andrewks9
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Macbook Pro 2008 (4,1) RAM issues

Hello all


I've had some maddening issues with installing new RAM into my Macbook Pro 2008.


Machine: MBP March 2008 (4,1) , 2.5Ghz, 2GB RAM, OSX 10.7.5


I ordered and installed a pair of 2GB RAM sticks from Crucial, to replace the two 1GB RAM sticks I had installed, to bring my machine up to a total of 4GB. Since doing that, the machine would kernel panic repeatedly (and sometimes start-up with three beeps, indicating memory issues). After checking repeatedly that they must be the right RAM modules for my machine, I got the sticks replaced by crucial, but afterwards I still had the same issue, so I determined it must be the machine's fault.


This started an arduous process of testing and trying to fix every aspect of the machine I could think of, resetting the PRAM, repairing permissions trying different combinations of RAM modules, running all the Disk-warrior and TechTool repairs and diagnostics (its clean), running the machine with no third-party devices attached, safe-boot mode, booting from an external drive, and eventually re-installing the entire operating system and running off a clean install. In all the cases, if I had the 4GB in, the machine would kernel panic. I can't begin to list all the things and combinations I tried in order to isolate the issue, but it seemed the only thing I could determine would guarantee the machine to lock-up was to run it with the 4GB.


I also ran rember utility for several hours, several times while the 4GB sticks were in (and it found nothing).



There is a curious pattern however.


Placing both the 2GB RAM (total for 4GB) modules inside the machine will guarantee a kernel panic. Placing one 2GB module and one 1GB module (total of 3GB) also guarantees a crash. However, using either of the 2GB modules alone, in either of the two slots, is perfectly acceptable. Isn't that strange?


It's almost as if the machine is allergic to having both slots occupied at once, but that doesn't make any sense because before buying the 2GB modules, it ran with two 1GB modules, one in each slot.


I'm going to try putting back in the two original 1GB modules just to see if it can still run. If anyone has any suggestions of anything I can try to get this machine working with its 4GB, I will be EXTREMELY grateful!


Thank you,

Andrew


Andrew

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Macbook Pro 2008 (4,1)

Posted on Oct 16, 2012 10:26 AM

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andrewks9

Q: Macbook Pro 2008 (4,1) RAM issues

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  • by x99,

    x99 x99 Feb 1, 2013 4:21 PM in response to andrewks9
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 1, 2013 4:21 PM in response to andrewks9

    Hey Andrew

     

    How's your sanity going? I figure as it's been a month you might have been able to see if the sleep method works. I am curious how it's going for you - whether it does or does not work.

     

    Regarding the mem tests, I too found no issues with my RAM, nor with hardware test etc. I am currently running the 4 GB with no issues (except after a shut down).

  • by Russa,

    Russa Russa Feb 1, 2013 4:54 PM in response to andrewks9
    Level 4 (1,325 points)
    Feb 1, 2013 4:54 PM in response to andrewks9

    I installed 6GBs of RAM in my MBP Early 2008 4,1. I upgraded it with 6GBs 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM. Are the performacne features on your memory the same? You can check out the features on compatible memory from OWC at macsales.com.

  • by andrewks9,

    andrewks9 andrewks9 Jun 6, 2013 2:42 AM in response to Russa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2013 2:42 AM in response to Russa

    Hi, thought I'd chime in here again.

     

    I ended up buying a 4GB module and have been using that for the past month, and it's working fine.

    Putting the 4GB and a 2GB module leads to more crashes.

     

    I completely forgot about the sleep method, I'll try that out this week, with 6gb total. : ) I'll keep you posted how that goes.

     

    Russa, the 4GB stick I got was also from OWC, so I imagine I'm using the same type, just a 4GB module instead of 6. The stuff I got from crucial is also the same format I believe.

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