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Slightly Concerned (Apple RAM temperature)

Infrared

Infrared

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 28, 2007
1,716
65
I'm slightly concerned about the temperature of
a B2 memory module:

Ambient: 25C (77F)
Mem Module A1: 48C (118.4F)
Mem Module A2: 51C (123.8F)
Mem Module B1: 52C (125.6F)
Mem Module B2: 60C (140.0F)

All 4 modules in A1, A2, B1 and B2 are identical
Apple 1GB modules[1]. 60C (140F) for B2 is when
idling. Under load yesterday it reached 74C (165F),
but I suspect it might go higher if really pushed.

[1] Identical in the sense of same speed and capacity.
It could be that the added modules were made by a
different manufacturer. Oh, and I did just slap the new
modules in A2 and B2 without first moving B1 to A2. I
figured the move wouldn't be necessary given that they're
all 1GB modules. Maybe I reasoned incorrectly.
 
If you don't have SMC Fan Control, download it and set your CPU fan to about 1 000 rpm. You'll hardly hear the increased fan speed and your RAM modules should stabilize at 50C or less.
 
pastrychef said:
You should have moved the module B1 to A2 and then added the new ones to B1 and B2.
Click to expand...

Why, please? Isn't that advice for when the new
memory doesn't match the existing memory?

The memory I've added is the same as the existing
memory, as regards speed and capacity.

Thanks.
 
I just phoned Apple and they said it didn't matter that the B1
memory wasn't moved to A2 since the memory is all of the
same type (all 1GB modules). I hope the person I spoke to
was right - it can get very confusing discussing all these slots.
 
Mine typically run about 160F, sometimes a little hotter. You're fine.
 
Infrared said:
Why, please? Isn't that advice for when the new
memory doesn't match the existing memory?

The memory I've added is the same as the existing
memory, as regards speed and capacity.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The only reason why I suggested that is because I feared that even though it came from Apple they may have used a different supplier for the RAM. For example, Apple uses different brands of optical drives in the Mac Pros... I was just being safe...
 
pastrychef said:
The only reason why I suggested that is because I feared that even though it came from Apple they may have used a different supplier for the RAM. For example, Apple uses different brands of optical drives in the Mac Pros... I was just being safe...
Click to expand...

Ok, fair enough. I'm not sure the supplier is a factor. Some have
said the manufacturer of the RAM must be matched, and that
may be true. But I haven't seen an explanation of why that might
be true - just a few cases where it has or hasn't worked.

This is where one needs to know a little bit about what's happening
under the hood. We can say this person had this configuration and
it didn't work, so this or that may be true. But there's a limit to how
far we get with that kind of argument based on anecdotes.
Unfortunately most arguments hereabouts are of that type.
 
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