iMac (Late 2013) 27" i7 Haswell constant crashing with 32GB RAM

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iMac (Late 2013) 27" i7 Haswell constant crashing with 32GB RAM

I have Crucial 4x 8GB DDR3L (dual voltage 1.35/1.5 v) RAM sticks and it is very unstable! If I reduce to two sticks i.e. 16GB the system is stable. I have tried them in different orders, but every time I have 32GB in, it crashes at least every couple of hours. Any order of RAM at 16GB is fine.

Have performed Apple Diagnostics + RAM memtest and nothing appears the matter.

Anyone else with ideas or experincing similar issues? I have installed Windows 7 via Bootcamp and running with VirtualBox, but the crashes were happening on the iMac just out of the box with nothing installed with the 32GB in.

Setup:

27-inch, Late 2013

Processor 3.5 GHz Intel Core i7

Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4096 MB

Software OS X 10.8.5 (12F45)

HDD 1TB Fusion Drive

Here's an example error log:

Interval Since Last Panic Report:  65334 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          1
Anonymous UUID:                    9CF2ECB9-F21B-1AD0-6570-6EC17A22DE55

Sun Nov  3 10:16:52 2013
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff8002ab8945): Kernel trap at 0xffffff8002ad3434, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x00000000000007aa, CR3: 0x00000000056f3000, CR4: 0x00000000001606e0
RAX: 0x0000000039b59589, RBX: 0x0000000000000580, RCX: 0xffffff80030edf18, RDX: 0x0000000039b59589
RSP: 0xffffff8391f9bce0, RBP: 0xffffff8391f9bd00, RSI: 0x000004070f0f8ced, RDI: 0xffffff8003001f20
R8:  0x0000000000000001, R9:  0x00000000000003ff, R10: 0xffffffffffffffff, R11: 0x00000000ffffffff
R12: 0x0000000000000000, R13: 0xffffff837fde0600, R14: 0xffffff80030d1b00, R15: 0x0000000000000002
RFL: 0x0000000000010002, RIP: 0xffffff8002ad3434, CS:  0x0000000000000008, SS:  0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x00000000000007aa, Error code: 0x0000000000000002, Fault CPU: 0x0

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff8391f9b980 : 0xffffff8002a1d636 
0xffffff8391f9b9f0 : 0xffffff8002ab8945 
0xffffff8391f9bbc0 : 0xffffff8002acebfd 
0xffffff8391f9bbe0 : 0xffffff8002ad3434 
0xffffff8391f9bd00 : 0xffffff8002acf884 
0xffffff8391f9bd30 : 0xffffff8002abff46 
0xffffff8391f9bd50 : 0xffffff8002a2c269 
0xffffff8391f9bd70 : 0xffffff8002a42123 
0xffffff8391f9bdc0 : 0xffffff8002b3fd7c 
0xffffff8391f9be30 : 0xffffff7f838422d4 
0xffffff8391f9be50 : 0xffffff7f838423a3 
0xffffff8391f9be70 : 0xffffff7f83c134fa 
0xffffff8391f9bea0 : 0xffffff7f83c05b12 
0xffffff8391f9bef0 : 0xffffff8002e50e58 
0xffffff8391f9bf30 : 0xffffff8002e4f95a 
0xffffff8391f9bf80 : 0xffffff8002e4fa89 
0xffffff8391f9bfb0 : 0xffffff8002ab3257 
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(3.0)[F02560D1-ADE6-3AD9-8D05-43CB2B7C8B87]@0xffffff7f83838000->0xffffff7f83862fff
         com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet(3.6.2b4)[6E5242BB-5BD2-3BC6-ADBB-F05D02568DC0]@0xffffff7f83c04000->0xffffff7f83c3bfff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[A35915E8-C1B0-3C0F-81DF-5515BC9002FC]@0xffffff7f83b98000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[6C1D646D-7E5E-3D7F-A557-2CBA398FF878]@0xffffff7f8308e000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController(1.0.2b1)[4CE25B46-E77B-3CCC-939A-DD10DA6EBE97]@0xffffff7f83bfd000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily(3.0)[F02560D1-ADE6-3AD9-8D05-43CB2B7C8B87]@0xffffff7f83838000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
12F45

