davidh10

Q: Power Mac G4 Quicksilver 867 won't see all 3 memory  sticks?

I have tried 4 different sticks all labeled PC133 in multiple locations with the same result (there are 3 memory slots), the system reports only 1gb of memory.   OS is 10.3.9.
Under preferences/memory, the memory in the first slot is always identified as PC100??? and  it always says that the 3rd slot is empty when it is not.   Is this possibly a 1gb limitation imposed by the OS?  I don't think any of the memory is bad.

Thanks!

PowerMac

Posted on Mar 10, 2015 11:29 AM

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Q: Power Mac G4 Quicksilver 867 won't see all 3 memory  sticks?

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  • by Allan Jones,Helpful

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Mar 10, 2015 11:43 AM in response to davidh10
    Level 8 (35,039 points)
    iPad
    Mar 10, 2015 11:43 AM in response to davidh10

    There are a lot of Powermac models with different RAM requirements. It would help to know which PowerMac you have.

     

    Also. what sizes are the RAM modules? 128MB 256? 512MB? Some PowerMacs will not recognize sticks over a certain size.

     

    Hi-density RAM intended for PCs will not work at all in a PowerMac or will show up as only half their rated size. A good idea is to look for the model number on each module and enter it into a google search. That may return the exact description of the module and tell us if it is Mac-friendly or not.

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Mar 10, 2015 12:42 PM in response to davidh10
    Level 8 (35,039 points)
    iPad
    Mar 10, 2015 12:42 PM in response to davidh10

    Just noticed your other question about a G4 QS model. Is that the computer in which you want to upgrade RAM?

  • by davidh10,

    davidh10 davidh10 Mar 10, 2015 1:06 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2015 1:06 PM in response to Allan Jones

    G4 Quicksilver.  Max ram is 1.5 3 slots of 512mb.  I am using 3 sticks of 512.   It appears that one stick doesn't work anywhere so it is either incompatible or bad.  It is 16 chip double-sided so should be low density.  The other two sticks have the same label but one always reads pc100-322s no matter what slot you put it in, whereas the other one reads pc133, so assume one is mislabeled.   I can't find the 4th stick at the moment. 

  • by davidh10,

    davidh10 davidh10 Mar 10, 2015 1:27 PM in response to davidh10
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2015 1:27 PM in response to davidh10

    I found a 256MB stick that works, so I will leave it at that.  Close enough to the max. Thanks!

  • by Jon Smith,

    Jon Smith Jon Smith Mar 11, 2015 6:15 PM in response to davidh10
    Level 4 (1,385 points)
    Mar 11, 2015 6:15 PM in response to davidh10

    The Quicksilver model reports CL2 memory as PC100-322(s) rather than PC133. It's a quirk, but the memory is working fine. You really should have as much memory as possible, which in the QS means three 512MB sticks. My QS that I am typing this on shews three PC100-322s sticks, works happily, and has for years.

     

    The optical drive floppy door should have a small elongated spring that looks as if it is standing on end about a third of the way from the left hand side of the door. Four small screws secure the optical drive carrier in place, and two plastic tabs (I think) secure the door(s) and frame visible after you remove the optical drive (and zip drive if you have one). With luck, you can see where it goes after you get the whole thing apart.

     

    Good luck... jws