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

Question

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

cdanr

Level 1

33 points

Jan 28, 2014 5:14 AM in response to val75

Thank you for the reports, val75 and shaunumb. My iMac also works perfectly with just 16GB installed, but that's why I thought it might be a software issue. It worked perfectly with only 16GB no matter whether it was the Apple Elpida or the 1.35 V replacement RAM I bought. The crashes only happened with 32GB installed in any order.

Anyway, I am encouraged to hear that the replacement Crucial RAM cured the problems for both of you and am also relieved to hear that the color of the modules seems to be irrelevant.

Mine should arrive in a day or two and I will post my results. I'm hoping for the best.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 28, 2014 9:39 AM in response to shaunumb

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for posting advice and giving feedback.

I said 2 weeks ago I would buy 32 GB of ram from Crucial but after some serious thinking I decided to buy only 16 and mix them with the 8 GB already in the machine.

Today I received the sticks.

Of course I would like to know if I have good sticks of ram. Are people experiencing kernal panics when not maxing out their machine?

I now have succesfully installed 24 GB of ram. The iMac is still working and feels a lot more responsive.

which part numbers are important to know if I've got the "fixed" ram from Crucial?

The circuit boards are green but that's not an indication right?

Reply

Answer 3

ginooken

Level 1

0 points

Jan 28, 2014 10:56 AM in response to cdanr

Replacement DIMM information

On the Box :

CT2C8G3S160BMCEU

6000036572 - 244455

On the DIMM :

CT8G3S 160BM.8DED FH113KP.86 201347MT

8GB DDR3L - 1600SODIMM MAC 234144

On the DIMM Backside :

MT16KTS1G64HZ-1G6E 1347

8GB 2RX8 PC3L-12800S-11-11-D1

DPADNTT001

kr,

gino

Reply

Answer 4

Jan 28, 2014 11:42 AM in response to shaunumb

Great to hear that both green & black Modules work with the iMac without crashing. I just wanted to share the specifics on the new modules Crucial shipped me as soon as I saw that they worked. The first two batches of RAM they sent were green and caused lots of kernal panics and crashing. This third shippment of replacements are colored black and have not caused kernel panics or crashing for almost 3 weeks.

iMac 27 inch Late 2013

3.5 GHz Intel Core i7

32 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4096 MB

Reply

Answer 5

AleBot

Level 1

14 points

Jan 30, 2014 4:10 AM in response to shaunumb

I just add myself to the list...

I bought a late 2013 iMac 27" with 32Gb RAM in december. The first kernel panic occurred after 5 minutes, then randomly. My Apple Service Provider made an analysis and, upon my suggestion, replaced the RAM (4 x 8Gb Kingston 1.5V), temporarily with 4x4Gb (Elpida). No problem with that RAM. After they provided me with the new RAM (4 x Kingston KTA-MB1600L/8G) I was optimistic, but after few hours again kernel panics. Apple told me that they do not not why, as this is the first case. I've made some tests by combining three of the four modules, for a total of 24Gb, to verify whether it depended on a wrong module. No problem with 24Gb, regardless of the three module I use. So the problem seems to be the 32Gb configuration with these Kingston modules (1.35V). I made some RAM tests with the Memtest utility, but no problem was detected.

What should I do now?

I will contact my Apple Service Provider to see what they say.

Is there any definitive solution to the problem?

Reply

Answer 6

Elraidor

Level 1

0 points

Jan 30, 2014 10:14 AM in response to AleBot

My dealer has spent over 2 months trying to find a stable Kingston config with no success. Options seems to be

Reduce memory

Downgrade graphics card

None of which work for me.

The Crucial RAM solution mentioned here seems to be the only light at the moment, but I'd need to hear people say its stable for a month before I go for that, so instead I've requested a RMA and I'll look for another solution, eg would a Mac Pro be more stable?

Reply

Answer 7

joeshirt

Level 1

0 points

Jan 30, 2014 11:09 AM in response to Elraidor

I had this same problem and bought 16GB from OWC (Mac Sales) and now everything works fine, no problems for last 30 days. wwwmacsales.com I bought item# OWC1600DDR3S16P (I don't have any connections with these guys, just trying to help) I kept the original iMac memory and just added the OWC memory to it. I too originally ordered the Crucial ram and had lots of problems. Now all is good.

Reply

Answer 8

cdanr

Level 1

33 points

Jan 30, 2014 2:03 PM in response to shaunumb

I received my Crucial RAM yesterday evening and I will be installing it today. I got the following part number:

CT8G3S160BM.C16FER

The PC boards are green. I will follow up with my results.

@Elraidor, I'm pretty sure there are some users with the Crucial RAM who've been using it without problems for over a month at this point.

Reply

Answer 9

AleBot

Level 1

14 points

Jan 30, 2014 11:56 PM in response to joeshirt

The focus of this discussion is on iMac with 32GB configuration. With 16GB, the system is stable in all cases, as well as with 24GB, at least in my case.

Reply

Answer 10

Jan 31, 2014 12:08 AM in response to AleBot

Correct.

I get my new Kingston RAM modules to day 4x8GB (32GB), then we see whats up with RAM panic.

My Kernel Panic comes with 4x8GB (32GB) Kingston RAM 1,5v.

Usually when I do Video edit, and RAM is tress out A lot.

Reply

Answer 11

shaunumb Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2014 2:04 AM in response to Elraidor

Yes, 1.5 months with absolutely no issues with 32GB of Crucial RAM.

Reply

Answer 12

AleBot

Level 1

14 points

Jan 31, 2014 3:58 AM in response to shaunumb

The model of the RAM is CT8G3S160BMCEU, right?

Reply

Answer 13

AleBot

Level 1

14 points

Jan 31, 2014 4:00 AM in response to iRideApple

In my case, the panics occurred regardless the "stress condition". On the other hand, when I tried to use all the available 32 gigs, the panic was not automatic! I would say that it was random...

Reply