Powerbook G4 17" 1.67GHz Odd Ram Issues

[benwild_33]

I noticed my Powerbook G4 was only showing 1GB of ram earlier (it has 2x1GB DDR). I opened it up and took one stick out and tried it in both slots, it booted both times, I tried the other stick too. Now it has come back as having 2GB again. Is this likely to be the memory slot issues that some of the later 17" Powerbooks faced?

It hasn't shown any kind of instability, I only noticed the ram wasn't showing as I happened to be in about this mac at the time. It does boot a little slower with both sticks in, I'm guessing it does some kind of memory test on boot.

Were the memory slot issues just due to bad solder or is there a chip somewhere that goes bad?

 

[Camacorn]

I can't give the best advice, as I haven't had this issue, BUT I do know that PowerPC macs in general are VERY picky about the type of RAM you use. It could be something as simple as it not being matching sticks. However, I am certain that if it was due to a bad solder joint or something, the machine would probably not post.

 

[MagicBoy]

Lower slot failure was a common issue on 1.5 & 1.67Ghz DDR PowerBooks. (Not the DLSD). There was a repair extension programme at the time on a certain serial number range. If memory serves the cause was the logic board flexing in normal use rather than bad joints on the socket or chipset.

 

[benwild_33]

Lower slot failure was a common issue on 1.5 & 1.67Ghz DDR PowerBooks. (Not the DLSD). There was a repair extension programme at the time on a certain serial number range. If memory serves the cause was the logic board flexing in normal use rather than bad joints on the socket or chipset.

Ah ok, my one isn’t a DLSD (the screen was upgraded by me) so I guess that will be the issue, I’ll be a bit more careful when moving it around. The ram sticks are a matching pair of Kingston sticks so I shouldn’t have any issues there.

 

[AphoticD]

Ah ok, my one isn’t a DLSD (the screen was upgraded by me) so I guess that will be the issue, I’ll be a bit more careful when moving it around. The ram sticks are a matching pair of Kingston sticks so I shouldn’t have any issues there.

The 15” and 17” AlBook certainly have a little bit of flex about them. I’ve been able to manually bend a colleague’s 15 back into shape when it would sit wonky on the desk. The 17” sometimes feels like it would bend under it’s own weight when picking it up with one hand from the rear (closed).

I can’t recall if this minor flex would impact the inner frame, but surely can’t be good for the solder joints.

I’ve witnessed the 1GB report on my non-DLSD 1.67Ghz PB17” once after a re-assembly. I swapped the Sodimms around and it was back to 2GB.