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Upgrading RAM on Power Mac G5? What's the secret?

Xenomorph

Xenomorph

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 6, 2008
1,397
829
St. Louis
Dual G5, 2.0 GHz
M9032LL/A
PowerMac7,2
Memory: DDR, 400MHz (PC3200).

I have *stacks* of DDR 400 memory. The system doesn't recognize any of it.

Is something like just ordering new stuff from OWC my best option? (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/3200DDR2GBP/)
I'd hate to have to buy more DDR 400 ram when I have a shoebox full of the stuff.

Why wouldn't this system acknowledge the RAM? I tried unplugging it & letting it sit, resetting PRAM, resetting SMC, re-seating the RAM, moving the sticks to different slots, clean install of Mac OS X, etc.

It obviously needs more than "just" PC3200 RAM. The stock install had two sticks of 512MB, PC3200/CL3. What's the technical details of what it really needs? Low density?
 
Nameci

Nameci

macrumors 68000
Oct 29, 2010
1,944
12
The Philippines...
Xenomorph said:
Dual G5, 2.0 GHz
M9032LL/A
PowerMac7,2
Memory: DDR, 400MHz (PC3200).

I have *stacks* of DDR 400 memory. The system doesn't recognize any of it.

Is something like just ordering new stuff from OWC my best option? (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/3200DDR2GBP/)
I'd hate to have to buy more DDR 400 ram when I have a shoebox full of the stuff.

Why wouldn't this system acknowledge the RAM? I tried unplugging it & letting it sit, resetting PRAM, resetting SMC, re-seating the RAM, moving the sticks to different slots, clean install of Mac OS X, etc.

It obviously needs more than "just" PC3200 RAM. The stock install had two sticks of 512MB, PC3200/CL3. What's the technical details of what it really needs? Low density?
Click to expand...

yes it has to be matched low density RAM.
 
Intell

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
18,955
509
Inside
ItsATrap! said:
Identical means same brand and part number of ram, not just memory size.
Click to expand...

The ram does not need to be the same brand or part number. As long as they are both the same size and speed, it'll work without a problem. You can even have one stick of ECC and one stick of non-ECC.
 
Intell

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
18,955
509
Inside
ItsATrap! said:
That is incorrect.
Click to expand...

It works just fine in my G5. I accidentally ordered some ECC DDR ram a few years ago. Put in in my G5 and it works without a problem, but with the ECC feature disabled. All G5's can take ECC ram, they will just treat it as non-ECC. Good use for older server memory.
 
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