in the thread title? If so, then CMSA8GX3M2A1333C9

is the wrong RAM.


It probably works in the 4-2 combo because the Mini

can identify at least one RAM module as correct.

What you need is this CMSA8GX3M2A1066C7 which

is PC3-8500, which is what the 2010 Mini wants.

What you have is PC3-10600, which is for the 2011

model.


Sometimes, depending on Mac model and OSX version,

the faster RAM modules will work but often they won't.

Sep 29, 2012 2:47 AM in response to ddrg

Good to hear it. When any Mac (and all computers for that matter)

when they first start their boot process read a little chip on each

SO-DIMM which tells the computer how to set up its timing for

the memory. On Macs, at least, if that info doesn't match up

with what is stored in firmware as valid, it assumes the SO-DIMM

is bad and gives a boot error.

Mac mini (2010) won't accept documented memory amount (8GB)

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