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 12.5.0: Sun Sep 29 13:33:47 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2050.48.12~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: EA38B02E-2B88-309F-BA68-1DE29F605DD8
Kernel slide:     0x0000000002800000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8002a00000
System model name: iMac14,2 (Mac-27ADBB7B4CEE8E61)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 4427395803894
last loaded kext at 427144044534: com.apple.filesystems.smbfs    1.8.4 (addr 0xffffff7f85097000, size 229376)
last unloaded kext at 278163156098: com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass    3.5.2 (addr 0xffffff7f838e1000, size 69632)
loaded kexts:
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp    4.3.2
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt    4.3.2
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB    4.3.2
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv    4.3.2
com.apple.filesystems.smbfs    1.8.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor    1.9.5d0
com.apple.filesystems.autofs    3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch    75.19
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC    1.60
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager    4.1.7f4
com.apple.driver.AGPM    100.13.12
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler    2.0.7d2
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformShim    1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver    124
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA    2.4.7fc4
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient    3.5.12
com.apple.GeForce    8.1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet    1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver    2.4.7fc4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD5000Graphics    8.1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight    170.3.5
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport    4.1.7f4
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X    7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI    1.0.11d1
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU    2.0.3d0
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC    1.6.3
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl    1.1.11
com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl    3.4.5
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelFramebufferAzul    8.1.6
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless    1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib    1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache    34
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub    635.4.0
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter    404
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage    2.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSDXC    1.4.3
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet    3.6.2b4
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360    641.15.1
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort    2.6.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBXHCI    635.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC    1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS    1.9
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC    1.7
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall    4.0.39
com.apple.security.quarantine    2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDKeyboard    170.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard    170.2.4
com.apple.kext.triggers    1.0
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver    4.1.7f4
com.apple.driver.AppleMultitouchDriver    237.4
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily    10.0.6
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib    2.4.7fc4
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily    1.9.2fc7
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib    1.12
com.apple.nvidia.gk100hal    8.1.6
com.apple.NVDAResman    8.1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface    86.0.4
com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2    74.15
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert    1.0.4
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport    4.1.7f4
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily    4.1.7f4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController    2.4.7fc4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily    2.4.7fc4
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformPlugin    1.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC    3.1.5d4
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily    5.4.1d13
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController    1.0.11d1
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl    3.4.5
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport    2.3.7
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily    2.3.7
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltEDMSink    1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub    621.4.6
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily    3.5.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite    621.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPOutAdapter    2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter    2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily    2.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter    1.3.2
com.apple.driver.CoreStorage    296.18.2
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient    630.4.4
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI    1.9.2
com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily    2.7.7
com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController    1.0.2b1
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family    530.5
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily    3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily    2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily    635.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM    2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily    1.8.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime    2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily    1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox    220.3
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch    1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet    7
com.apple.driver.DiskImages    345
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore    28.21
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform    1.8
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily    2.8
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily    1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto    1.0
System Profile:
Model: iMac14,2, BootROM IM142.0118.B00, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 3.5 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 2.15f2
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, PCIe, 4096 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM1, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x859B, 0x435438473353313630424D2E4D3136464444
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x859B, 0x435438473353313630424D2E4D3136464444
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x111), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (6.30.225.29.1)
Bluetooth: Version 4.1.7f4 12974, 3 service, 21 devices, 3 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: APPLE HDD WD10EZES-40UFAA0, 1 TB
Serial ATA Device: APPLE SSD SD0128F, 121.33 GB
USB Device: HD-GDU3, 0x0411  (Melco, Inc.), 0x0235, 0x15600000 / 10
USB Device: FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in), apple_vendor_id, 0x8511, 0x14700000 / 5
USB Device: BRCM20702 Hub, 0x0a5c  (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x14800000 / 1
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x828d, 0x14830000 / 2

Many thanks

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Nov 3, 2013 4:03 AM

Reply

Answer 1

SMB 2

Level 1

0 points

Feb 5, 2014 9:30 PM in response to cdanr

I got beeps but I can't remember the number or order of the warning sounds.

But it sounds like I had the wrong configuration, given the above post.

8GBx2 slots 1&2 and 4GBx2 in 3&4.

Is that correct?

Reply

Answer 2

ronny332

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2014 11:32 AM in response to shaunumb

As a short, and may be helpful extension, from my side:

I had the same issues with 4x8gb of RAM in my iMac i7 late 2013. It was crashing about one time per hour, not connected to a high cpu load or a system which is 100% idle.

The apple hardware test was unable to find anything, even memtest86 4.3 was not able to find anything after about two hours of tests.

