ttissi1234

Q: trying to add 2 x 4GB Crucial DDR3 1333Mhz to existing Elpida 2 x 2 GB DDR3 1333Mhz on iMAC 27" mid 2011

trying to add 2 x 4GB Crucial DDR3 1333Mhz PC3 10600 to existing Elpida 2 x 2 GB DDR3 1333Mhz PC3 10600 on iMAC 27" mid 2011.  Get 3 beeps from iMAC and wont run when all memory slots full.  Runs ok with new memory only or old memory but not both together.  I thought I could do this according to Support page

 

'Maximum memory16 GB  Note: For the iMac (Late 2009) models, you can use 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot. For the iMac (Mid 2010) and iMac (Mid 2011) models, use 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot.'

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Aug 13, 2014 12:11 PM

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Q: trying to add 2 x 4GB Crucial DDR3 1333Mhz to existing Elpida 2 x 2 GB DDR3 1333Mhz on iMAC 27" mid 2011

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  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Aug 13, 2014 12:27 PM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 9 (58,746 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 13, 2014 12:27 PM in response to ttissi1234

    3 Beeps indicates it's a RAM issue. It's one or more of these items:

     

    1. Incorrect RAM
    2. Damaged RAM
    3. Unseated RAM

     

    It's nothing else, you need to troubleshoot which issues pertain to your machine.

     

    Good luck.

  • by ttissi1234,

    ttissi1234 ttissi1234 Aug 13, 2014 12:35 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2014 12:35 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Thanks

    New RAM runs ok on its own and Original RAM runs OK on its own so neither can be damaged or incorrect - correct?

    Have swapped the memory between slots and re-seated it a few times - Still no joy

    Will have a look and see what / how I troubleshoot

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Aug 13, 2014 12:46 PM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 9 (58,746 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 13, 2014 12:46 PM in response to ttissi1234

    Well if both work independent of one another than it appears they do not match well together, I would recommend calling Crucial's support line for assistance.

  • by ttissi1234,

    ttissi1234 ttissi1234 Aug 13, 2014 12:53 PM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2014 12:53 PM in response to ttissi1234

    Thanks I will do that - I just used the Crucial web site to get the recommended upgrade options for my machine and it lists the 2x4GB kit I bought on Amazon.  Do you believe I should be able to mix 4GB and 2GB modules  ?

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Aug 13, 2014 1:07 PM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 9 (58,746 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 13, 2014 1:07 PM in response to ttissi1234

    Matched pairs work the best however the RAM you got probably should have been purchased directly from Crucial rather than Amazon. iMacs are very finicky when it comes to RAM, ensure you installed the RAM in the correct slots, if you are not sure the the original RAM should be on one row and the new RAM on the empty row. In my iMac I have 24GB, 2 ea. x 4GB and 2 ea. 8GB and that has been working fine.

  • by DrDominodog51,

    DrDominodog51 DrDominodog51 Aug 13, 2014 1:49 PM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Aug 13, 2014 1:49 PM in response to ttissi1234

    Don't mix and match brands of ram. They may be slightly different in design.

  • by ttissi1234,

    ttissi1234 ttissi1234 Aug 13, 2014 2:04 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2014 2:04 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Thanks - Think I am going to have to buy more Crucial and junk the Elpida or see if someone wants to buy it !

  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa Aug 13, 2014 3:12 PM in response to DrDominodog51
    Level 7 (32,117 points)
    iPad
    Aug 13, 2014 3:12 PM in response to DrDominodog51

    Don't mix and match brands of ram

     

     

    I've run different brands of RAM for years; as long as they comply exactly with Apple's specs, there is absolutely no problem. One should, however, match the RAM horizontally (iMacs 2011 and earlier) or match them vertically with slots 1 + 3 or 2 + 4 in newer iMacs.

     

    My mid 2010 iMac has had 2 x 2 GB original RAM (not sure which brand Apple used at that time as they change suppliers) and 2 x 4 GB RAM from OWC for close to 4 years.

     

    iMac: How to remove or install memory

  • by ttissi1234,

    ttissi1234 ttissi1234 Aug 17, 2014 10:29 AM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2014 10:29 AM in response to ttissi1234

    So ... just to update - Thanks to all who posted replies as the combination of guidance eventually solved my issue.  I thought I would have one more go to make sure I had tried all combinations of slots for the memory install and hey presto ... Its a mid 2011 machine so should accept the memory horizontally straight into the empty slots but that did not work -  I had to add the new memory vertically and move the existing memory to the same config

    Now running sweetly with 12GB instead of original 4

     

    Screen Shot 2014-08-17 at 18.23.33.png

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Aug 17, 2014 11:29 AM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 7 (32,117 points)
    iPad
    Aug 17, 2014 11:29 AM in response to ttissi1234

    Glad to hear that worked for you!

  • by Fast Shark,

    Fast Shark Fast Shark Mar 26, 2015 12:39 PM in response to ttissi1234
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2015 12:39 PM in response to ttissi1234

    Thanks for posting this. I had to configure my system exactly like you described to get the Crucial 2x4GB kit to work.