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TheSeanPlace

Q: How do I repair RAM banks?

System,

Mac BookPro i7, 2.66 intel

late 09/early10

Samsung 5ooG SSD

16G RAM

 

Symptom,

System freeze as audio loops or skipps, followed by 3 beeps then auto shut down

30% of the time it restarts after showing grey multi language screen.

60% of the time I can get things back up by pulling out then reseating RAM

Movement dosen't seem to effect things either way as it fails sometimes just sitting

there, and sometimes after being in transit, there is no one action that initates failure.

Same problem before and after ROM & RAM upgrades.

 

Troubleshoot,

RAM itself confirmed good. New SSD seems good. OS seems good, while operating

properly all ports & DVD nominal

 

Suspected problem,

RAM bank faliure, pin connection failure.

 

Question,

The only thing I haven't tried is reinstalling the OS, Is there any reason to think this is a

OS problem?

 

Any thoughts anyone??

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 8:07 AM

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Q: How do I repair RAM banks?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Bimmer 7 Series,Helpful

    Bimmer 7 Series Bimmer 7 Series Apr 26, 2013 8:10 AM in response to TheSeanPlace
    Level 6 (10,282 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 8:10 AM in response to TheSeanPlace

    How long have you had 16GB of RAM installed in your 2010 Macbook Pro?

     

    Only the 13 Inch Macbook Pro in 2010 that supports 16GB of RAM.

     

    What speed RAM are you using?  1066MHz is the right RAM speed for your Macbook Pro.

  • by Ralph Landry1,Helpful

    Ralph Landry1 Apr 26, 2013 8:11 AM in response to TheSeanPlace
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 8:11 AM in response to TheSeanPlace

    Do you still have the factory ram modules?  If so, try running on only the factory ram and see if there is a problem.  That could still be faulty ram even if it shows good on the system report.  You can try reinstalling the Mac OS X but that still looks more like a hardware issue.  If so you can take it into an Apple store genius bar and have them run their diagnostics which are significantly more detailed than anything done by the Apple Hardware Test.

  • by TheSeanPlace,

    TheSeanPlace TheSeanPlace Apr 26, 2013 8:31 AM in response to Bimmer 7 Series
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 8:31 AM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

    My mistake I upped it to 16 realiized the problem then reinstalled new 8g of RAM of correct mhz

    again this problem occurred then I did a ROM upgrade to SSD & RAM to 16 then back down to 8

    always works for an hour a day maybe 2 then fails again, before and after upgrades.

  • by TheSeanPlace,

    TheSeanPlace TheSeanPlace Apr 26, 2013 8:35 AM in response to Ralph Landry1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 8:35 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

    the RAM was always grey/after market via BestBuy then via amazon (corsair). I did a ROM upgrade to SSD & RAM to 16 then realized my mistake and went back down to 8. It always works for an hour a day maybe 2 then fails again, before and after upgrades

  • by Bimmer 7 Series,

    Bimmer 7 Series Bimmer 7 Series Apr 26, 2013 8:36 AM in response to TheSeanPlace
    Level 6 (10,282 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 8:36 AM in response to TheSeanPlace

    As Ralph Landry1 has pointed out - install your old RAM and if you're still having the same problem.

     

    As to the correct RAM Mhz.....Using non Apple Certified/Tested RAM will have issues with your Macbook Pro.

     

    If you installed generic RAM, even if the speed is the same - issues could arise.

  • by TheSeanPlace,

    TheSeanPlace TheSeanPlace Apr 26, 2013 8:55 AM in response to Bimmer 7 Series
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 8:55 AM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

    I suspected the bestbuy RAM was the problem, even though things worked fine for 2 years, I hoped changing it to corsair would be a step up, short of paying so much for actual apple RAM, it sounds like that may still be the issue. I was under the impression corsair was at least tested and or approved.

    I fear I may have to bite the bullett and bring it in based Ralphs mention of "sigfinantly more detailed diagnostic"

    Lack of Warrantee be damned.

  • by Network 23,

    Network 23 Network 23 Apr 26, 2013 9:07 AM in response to TheSeanPlace
    Level 6 (12,043 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2013 9:07 AM in response to TheSeanPlace

    TheSeanPlace wrote:

     

    RAM itself confirmed good

    I agree with Ralph having Apple check it, I have heard the best RAM tests available at home are not that much compared to what the big companies have in the arsenal.

     

    Corsair is a good reputable company but RAM is such an insanely precise thing to get right, which is why all the trustworthy RAM companies have lifetime exchange warranties on their RAM. Even they know it isn't enough to be the best RAM company, mistakes slip through.

     

    I never buy RAM from Apple and most of the time it's great and I saved money, and the rest of the times I exchange the chips for ones that don't crash.

  • by TheSeanPlace,

    TheSeanPlace TheSeanPlace Apr 26, 2013 9:24 AM in response to Network 23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 9:24 AM in response to Network 23

    Thanks everyone I'm in too far to quit now.

    First I'll see if corsair will do a switch, if that

    dosen't work, I guess I'll have apple do there

    thing, I just wish they would kiss me first.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Apr 26, 2013 9:48 AM in response to TheSeanPlace
    Level 9 (50,202 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 26, 2013 9:48 AM in response to TheSeanPlace

    Consider buying from OWC (Macsales), I use them exclusively, they test and certify the Ram they sell, have excellent instructional videos and great service. Here's a link.

     

    According to OWC the MBP 7,1 is the only 2010 model that can use 16GB (2x8), is this the model you have? (It is a 13")

  • by Ralph Landry1,Solvedanswer

    Ralph Landry1 Apr 26, 2013 10:01 AM in response to TheSeanPlace
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 10:01 AM in response to TheSeanPlace

    There have been mixed results with Corsair recently...they were coming on strong with really good memory.  Then the Corsair Vengeance series was being used and a few people came on with real problems.  So, when you say Corsair you raise questions on here due to the fluid state of the experience people are having.

     

    Macs are so picky about their ram modules, it is hard to separate out where the problems are in that system.  As I said earlier, if it were me, and I had the OEM modules those would go in and see if there are problems.  And a visit to the genius bar would be very high on the priority list.  There is no comparison between their tools and those on the open market.

  • by TheSeanPlace,

    TheSeanPlace TheSeanPlace Apr 26, 2013 12:26 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 12:26 PM in response to Csound1

    I mistakenly tried 16, then went back to new corsair 8, the link helps

    because I'm still deciding weather to buy apple RAM or

    go with OWC or corsair.

    Thanks for the help.

  • by Network 23,

    Network 23 Network 23 Apr 26, 2013 5:14 PM in response to TheSeanPlace
    Level 6 (12,043 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2013 5:14 PM in response to TheSeanPlace

    I buy RAM from OWC a lot for myself, friends, and family because of many years of good experiences with OWC. I just bought some there last week, even though Crucial was cheaper. You should consider Crucial as well as OWC and Corsair.