Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Yes, but what would I test? When I try to boot up my computer it doesn't even get to the screen where I'd switch into Windows. It just stays black.

i thought about that as soon as i posted it lol! mybad.. test it with the Leopard Installer Disc via the Hardware test thing maybe. oh but it wont let you boot... bugger... got a PC laptop to test it on?
 
NewEgg does not list that set as compatible with iMacs. Here's what you want.

I don't understand why one stick would work if it's "incompatible."

I guess the next thing to try would be to get those sticks and test them out. However, I believe I have the mid-2007 model. There is a review on that newegg site that says this:

The product description says for iMacs in early spring 2008. Well I bought my iMac in late February 2008 and thought this was the right stuff but it was not. Apparently my iMac is the late 2007 model...

So should I just avoid this? Or try it out? I guess I could buy this same memory at Best Buy and then return it if there's a problem....
 
because its been known not to work every single time....for something to be compatible it must be working 100% of the time.

But the one stick does work every single time. If I had boot up problems sometimes with one stick, I would understand. I guess I'll try the other RAM, or just stick with 3GB....?
 
I don't understand why one stick would work if it's "incompatible."

There are a variety of reasons. If I could find your chip on Kingston's site (it is unlisted for some reason) I could probably determine the issue. In all likelihood, it's something to do with its specifications (e.g., timing) that is causing the problem. When you use mismatched pairs you can get the "bad" chip to behave like the "good" chip, thus resulting in functionality. However, if you put in two "bad" chips, they don't work. Note that "bad" simply refers to some specification of the chip and not that it's defective.
 
I'm pretty sure I seated them properly. I tried swapping both 2GB out and putting 1GBs in their place. It booted fine. With both 2GB sticks in, the computer turns on, but doesn't have the startup noise and the monitor stays powered off.

Any ideas? They are identical Kingston 2GB sticks. Again, they both work as long as there is a 1GB and a 2GB in there.

Some type of ram are not compatible. There are threads similar to this such as:
https://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-545762.html
 
Some type of ram are not compatible. There are threads similar to this such as:
https://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-545762.html

In that thread, Consultant, it appears as though that person had one stick that was clearly defective because only one of his would work with the other 1GB stick. Both of mine work with the 1GB stick. Thoughts?

@Cave Man—that seems to make the most sense to me. This is the same product, correct?: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...oduct&id=1216424484563#tabbed-customerreviews

I'd rather test the RAM from Best Buy and then return it if it works (or doesn't work) and then buy it from Newegg because I hear that you can't return memory to Newegg.

I'll let you know what happens when I try those sticks. Sigh...
 
@Cave Man—that seems to make the most sense to me. This is the same product, correct?: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...oduct&id=1216424484563#tabbed-customerreviews

I'd rather test the RAM from Best Buy and then return it if it works (or doesn't work) and then buy it from Newegg because I hear that you can't return memory to Newegg.

Yeah, those would work, but why not buy from Other World Computing? Four gigs is less than $50 and they come with a life-time warranty. I buy nearly all my RAM from them and only had one bad chip (which they replaced).
 
Damn, Had this exact experience! Any way to fix it?

Damn, I had the same problem. Bought the 800MHz Ram for a 4GB upgrade and the macbook wouldn't boot. So I took it back and bought the 667MHz and it still wouldn't boot. So I played around and discovered that it would boot with either new RAM module as long as I used one of the old 1GB modules.

So anybody figure this out? Oh, I was buying mine at BestBuy as well, it is the same stuff as the original poster!!!
Thanks.
 
Thanks. So much for an "impulse" upgrade. I went to the site you referenced earlier in the thread and per your recommendation I guess I will buy it from OWC. Cheaper anyway!:)

Cheers...
 
Yeah, those would work...

Unfortunately Caveman, those other memory sticks did NOT work. I feel as though there has to be something I'm missing. Oh well. I'm currently running on 3 GB and it looks like I'm going to have to live with it. :(
 
Unfortunately Caveman, those other memory sticks did NOT work. I feel as though there has to be something I'm missing. Oh well. I'm currently running on 3 GB and it looks like I'm going to have to live with it. :(

Your MacBook must only take 667 mHz RAM sticks. Do you have the specs on your chips? I have 667 in my MBP.

Edit: OK, dug out my package. My MBP had KTA-MB667k2/4g (2x2 gb sticks) in it. These are 667 mhz. (One's been pulled in lieu of a 4 gb + 2 gb setup.)
 
Your MacBook must only take 667 mHz RAM sticks. Do you have the specs on your chips? I have 667 in my MBP.

Edit: OK, dug out my package. My MBP had KTA-MB667k2/4g (2x2 gb sticks) in it. These are 667 mhz. (One's been pulled in lieu of a 4 gb + 2 gb setup.)

I have an Intel desktop. I know you said MacBook, I just wanted to make sure that we're speaking the same language :) Does that still mean that I have to run 667?
 
I have an Intel desktop. I know you said MacBook, I just wanted to make sure that we're speaking the same language :) Does that still mean that I have to run 667?

Right - I was thinking about the other thread with the MacBook.

It sounds as though you have a mid-2007 iMac, not a 2008 iMac? The former takes 667 mhz RAM, while the later takes 800 mhz RAM. If so, when you put an 800 mhz chip in with a 667 mhz chip, the 800 mhz chip runs at 667, which is why it works. You put two 800 mhz chips in and it doesn't work because the bus cannot support them. Your Kingston chips were 667 mhz, so there must have been a timing issue that prevented them from working.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.