Justay24
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: Problems with paring RAM sticks on late 2009 MacBook

HI everyone! I have recently bought two 2GB RAM sticks for my MacBook. It came with two 1GB sticks. I put the new ram in and tried to boot up my computer. Mac OS would not boot. I then paired a 2GB with a 1GB and Mac OS booted up and it recognized that I had 3GBof RAM. I then tried to put both the2GB back in and it would not boot up. I then put the other 2GB RAM stick in along with the same 1GB RAM stick and it booted up and I had 3GB of RAM. Then once again I tried the two 2GB and it my scr stayed blank and my MacBook beeped 3 times over and over.

WHat at is wrong with my MacBook. Both of the new RAM sticks work but not when paired together.

VIN, MacBook (13-inch Late 2009), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Oct 21, 2016 9:25 PM

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Justay24

Q: Problems with paring RAM sticks on late 2009 MacBook

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  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Oct 22, 2016 9:34 AM in response to Justay24
    Level 6 (14,582 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 22, 2016 9:34 AM in response to Justay24

    There is a fair chance these RAM memory chips are not of correct

    specification, nor of reputable quality for use in Mac portables.

     

    • MacBook: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support

     

    The supported RAM specs (in general) for your identified MacBook:

    Maximum Memory    8.0 GB (Actual) 4.0 GB (Apple)

    Memory Slots    2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

     

    As not all the memory chips out there are equal to the task of working

    in an Apple computer. Avoid bargain memory brands and those whose

    companies are not mentioned in actual Mac-centric user circles.

     

    Because the video 'graphics chip' also relies on the Standard memory

    total as part of its ability to provide a display, you need to consider more

    RAM than the least possible it may (or may not) support. Graphics:

     

    Graphics Card    NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

    Graphics Memory    256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory

    (Minimum graphics memory usage is 256 MB)

    Display Connection    1 - Mini DisplayPort

    Display Modes    Dual display extended and video mirroring

    External Resolution    Up to 2560 by 1600 pixels

     

    Brands most commonly found to be without issue in Mac computers

    from reputable upgrade parts sources, are from Crucial.com and are

    of the correct part number to match the purpose (your exact mac) or

    from reputable Mac-centric reseller, OWC macsales.com. Details in

    how the chips are manufactured, and to higher standards, is why they

    are most likely to provide trouble-free performance.

     

    Major manufacturers of quality memory chips aren't kingston, or bargin name.

     

    After installing the correct best-quality reputable memory chips in the Mac

    you may need to use the 'System Management Controller' - reset procedure:

     

    • Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

    ...in order to have the memory chips appear. You would need more than 4GB

    for a reasonably good experience running El Capitan 10.11.6. & your applications.

     

    Good luck & happy trails!