My iMac was using 4 times the RAM from Corsair (CMSA16GX3M2A1600C11, Mac), 8gb each.

This morning 4x8gb from samung arrived (M471B5273CK0-YK0). After about 9 hours everything is working very well and I'm very happy 😉.

The last days before the new RAM arrived the iMac was working with 24gb perfectly. 8gb apple RAM (hynix) was working together with 2x8GB of the old corsair RAM. Very strange, but true ...

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Answer 3

Feb 11, 2014 11:42 AM in response to iRideApple

I got only One Kernel PanicFeb 4, 2014, afterthat nothing (now Feb 11), and this is my new Kingston RAM. So it's not good having Kernel Panic, but only one is still good.

Kingston box says:

KTA-MB1600L/8G

Equiv APPLE P/N:N/A

9905428-087.A00LF

Reply

Answer 4

AleBot

Level 1

14 points

Feb 11, 2014 12:43 PM in response to iRideApple

I got my four Kingston modules (the same as iRideApple) replaced by four Crucial banks. So far, my iMac keeps on working without any panics. Previously, the Kingston modules did not work, although panics were less frequent than with the original modules (1.5V...).

Reply

Answer 5

cdanr

Level 1

39 points

Feb 12, 2014 5:33 AM in response to iRideApple

iRideApple wrote:

I got only One Kernel PanicFeb 4, 2014, afterthat nothing (now Feb 11), and this is my new Kingston RAM. So it's not good having Kernel Panic, but only one is still good.

If it makes you feel any better I'm in the opposite situation. I have the Crucial RAM and after two solid weeks of absolutely no issues whatsoever I finally had a kernel panic today. I am not going to blame the RAM though, unless it starts happening again with regularity, God forbid...

Even on my previous Late 2009 27" iMac, I would have the odd kernel panic. It wasn't very often but it happened and the RAM was not to blame.

Reply

Answer 6

cdanr

Level 1

39 points

Feb 13, 2014 6:43 AM in response to cdanr

Well I had another kernel panic and this one convinced me it was the RAM. Here is an excerpt from the panic entry in log:

Thu Feb 13 17:15:29 2014

panic(cpu 6 caller 0xffffff800f4c4516): "Possible memory corruption: pmap_pv_remove(0xffffff80520d8e78, 0x12222b000, 0x2d660, 0x1c00002d660066, 0xffffff83b6dc3bb4, 0xffffff83b6dc3ba8): pv not on hash, head: 0xffffff80520d8e78, 0x1363a3000"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2422.90.20/osfmk/i386/pmap_internal.h:836

Backtrace (CPU 6), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff83b6dc39f0 : 0xffffff800f422fa9

0xffffff83b6dc3a70 : 0xffffff800f4c4516

0xffffff83b6dc3be0 : 0xffffff800f477587

0xffffff83b6dc3d50 : 0xffffff800f478fdf

0xffffff83b6dc3f20 : 0xffffff800f4dc26c

0xffffff83b6dc3fb0 : 0xffffff800f4f322b

The kernel panics cannot be induced with regularity. They are random. However, I recommend anyone experiencing problems with their RAM to create a Memtest86 EFI boot CD (http://www.memtest86.com/download.htm) and boot to it. (Choose EFI). Make sure to set CPU Selection to multi-CPU Parallel.

When I did this, I got errors in various tests on several passes. I then removed the Crucial DIMMs and ran the test for two full passes with only the Apple Elpida 2x8GB DIMMs and had no errors at all.

I was not seeing errors when running Memtest86 in single CPU mode (and it took a lot longer) so make sure to run it as mentioned above.

So now, against my better judgement, I asked Amazon to send me a replacement because it is free of charge and I may as well. If this doesn't work though I give up. I guess I'll stick with 16GB. 😟

User uploaded file

Reply

Answer 7

Feb 15, 2014 8:29 PM in response to shaunumb

After reading through several posts on this topic, including this one, it appeared that the updated Kingston memory was the way to go. I purchased 32GB (4x8GB) of Kingston RAM for for my late 2013 iMac (14,2). I have had the RAM installed a little over 24 hours and have already had 2 kernel panics. I'm not looking forward to the possiblity of moving back to just the 8GB of Apple RAM originally installed.

