Mac Mini crashes with new memory

[Cern]

Hi all,

I bought a mac mini a few weeks ago (my first mac ever) and everything was working fine. Yesterday I got my 1gb PC3200 memory upgrade in the mail from Fry's/Outpost.com, its 1 PDP Systems PSD1G400H (data sheet ) . It seems to meet all the requirements posted on Apple's support site, but now it starts crashing all the time, espically when I am trying to download a file in Safari. I am asuming its just bad memory that is below spec. Anyone else had similar problems? Maybe its something else, but I doubt it.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Les Kern]

No experience on this, but I make it a point to order RAM from Apple. Has the warranty, and never have issues like in the past with third-party. Sorry.

 

[yellow]

Try using MemTest to be sure it's the RAM. However, if it didn't start to crash until you got the RAM, then it's probably the RAM. And you should be calling the company you got it from and returning it. Try buying from Crucial. http://www.crucial.com

 

[Blue Velvet]

I can only second the Crucial comments. Never a problem.

Use their RAM specifier and it puts the onus on them to provide you with what they recommend. Choosing your own RAM puts the onus on you to get it right.

 

[monty77]

Mac Mini seems to be quite fussy about the RAM it likes. I have a Crucial 512Mb stick in mine and there's a PQI branded stick at www.newegg.com that a lot of Mini owners seem to think works well.

Adam

 

[spaceballl]

Try re-fitting the RAM. Jiggle it a little and push it in a bit harder. If that doesn't solve the problem you have bad RAM. No big deal your new stuff should be under warranty.

-Kevin

 

[CanadaRAM]

Yesterday I got my 1gb PC3200 memory upgrade in the mail from Fry's/Outpost.com, its 1 PDP Systems PSD1G400H (data sheet ) . It seems to meet all the requirements posted on Apple's support site

As you have found out, the spec sheet specification is not enough to judge whether RAM will be compatible or not.

I recommend that you only buy RAM from a supplier who provides a written guarantee of compatibility with your model Mac.

Playing "let's take a chance" on memory only costs you time, shipping charges and in the worst cases, restocking fees to send back RAM that "tests out fine" when you send it back.

In the US I recommend Data Memory Systems http://www.datamem.com


Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com

 

[BillHarrison]

Hi all,

I bought a mac mini a few weeks ago (my first mac ever) and everything was working fine. Yesterday I got my 1gb PC3200 memory upgrade in the mail from Fry's/Outpost.com, its 1 PDP Systems PSD1G400H (data sheet ) . It seems to meet all the requirements posted on Apple's support site, but now it starts crashing all the time, espically when I am trying to download a file in Safari. I am asuming its just bad memory that is below spec. Anyone else had similar problems? Maybe its something else, but I doubt it.

Thanks,
Brian

I know a number of people running this ram, without issues. I would double check your installation, remove, and reseat the ram, making sure you fully seat it. There is a chance you got a bad stick. Also, the mac's seem to run at the UPPER edge of the ram specifications, and some low priced memory runs near the lower edge, so you end up with problems.

However, I have seen nothing but good reports with people using patriot 1gb pc3200 sticks.

 

[hcuar]

I can only second the Crucial comments. Never a problem.

Use their RAM specifier and it puts the onus on them to provide you with what they recommend. Choosing your own RAM puts the onus on you to get it right.

I bought an extra GB of RAM from Crucial for my PM. (trying to go from 512MB to 1.5GB). I found out that the original RAM from Apple wouldn't play well with the stuff from Crucial. So, my only choice was to choose which brand I'd keep inside the PM. I choose to have 1GB of Crucial memory. If I want to upgrade, I'll order more from Crucial.

I spent some quality time with Applecare last night and they figured out that the memory and the logic board were fine. They mentioned that sometimes RAM doesn't mix on Macs. I thought that seemed weird, but I'm content with 1GB of RAM for now.

 

[jayeskreezy]

I think I might know your problem....

I got my 1gb PC3200 memory upgrade in the mail from Fry's/Outpost.com, its 1 PDP Systems PSD1G400H (data sheet )

Before I bought mine I went to Crucial to find out which RAM was exactly right and they only recommended PC2700 RAM for the mini...you have PC3200 in your machine...im not saying it wont work with it, but they only recommended PC2700

...Im about to get my memory installed on my mac mini today (1gb) and the kind I brought from newegg.com only had reviews from mac mini owners and they said they loved it....i dont know much about buying computer hardware, but i've only heard good things about newegg.com and crucial.com ...my 1gb mem was $133 + $4.33 shipping too.... very low price

 

[pulsewidth947]

PC3200 shouldnt be a problem.. it'll just run at 2700 speeds instead.

333 MHz (2700) instead of 400MHz. I got a 512 stick of crucial ram ready to go in my mini, as soon as i can find a suitable tool.. wish i'd bought 1gb now instead, ahh well thats always how it goes isnt i t

 

[Cern]

Thanks for all your input, but the RAM is actually bad. I tried that memtest utility and it failed at several points during the check, so back the RAM goes.