RAM Trouble on Mid-2012

[alex179]

Hi,

I've got the 13 inch MBP Mid-2012, with the i5 processor, now having to use it to work from home so need more than the 4gb of RAM it came with and an SSD. SSD is all good currently, and I originally had a compatible 4gb stick from an old laptop that I put in alongside the original RAM and it worked for around a week, before the system gave me a single beep when trying to boot, so took that stick out and it booted again.

Decided to get a single stick of 8gb, to see if the performance was sufficient while giving myself the option of another 8gb on top if I need to get it. Arrived today, and it's just not being detected, with the sole 8gb stick I get the single beep regardless of which slot is used. I used it alongside the original 4gb to see if I could see anything in system information but it just shows the 8gb slot as empty. I've reset PRAM too.

This makes me think that it's simply incompatible RAM, but I'm not sure why it is (which is where I need help), I double checked all the parameters, and even on the Q and A section of the Amazon page says it's compatible with mid 2012 but obviously that's not a trusted source of information...does anyone know why it would be incompatible? Is 16gb RAM only available on i7 Mid 2012s?

Not sure if I'm allowed to post external links so will just copy and paste the info from the Amazon product page:

Crucial CT102464BF160B 8 GB (DDR3L, 1600 MT/s, PC3L-12800, SODIMM, 204-Pin) Memory

Edit: Some new information since posting this. I've run Crucial's system scanner and the above RAM came up as compatible. Potentially just been sent faulty RAM? I'm confused otherwise

Thank you

 

[Tekguy0]

Could be a bad stick. Looks like it should be compatible, though keep in mind Macs can be picky about RAM. Maybe try some "mac memory" thats available on Amazon and other websites that is certified (by the manufacturer of the RAM) to work. Try resetting the SMC and PRAM again.

 

[chscag]

According to Mactracker, your machine can take 16GB of memory. The memory you quoted above is correct for your MBP and since it's Crucial, it should have worked. You could have received a bad module. Send it back and have Amazon send you another. Make sure you populate both slots with the same memory modules. Do not mix modules or types. In other words both modules (2 x 8 GB) should be from Crucial.

 

[4sallypat]

Are you certain you have a 2012 ? If it's a 2010 or 2011 then it takes a slower clock speed RAM (DDR3-8500S)

 

[Audit13]

Are there 4 chips on each side? I had a mid-2012 13" with 16 GB and it need low-density ram with 8 chips on each side.

 

[alex179]

According to Mactracker, your machine can take 16GB of memory. The memory you quoted above is correct for your MBP and since it's Crucial, it should have worked. You could have received a bad module. Send it back and have Amazon send you another. Make sure you populate both slots with the same memory modules. Do not mix modules or types. In other words both modules (2 x 8 GB) should be from Crucial.

Could be a bad stick. Looks like it should be compatible, though keep in mind Macs can be picky about RAM. Maybe try some "mac memory" thats available on Amazon and other websites that is certified (by the manufacturer of the RAM) to work. Try resetting the SMC and PRAM again.

Thanks for the replies. Thinking back I've realised that the original issues started when updating from Sierra to High Sierra, so I'm going to either update to Mojave or roll back to Sierra just to double check it's not somehow OS related, luckily I don't really care about what OS I'm on as long as it's Sierra and above, at least until the software I use requires something newer. Then I'll look into trying other RAM options if there's no difference.

Are you certain you have a 2012 ? If it's a 2010 or 2011 then it takes a slower clock speed RAM (DDR3-8500S)

100% sure yes 😀

Are there 4 chips on each side? I had a mid-2012 13" with 16 GB and it need low-density ram with 8 chips on each side.

I'll have to look again tomorrow, it should be compatible though as Crucial's system scanner recommends the exact model number of the RAM I bought

 

[Audit13]

I'll have to look again tomorrow, it should be compatible though as Crucial's system scanner recommends the exact model number of the RAM I bought

I pretty sure it's because the ram is high density.

 

[alex179]

Just checked, there are 8 chips on each side

 

[Audit13]

Just checked, there are 8 chips on each side

Which OS is it running? I'm wondering if the bootrom is out of date.

 

[chscag]

Just checked, there are 8 chips on each side

If it's Crucial memory and you specified which Mac you have, you can bet that it's the correct memory and density. The module may be defective. Shouldn't matter which version of macOS you're running. Again, populate both slots with the same modules. If after you replace the modules you have the same problem, then that could indicate a bad slot.

 

[Audit13]

I asked about the OS version because OS updates will sometimes include bootrom updates.

With the 13 2010 Pro, the MacBook needs to be running Lion or higher to support 16 GB.