Hi,
I've got a Mac Pro 3,1 (dual quad 3GHz) and 4x4GB 800MHz ECC RAM modules. I've had RAM fail several times in this machine -- sometimes it required removing before it would boot -- and other times, like now, it would simply drop down from 4GB to 2GB. (All original "Apple" RAM, or from OWC.)
It happens sporadically. Sometimes my system boots and it says I have 16GB of RAM, and other times 12GBs.
It's been a while since it's started happening, a few months ago or even longer I ran a memory check but it said everything was fine. Even did one in Windows as well I think. Both cleared. But it's clearly not.
I've checked System Profiler when it was at 12GB, and it still said the status is "OK", but the Diagnostics section reported that some of the RAM failed some test. (The problematic RAM modules are in the same section.)
I've got a few questions:
1. Why does it drop down from 4GB to 2GB? Why is it even booting?
2. What's the main reason RAM fails in the Mac Pro? Heat?
3. What are the consequences of running RAM that's doing this? Is it slower? More unstable?
Considering the cost of new RAM from OWC for the Mac Pro I won't be buying more. So, should I just take them out and put one RAM module in the top section and one in the bottom?
Appreciate any help with this!
I've got a Mac Pro 3,1 (dual quad 3GHz) and 4x4GB 800MHz ECC RAM modules. I've had RAM fail several times in this machine -- sometimes it required removing before it would boot -- and other times, like now, it would simply drop down from 4GB to 2GB. (All original "Apple" RAM, or from OWC.)
It happens sporadically. Sometimes my system boots and it says I have 16GB of RAM, and other times 12GBs.
It's been a while since it's started happening, a few months ago or even longer I ran a memory check but it said everything was fine. Even did one in Windows as well I think. Both cleared. But it's clearly not.
I've checked System Profiler when it was at 12GB, and it still said the status is "OK", but the Diagnostics section reported that some of the RAM failed some test. (The problematic RAM modules are in the same section.)
I've got a few questions:
1. Why does it drop down from 4GB to 2GB? Why is it even booting?
2. What's the main reason RAM fails in the Mac Pro? Heat?
3. What are the consequences of running RAM that's doing this? Is it slower? More unstable?
Considering the cost of new RAM from OWC for the Mac Pro I won't be buying more. So, should I just take them out and put one RAM module in the top section and one in the bottom?
Appreciate any help with this!