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

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Level 1

0 points

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

ginooken

Level 1

0 points

Jun 2, 2014 2:38 AM in response to fototypo

Hi Fototypo,

Exhange your RAM. That solved it for more. Rocksolid now.

kr,

Gino

Reply

Answer 2

fototypo

Level 1

30 points

Jun 5, 2014 8:33 AM in response to fototypo

Ok, just FYI -- contacted kingston support and they "confirmed" only low voltage ram would be "supported" by them in this iMac. I'm going to have the ram exchanged, hopefully get some modules working then. After reading here, it seems still rather a hit or miss thing ...

and, still, apples memory specifications don't tell anything about this ...

Reply

Answer 3

cdanr

Level 1

33 points

Jun 6, 2014 10:14 PM in response to fototypo

Yes, the Haswell (Late 2013) iMacs require DDR3L 1.35V low voltage RAM and this is what Apple ships them with stock. Why Apple's memory upgrade pages for these machines still specify DDR3 1.5V is anyone's guess.

Definitely get your RAM swapped. Oh, and if you want to confirm the errors, forget about Rember which can only test the free RAM from OS X. Make a Memtest 86 EFI boot disc or thumb drive and try to run a few passes in multi-CPU parallel mode. I passed Rember with bad RAM as well. In fact, I passed the standard Memtest86 tests in default settings (1 core) as well.

I've been running kernel panic free for about 3 months now with the previously mentioned Crucial 2x8GB DDR3L together with Apple's stock 16GB Elpida DDR3L.

Reply

Answer 4

fototypo

Level 1

30 points

Jun 7, 2014 12:02 AM in response to cdanr

thanks people,

after long hours in the shop, I got the RAM exchanged. They knew there was "some proplem somehow". They swapped it for hynix 1,35v modules and these are running good so far, i mean since yesterday. Hope that was it, I'll check back in a month or so ...

thanks again!

Reply

Answer 5

Jun 7, 2014 12:13 AM in response to fototypo

It's true you need low voltage ram, ie. DDR3L 1.35v, but that's actually not enough, the late 2013 27" iMacs are very very picky beasts. Some DDR3L 1.35v modules won't work, some claim that CL9 modules won't work (ie. random crashes) and CL11 modules are more likely to work (ie. stable machine).

Reply

Answer 6

Jun 7, 2014 5:52 AM in response to shaunumb

February 2014 27" iMac with 32GB Apple supplied RAM. Same problem. I'm four hours from the nearest Apple store. Local authorized service shop says Apple engineering is involved. Stable on 24GB. Testing with a different brand of RAM. I offered to run it on 24GB if they refunded all my $$. No sense of humor at all. News at 11 if a solution found.

Reply

Answer 7

Jun 14, 2014 4:24 AM in response to Hybridmanwv

Apple sent new RAM, which appears to correct the problem. Hoping to find out what they did. Different brand is all I know. The service people, when asked exactly what kind of RAM it was, said that Apple plastered a sticker over it so they couldn't tell. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Reply

Answer 8

fototypo

Level 1

30 points

Jun 21, 2014 2:20 AM in response to MaZePallas

Just FYI: 2 weeks now stable with 32GB, think this is solved for me. -- Thanks everybody for your help!!

Reply

Answer 9

Jaelae

Level 1

4 points

Jul 5, 2014 6:45 PM in response to fototypo

I've had the same issue with my iMac. Unfortunately, I am way late on getting on top of this. I bought an iMac 27" and paid for the 32gb upgrade from MacMall way back in October 2013. They installed Axiom 32gb kit when it was shipped. Great, I got it used it and immediately it was crashing. I tested without any non-standard USB devices and it still happened. I did not see any memory errors so I removed this memory and replaced with the stock 8gb. From October until June it was been perfect.

I finally was switching to this iMac as my main machine (long delay) and need the 32gb badly at this point. I first formatted and completed a full OS 10.9 install. I used it for a few days successfully. I then installed the memory and viola! the crashes have returned. It is definitely the memory. Though this was:

Axiom 32GB (4X8GB) PC3-12800 1600MHz SODIMM Low Voltage Memory Module

So this seems to be the correct low voltage memory but a different brand than most. This is listed on MacMall's website. I contacted their support but due to me waiting so long I doubt I will get good news from them. I will next reach out to Apple to see if they can do anything. I would prefer 8gb stable to 32gb not stable. But it seems like a very strange issue.

Reply

Answer 10

cdanr

Level 1

33 points

Jul 5, 2014 8:22 PM in response to Jaelae

Not all DDR3L 1.35V RAM is created alike. On my long journey to eventual 32GB stability with the Apple Elpida - Crucial half and half combo I'm now using without issues for the past 4 months, I also had major system instability with some brands of 1.35V RAM. So while 1.5V DDR3 is a definite no-no, that is not to say that any and all 1.35V is a solution. The Haswell iMacs are extraordinarily sensitive when it comes to RAM.

I really recommend that those who are not using Apple-supplied RAM should stick with brands and models known to work like the Crucial CT2C8G3S160BM available on Amazon. If you are using Apple RAM and are having problems, you should of course contact Apple for a replacement.

Another good reason to go with Crucial is their lifetime warranty.

In your case with the Axiom, I'd contact MacMall for a refund/replacement with a better brand. I'm not sure what their warranty process is but I would keep on them because they're probably your only chance at getting a positive resolution. Apple isn't going to fix problems with third party RAM from a reseller.

Reply

Answer 11

fototypo

Level 1

30 points

Jul 6, 2014 12:58 AM in response to Jaelae

Don't know where you are, but in my case I also was "over time" for normal warrantee process (6 months) and insisted on an exchange of ram because they installed unfitting RAM, so it was their fault. They reacted a bit puzzeld at first, but afterwards confessed there were others with the same issue. So chances are this is nothing new to them and they might accommodate. In my case I had to pay few Euros extra as the new ram had a higher price, but this was ok for me. Good luck!

Reply

Answer 12

JohnEC67

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2014 12:46 PM in response to cdanr

I agree, RAMs, even with correct specs, are not all created alike.

I too have issues with my late 2013 27". Here is what I have observed in my case.

System came with 2 X 4GB and rock solid in that configuration.

When I put my PNY 4 X 8GB (yes I know, it is not Crucial ;-) my system crashes all the time.

I ran MemTest86 with my original RAM. I tested the RAM in all the banks to rule out issues with one of the banks. All tests were ok.

I then tested the PNY sticks one at the time in each bank. All tests were ok.

I then tested verious combinations of 16GB. All tests were ok.

The minute I would put 4 RAM sticks and tested, by the time I would reach test 5 or 6, I would get some errors.

One night, when the house was quiet, I ran a test with 32GB and for the 1st time noticed that my system's fan was rather loud.

I saw errors, pulled the plug, removed the sticks and noticed that they were very hot.

I let them cool and ran the test with only 2 sticks. The system's fan never got loud, didn't get any errors and the RAM wasn't as hot compared to the test with 4 sticks.

I then ran another test with 32GB but this time without the RAM cover and with a small desk fan blowing on the RAM.

The test went on without errors. I pulled the plug, removed the RAM and it wasn't as hot.

I ran another series of tests without the RAM cover and without desk fan and all tests completed without errors but the RAM was slightly warmer.

In my case it feels like my RAM could be of the right specs but less tolerant to the high temperature inside the RAM compartment when all for banks are in use and the cover shut.

Could this be a sign of poor RAM quality or a design issue with the RAM compartment not be ventilated enough? It is hard to believe that Apple would make such a design mistake ;-) so I'll blame my RAM for now ;-)

John E C

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