iMac Mid 2007 2.4ghz Memory upgrade fails to boot

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iMac Mid 2007 2.4ghz Memory upgrade fails to boot

To avoid any flaming, as I know there are a LOT of instances of this issue discussed here already, I have been browsing the forums here for a week or so now looking for an actual resolution to this issue without success.

I wanted to upgrade my Mid 2007 iMac MA877xx/A (2.4GHz - 2x1GB DDR2 667Mhz memory modules).

I purchased - per the Apple http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1593 specifications - 2x2GB PNY Memory modules model number MN2048SD2-667.

These are:

667Mhz
PC2-5300 speed
DDR2
200 pin SODIMM modules
Non-Parity
Unbuffered
Non-ECC

In short, they meet ALL the specs per Apple's specifications here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1593.

However when I power on after installing both new modules, I get nothing but fan spin and what sounds like hard drive power on. No Mac start sound. No Greyish Mac startup screen glow.

When I re-install one of the original 1GB modules, and leave one of the new 2GB modules - regardless of slot configuration - the iMac starts up, boots and recognizes 3GB of memory. This is an unsatisfactory resolution, just to be clear. I pad for 4GB, not 3GB.

I figure there is one of a few possible answers:

There is a firmware update either needed or available (which I have not been able to find) to correct a problem with the iMac firmware.
PNY lied about their memory, and packaged likely thousands of modules incorrectly.
What am I missing?

iMac (20-inch Mid 2007), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jun 5, 2013 6:47 AM

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Answer 1

MichelPM

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80,980 points

Jun 5, 2013 6:59 AM in response to jimconnors

PNY memory is notorious here for not working at all or not playing nice with Macs.

Off the shelf, retail store RAM usually will not work with Macs.

PNY doesn't , usually, meet Apple specs. The tinimg latency maybe to slow, the RAM chips they use on the modules may not be the right spec or of sufficient quality, etc.

Return this RAM to where you purchased.

Your iMac model can take up to 6 GBs of RAM.

Correct and reliable Mac RAM can be purchased from online Mac RAM sources Crucial memory or OWC (macsales.com).

OWC has the 6 Gb RAM kit for your iMac.

Good Luck!

😉

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Answer 2

Jun 5, 2013 7:04 AM in response to jimconnors

As you have said, this is a common problem on here with users who are trying to use memory modules from PNY, Kingston Valur Ram, Corsair Vengeance. None of those memory modules meet the Mac standards and accuracy. You are better off buying ram from reputable Mac specialists like OWC, http://www.macsales.com or Crucial, http://www.crucial.com both test, certify and guarantee their memory modules to work.

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Answer 3

jimconnors Author

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Jun 5, 2013 8:37 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

I appreciate the response, however this is what I have a problem with:

Ralph Landry1 wrote:

As you have said, this is a common problem on here with users who are trying to use memory modules from PNY, Kingston Valur Ram, Corsair Vengeance. None of those memory modules meet the Mac standards and accuracy.

None of them meet the Mac standards? However Mac lists its standards... and they meet them, soooo...? Poor documentation? Or firmware issue?

Isn't this the kind of situation that support documentation is designed to avoid? I am a knee-jerk buyer; quite often I will see a deal in a store for a hard drive, component or some other peripheral and snatch it up. That wasn't the case in this situation - I went to the Apple Support Site, followed their instructions for purchasing new RAM, and now I have spent money that is essentially a waste.

I love my iMac & my MBP - I worked in Corporate Desktop/Server Support for 5 years before moving into programming and I absolutely abhorred the failure rate of HP/CPQ/DELL/IBM. Virtually unsupportable hardware, and thus turned to an iMac for my personal machine to try it out back in '07. I havent turned back, buying an '09 MBP for online classes.

I swallow the fact that I am paying more for quality - I get and accept that. But with that should be better support documentation - going so far as to list out manufacturers that notoriously make poorly compatible products.

Obviously the memory works however, as the machine runs smoothly with 3 GB of memory, 2/3rds of which is 'incompatible' per the pre-post firmware. This is an issue with a) the iMac firmware that should be corrected and b) with the lack of proper documentation.

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Answer 4

MichelPM

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Jun 5, 2013 10:11 AM in response to jimconnors

You are asking for help from experienced users here.

The RAM you purchased IS the issue. It has nothing to do with firmware!

If you purchase RAM that we are telling you is known to be correct AND compatible, without any firmware issues, you can install up to 6 GBs of RAM! No issue.

Many users here with a 2007 iMac have had no issues with installing more RAM when they purchased the RAM from the two sources I have mentioned.

Not all RAM is created equal and if you have other Macs, you must also know that Macs are very picky and finicky about what type of RAM they need.