Kingston: KTA-MB1600L/8G

Apple P/N: N/A

9905428-155.A00LF

KTC KA0142A

Reply

Answer 8

Feb 15, 2014 8:43 PM in response to curtfleenor

One thing I just noticed...I have 2 Seagate external USB drive attached (one FreeAgent GoFlex and one Seagate Backup Plus). After each of the panics, the Backup Plus drive is no longer mounted. I performed a clean shutdown and even afterward the Backup Plus did not mount. I have to physically disconnect the drive's USB cable and reconnect for it to mount.

Here is my system info:

Also connected are:

Spyder3 Screen Calibration Tool (USB)

Wacom Intuous 5 Tablet (USB)

External LG 27" LCD via Thunderbolt->DVI

Apple SuperDrive DVD

The first panic occurred while I was browsing the web & the second panic happened while the system was completely idle and I was away (discovered it when I came back home).

Reply

Answer 9

cdanr

Level 1

39 points

Feb 16, 2014 5:48 AM in response to curtfleenor

Try the Memtest86 in multi-CPU Parallel mode, Curt. If you don't have an optical drive, there are instructions for making a bootable USB drive. It doesn't take long to check.

As you've experienced, the panics are random in occurence and can wreak havoc on the file system. Like yours, my USB 3 external HD often unmounted and required reconnection. I have a Linux VM in Parallels I run with a web server on it which ended up totally corrupted after one panic. Luckily, I keep frequent backups.

I'm still waiting on the replacement Crucial RAM. It's held up in the states for some reason, probably the weather. I'll report back with my results.

Reply

Answer 10

Feb 16, 2014 6:38 AM in response to cdanr

cdanr wrote:

Try the Memtest86 in multi-CPU Parallel mode, Curt. If you don't have an optical drive, there are instructions for making a bootable USB drive. It doesn't take long to check.

As you've experienced, the panics are random in occurence and can wreak havoc on the file system. Like yours, my USB 3 external HD often unmounted and required reconnection. I have a Linux VM in Parallels I run with a web server on it which ended up totally corrupted after one panic. Luckily, I keep frequent backups.

I'm still waiting on the replacement Crucial RAM. It's held up in the states for some reason, probably the weather. I'll report back with my results.

Thanks cdnar! I've already downloaded Memtest86 and will be giving it a run this morning. My guess is that I'll be working up an RMA with Kingston by the end of the week.

Reply

Answer 11

Feb 16, 2014 3:35 PM in response to curtfleenor

Update: Memtest86 multi-CPU Parallel mode test finished reporting no errors on the Kingston KTA-MB1600L/8G RAM. The test took just over 5 hours to complete. I'm leaving the system up (auto-sleep between 2am & 6am) to see how it goes.

Reply

Answer 12

cdanr

Level 1

39 points

Feb 16, 2014 6:34 PM in response to curtfleenor

I'm glad to hear that, Curt. I definitely got errors with the Crucial sticks I returned and they didn't take long to appear either (usually one error in each of tests 5 and later), so I think you're probably OK.

You might be able to glean some relevant information from the panic reports in the system logs. The reference to possible memory corruption in the very last panic I experienced with the Crucial is what inspired me to keep trying Memtest86 in different modes.

If the new Crucial I have on the way reports no Memtest86 errors but I still get kernel panics, I'm filing a claim under AppleCare.

This is my fourth iMac over the past 8 years and I have never had anything close to these hassles upgrading RAM on any of my previous machines. It's getting to be a bit ridiculous. This last set for me wasn't Apple's fault though.

Reply

Answer 13

Elraidor

Level 1

0 points

Feb 17, 2014 12:02 AM in response to cdanr

Mine's gone back to Apple - couldn't find any RAM config that would work - had 2 panics that completely corrupted the file system and to be frank, cannot afford to waste any more time on this - 3 months with multiple attempts at diffferent RAM is more than generous. I'll look for a different solution to my computing needs.

Reply

Answer 14

ronny332

Level 1

0 points

Feb 17, 2014 12:17 AM in response to shaunumb

My advice is still to try these modules of Samsung: M471B5273CK0-YK0

I got 4 of them, 8gb each, and until now one kernel panic appeared, the iMac is running at least 10 hours a day.

Seemingly these modules are certified by Apple, the system profiler is able to read a serial number.

Reply

Answer 15

cdanr

Level 1

39 points

Feb 17, 2014 12:20 AM in response to Elraidor

I don't blame you one bit, Elraidor. I'm ashamed to admit I've gone this long without satisfaction myself. I'm creeping up on that 3 month mark.

There is absolutely nothing worse than a computer that you can't use without fear that it will randomly crash, especially at the premiums we pay.

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