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16Gb RAM - UK supplier? (Bad Corsair RAM)

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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
Hi folks

I'm about to return a mini Server (256SSD, 750HD, 8Gb RAM), to get an AMD mini (2.7 i7, 750HD, 16Gb RAM (?)). (Reason: I have doubts about the Server's integrated Intel graphics, especially with the soon-to-be-announced Photoshop CS6.)

This is for a photography workstation (Photoshop, Raw Developer, Lightroom, PhotoMechanic, CaptureNX, PTGui). All working files (and archive) will be on a Promise Pegasus R6 12Tb (Raid5), daisychained to an Eizo 27" CG275w monitor.

I work with large layered files, and often have many files open at the same time, so I figure I would appreciate the upgrade from 8Gb to 16Gb of RAM. (I reckon I'm better off spending on RAM than on one of Apple's expensive SSDs.)

Is this what I should be buying (2 x 8Gb modules, £200, from Crucial UK)?

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT102464BF1339&click=true

Thanks, Elliot
 
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etsi

macrumors regular
Oct 23, 2011
248
1
I am also interested to know it this memory will work for mac mini server 2.0ghz
 
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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
Thanks for the confirmation. I always buy RAM from Crucial, so I'm good to go. That said, if any UK readers can find 16Gb for less than £200, let us know.
 
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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
The 16Gb of Corsair RAM arrived today and within an hour of installing it my i7 2.7ghz mini experienced a kernel panic.

I then tried running Apple's Hardware Test, but it froze halfway through the test - I had to keep the power button held down to shut it down.

Since then I've restarted and everything seems fine. Apple's Hardware Test now works, and gives me the thumbs up in both normal and extended modes.

My Photoshop speed tests are running super fast, as I had hoped.

I've just downloaded Rember, and I'm waiting for it to loop through its RAM tests.

Hmm, bit of a mystery...
 
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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
theSeb said:
Make sure it's seated properly.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll check that when Rember has completed its loops. It looks like it could take a while - maybe 24hrs to conduct 4 loops on 16Gb. Is that normal?
 
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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
Ok, it failed on the second loop.

I'll shutdown and try reseating the RAM.

FWIW, here's Rember report (and then the kernel panic report):


Memtest version 4.22 (64-bit)
Copyright (C) 2004 Charles Cazabon
Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Tony Scaminaci (Macintosh port)
Licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 only

Mac OS X 10.7.2 (11C74) running in multiuser mode
Memory Page Size: 4096
System has 4 Intel core(s) with SSE
Requested memory: 14559MB (15267082240 bytes)
Available memory: 14559MB (15267082240 bytes)
Allocated memory: 14559MB (15267082240 bytes) at local address 0x0000000101000000
Attempting memory lock... locked successfully
Partitioning memory into 2 comparison buffers...
Buffer A: 7279MB (7633541120 bytes) starts at local address 0x0000000101000000
Buffer B: 7279MB (7633541120 bytes) starts at local address 0x00000002c7fe9800

Running 5 test sequences... (CTRL-C to quit)

Test sequence 1 of 5:

Running tests on full 14559MB region...
Stuck Address : setting 1 of 16 ok
Linear PRN : setting 1 of 16 ok
Running comparison tests using 7279MB buffers...
Random Value : ok
Compare XOR : ok
Compare SUB : ok
Compare MUL : ok
Compare DIV : ok
Compare OR : ok
Compare AND : ok
Sequential Increment: ok
Solid Bits : setting 1 of 64 ok
Block Sequential : setting 1 of 256 ok
Checkerboard : setting 1 of 64 ok
Bit Spread : setting 1 of 128 ok
Bit Flip : setting 1 of 512 ok
Walking Ones : setting 1 of 128 ok
Walking Zeroes : setting 1 of 128 ok

Test sequence 2 of 5:

Running tests on full 14559MB region...
Stuck Address : setting 1 of 16 ok
Linear PRN : setting 1 of 16 ok
Running comparison tests using 7279MB buffers...
Random Value : \

FAILURE! Data mismatch at local BUFA address 0x0000000178af5400, BUFB address 0x000000033fadec00
BUFA Data: 0xf8ffcd227ffd5d06, BUFB Data: 0xf8ffcc227ffd5d06


Kernel panic:

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 30710 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 1
Anonymous UUID:

