HT205040: iMac: Memory specifications and upgrades

Learn about iMac: Memory specifications and upgrades
Dadiohead
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Q: Increasing RAM in late 2009 iMac

Increasing RAM in late 2009 iMac. Installed two - 4 gig sticks in slots 1 and 2 and all is fine. Installed second pair of 4 Gig sticks to slots 3 and 4 and iMac now does not boot up (it just beeps). Similar problem on second iMac using 2 gig sticks.

iMac

Posted on Aug 17, 2015 1:12 PM

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Dadiohead

Q: Increasing RAM in late 2009 iMac

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 17, 2015 1:20 PM in response to Dadiohead
    Level 10 (270,391 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2015 1:20 PM in response to Dadiohead

    Be sure the memory meets the computer's specs:

    Maximum Memory16 GB
    Memory Slots4 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

    Memory should be installed in matched pairs in adjacent slots. Two slots on the top and two slots on the bottom.

     

    Be sure the modules are inserted properly. They should "click" or "crunch" into the slots. You may have to push hard.

  • by Dadiohead,

    Dadiohead Dadiohead Aug 17, 2015 2:09 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 2:09 PM in response to Kappy

    Everything was matched. First computer I tried had 2 x 2 Gig memory sticks and it works fine with only the two top slots filled. Then I added another pair of of 2 gig memory sticks and the problem of not booting and just beeping happened. Tried on a different computer using 4 gig memory sticks and exactly the same problem occurred. Works fine with one pair of 4 gig sticks in the top two slots, fails to boot and just beeps when the second pair of 4 gig memory sticks is added. Everthing is seated properly (unless there is an issue with the bottom slots from years of non-use. Wouldn't think a dust buildup would cause a failure. The OS is obviously sensing the slots are being used and, for some reason, it isn't able to deal with the additional memory. I am not above the manufacturers specs for memory for these machines. They are definitely late 2009 builds. Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 17, 2015 2:21 PM in response to Dadiohead
    Level 10 (270,391 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2015 2:21 PM in response to Dadiohead

    I would clean the slots. You may also want to use a clean pencil eraser and clean the edge-card pins on both sides. Beyond that all I can suggest is to contact the memory vendor and ask for replacements.

     

    Have you tried moving the modules that are working in the top slots to the bottom ones? You know that memory is good. If it doesn't get recognized in the bottom slots, then it's a slot problem.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Aug 17, 2015 2:40 PM in response to Dadiohead
    Level 9 (58,184 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 17, 2015 2:40 PM in response to Dadiohead

    Dadiohead,

     

    What model and brand of RAM did you buy? Imacs are extremely RAM, most experienced users on these forums only recommend using OWC (www.macsales.com) or Crucial.

  • by Dadiohead,

    Dadiohead Dadiohead Aug 17, 2015 2:47 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 2:47 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Macs are finicky. Therefore I am using Kingston RAM that was purchased from Crucial. 

  • by Dadiohead,

    Dadiohead Dadiohead Aug 17, 2015 2:50 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 2:50 PM in response to Kappy

    I have done some mixing and matching. I took working 2Gig RAM from the top slots of one iMac and inserted them in the bottom two slots of a second iMac. Nadda. I will get in there and clean it all out and see if that makes the connection. Thanks for the eraser tip.

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Aug 17, 2015 2:54 PM in response to Dadiohead
    Level 9 (58,184 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 17, 2015 2:54 PM in response to Dadiohead

    Dadiohead wrote:

     

    Macs are finicky. Therefore I am using Kingston RAM that was purchased from Crucial.

     

    Kingston RAM has a long history of having problems, particularly their value RAM. If your problem continues, return the Kingston and purchase Crucial RAM directly from Crucial.

  • by Dadiohead,

    Dadiohead Dadiohead Aug 17, 2015 3:53 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 3:53 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    Understood. But this same problem happened with two x 2 Gig memory sticks that came out of one of the other iMacs I was upgrading. This was OEM RAM and when I inserted it in to the other iMac, same non-boot and warning sound. So it happened twice, with two different computers using two different kinds of RAM from two different manufacturers. I'm not persuaded it's the RAM.