Just in case I am wrong, there was a firmware update released in 2008.

I will link this in case you have never ran this updater in your 2007 iMac.

http://support.apple.com/downloads/iMac_EFI_Firmware_Update_1_3

Do not run this if your iMac already has this Firware update already installed.

However, this will not change your issue with the RAM.

PNY RAM is not Mac specific RAM.

If you purchase the RAM from the sources I and others will keep recommending to you, your iMac will not have issues with regard to RAM and what your iMac is seeing for amount of RAM.

There is a an incompatibilty in the PNY RAM.

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Answer 5

jimconnors Author

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Jun 5, 2013 12:02 PM in response to MichelPM

Thanks for the link, I had updated the firmware a while back and checked that first as well to be sure I was up to date.

While I understand what you are saying, I can't get over the fact that Apple provides very specifc standards by which to determine what kind of memory to buy for an upgrade, however following those guidelines I can still end up with memory that the firmware chooses not to recognize as compatible, unless there is Apple specific memory available. That should be documented, put simply, and its not. Group-sourced information from here is great, however reading the online and printed documentation - this memory should have worked.

I do understand that Macs can be picky as well... and rightfully so. However, I have to point to the fact that the machine functions *just fine* as long as there is at least one Apple original module installed, and the additional 2GB of supposedly incompatible functions perfectly. That leads me to the conclusion that the memory *can* function with a Mac, barring whatever testing function that is in the Firmware to disallow its use as the sole memory module(s).

Read simply: Apple needs to update its documentation & support information because the current outlined standards are not sufficient to steer their customers to the right products to use with their Macs.

If it means directing customers to specific vendors, providing and promoting a "Apple Certified" seal, so be it. I find that to be gluttonous and a way to simply get 2 x the money for the same product, but at this point I will be paying 3 x the price seeing as how the memory I bought is in fact unreturnable.

Sorry if that seems soapboxy, but given Apple's more than adequate supplies of capital, market share & leverage, this should not be a challenge.

my 2c.

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Answer 6

rkaufmann87

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140,622 points

Jun 5, 2013 12:09 PM in response to jimconnors

Read simply: Apple needs to update its documentation & support information because the current outlined standards are not sufficient to steer their customers to the right products to use with their Macs.

Then send Apple that message at www.apple.com/feedback

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Answer 7

MichelPM

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Jun 5, 2013 2:08 PM in response to jimconnors

You can' return the PNY memory???

Many electronics stores have a return policy if the product is defective or fails to work.

What kind of store won't allow you to return a product that doesn't work if you have the sales receipt for proof of purchase? Really?

Wherever you purchased this, I think you got more of a beef with the electronics store than with the RAM company or Apple.

Online Mac RAM sources OWC and Crucial memory have a lifetime return and replacement policy if their RAM is either defective or becomes defective over time.

No questions asked. Even it the user purchased the wrong RAM initially, it can be easily returned and replaced for the correct spec. RAM.

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Answer 8

MichelPM

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Jun 5, 2013 2:22 PM in response to jimconnors

Also, just an FYI to be aware, cheap and so-called "value RAM" from any retail, off-the-shelf standard PC RAM will never work with Macs.

So, in the future, stay away from it.

Both Crucial memory and OWC sell RAM that is, at least half the price(if may even be lower ) than what Apple sell RAM for their own computers.

AND it's guaranteed to work.

I would put up a very big stink at the store you purchased the bad RAM about not getting your money back for a returned product that doesn't work with your computer.

A reputable store dosen't do this to a customer.

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Answer 9

Comusic

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Jan 4, 2014 5:34 AM in response to jimconnors

I know this is an old tread, but I am having the very same problem.

I understand the ram it's the issue and i'm ready to get new ones, what I don\t understand is:

why does that very same ram work in my macbookpro and my macmini ( all with 667 ddr2 )?

and above all, why do both block work individually just fine in my iMac, but not together?? That makes me think that the actual ram bar it's fine...just when I install them both in my iMac it doesn't even boot up as described by Jim (but the do in my mbp and mini).

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Answer 10

Jan 4, 2014 9:36 AM in response to Comusic

You don't say what year/model iMac you have. With the iMac you have put the memory modules in so they match side by side. Many of the iMac versions use paging for memory access from one side to the other, but not for over-under memory modules. So the side by side modules have to match very closely, not only in their basic specs but also in their latency and timing.

Modules may work in non-paging hardware but fail in paging hardware if they are not properly matched. When you buy from a Mac specialist, like OWC http://www.macsales.com and specifically order iMac memory, the modules that they ship will have been spec'd to match for paging timing.

Does that help explain why they are failing in your iMac?

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