Fri Jan 6 15:14:41 2012
panic(cpu 1 caller 0xffffff80002c266d): Kernel trap at 0xffffff8000559052, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x0000000000022987, CR3: 0x0000000000100000, CR4: 0x00000000000606e0
RAX: 0x0000000000000001, RBX: 0xffffff802552a300, RCX: 0x0000000000022987, RDX: 0x0000000000000145
RSP: 0xffffff81d34a3f40, RBP: 0xffffff81d34a3f70, RSI: 0x0000000000000000, RDI: 0x0000000000000146
R8: 0x000000000002259c, R9: 0x0000000000000000, R10: 0x8000000000100000, R11: 0xffffff80002d8200
R12: 0xffffff8000558f40, R13: 0xffffff802552a300, R14: 0xffffff802552a300, R15: 0x0000000000000000
RFL: 0x0000000000010202, RIP: 0xffffff8000559052, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
CR2: 0x0000000000022987, Error code: 0x0000000000000002, Faulting CPU: 0x1

Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff81d34a3c00 : 0xffffff8000220702
0xffffff81d34a3c80
Model: Macmini5,2, BootROM MM51.0077.B0F, 2 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.7 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 1.75f0
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6630M, AMD Radeon HD 6630M, PCIe, 256 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x029E, 0x434D534F384758334D314131333333433920
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x029E, 0x434D534F384758334D314131333333433920
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0xE4), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.100.98.75.18)
Bluetooth: Version 4.0.1f4, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1
PCI Card: pci105a,8760, sppci_raid, Thunderbolt@106,0,0
Serial ATA Device: APPLE HDD HTS727575A9E362, 750.16 GB
USB Device: hub_device, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2513, 0xfa100000 / 2
USB Device: Keyboard Hub, apple_vendor_id, 0x1006, 0xfa120000 / 5
USB Device: Apple Keyboard, apple_vendor_id, 0x0250, 0xfa122000 / 6
USB Device: Apple Optical USB Mouse, apple_vendor_id, 0x0304, 0xfa130000 / 4
USB Device: BRCM20702 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0xfa110000 / 3
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8281, 0xfa113000 / 8
USB Device: hub_device, 0x0424 (SMSC), 0x2513, 0xfd100000 / 2
USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0xfd110000 / 3
 
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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
I reseated the RAM, but Rember is still reporting errors.

Corsair Support have told me I bought the wrong RAM, and I should have bought the Mac-specific RAM at the second link (rather than the RAM I bought at the first link):

http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-pr...ddr3-sodimm-memory-kit-cmso8gx3m1a1333c9.html

http://www.corsair.com/corsair-mac-memory-8gb-ddr3-sodimm-memory-kit-cmsa8gx3m1a1333c9.html

Is there really any difference, or is the mac ram just a re-badge?

What should I do? Try to get a replacement from scan.co.uk? Or a refund? Is there a better brand than Corsair? Or maybe 16Gb is a gamble in the mini, and it's safer to stick to 8Gb?
 
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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
Can anyone advise me on returning this faulty RAM for a refund? Isn't the dealer likely to refuse a refund on the basis that Apple doesn't include 16Gb in its specs for the mini? I'm worried that shopping for this RAM has been an expensive mistake.
 
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elliotn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 5, 2011
152
0
hmm, not easily. all my friends use macs.

i'll try to return it. if they won't take it, i'll bin it.
 
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etsi

macrumors regular
Oct 23, 2011
248
1
Just mail them the result of mem86test, rember or whatever and tell them is defective. That's why I love amazon it's easy to return anything :D
 
J

jimboutilier

macrumors 6502a
Nov 10, 2008
647
42
Denver
While its always tempting to go with cheaper off brands, and it sometimes works just fine, memory is such a critical component I've stuck to proven names I trust and have had good luck with in the past.

When looking for 16gb for my mini I looked at the cheapie stuff as well. The komputerbay bay seemed way too risky but I almost succumbed to the Corsair. Ended up going back to OWC who I've used for most of my upgrades over the years, who always has great customer service, and whose products I've never had any issues with.

So rather than risking $170 on Komputerbay or $230 on Corsair I spent $299 on OWC. My mini has been running flawlessly so I'm happy. I know OWC has certified the mini for 16gb and supports it and that I would have an advance replacement in a day or two if I ever encounter any issues.
 
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