Upgrading Macbook (2.16Ghz) to 4GB of ram

[stee1rz]

I purchased 4GB of RAM from OWC (Item: OWC5300DDR2S2GB- 667HMz 200 Pin) to upgrade my Macbook (2.16Ghz)

When i upgraded the RAM and tried to power on the laptop nothing came on the screen. It booted up but never actually ran.

I only upgraded 1 of the 2GB sticks and left my other 1GB stick in the computer and it boots up fine and the OS recongizes the 3GB os Ram.

Anyone know why it wouldn't recognize the 4GB's of RAM

 

[Capt Underpants]

Macbooks were only able to recognize 4 GB's of RAM after they were upgraded to Santa Rosa.

Unfortunately, your macbook is pre-Santa Rose, so you are limited to ~3 GB RAM.

 

[GfulDedFan]

Macbooks were only able to recognize 4 GB's of RAM after they were upgraded to Santa Rosa.

Unfortunately, your macbook is pre-Santa Rose, so you are limited to ~3 GB RAM.

It should still boot with the 2 x 2GB chips even though it uses only ~3GB. I've heard of this problem before in this forum or Apple Discussions. It may require a search for an answer or a replacement of that RAM.

 

[Capt Underpants]

It should still boot with the 2 x 2GB chips even though it uses only ~3GB. I've heard of this problem before in this forum or Apple Discussions. It may require a search for an answer or a replacement of that RAM.

I really should read more of the post before I respond...

To the OP: One of the 2GB sticks may be faulty. This would explain why it worked when you removed one of them, and replaced it with your 1GB stick.

 

[GfulDedFan]

Seems like what I read was that each of the 2GB sticks worked with one of the 1GB sticks but not together. It was really weird. I also remember or I'm pretty sure that it was OWC brand.

Anyway, a lot of Core 2 Duo owners have a 4GB kit and it should work. Me...I'm stuck with 2GB max in my First Gen dinosaur but it works great and I wouldn't trade it for all the Solid Aluminum in China.

 

[imacmatt09]

My macbook 2.16 Ghz core 2 duo recognizes 4 GB of RAM. I though it could do that?

 

[skorpien]

My macbook 2.16 Ghz core 2 duo recognizes 4 GB of RAM. I though it could do that?

Core 2 Duo can, yes. Core Duo however will only recognize around 3.3GB of RAM. To the OP, have you swapped the 2GB stick with the other one? It could just be that stick that's faulty and this would detect if it is. Also, what model do you have? C2D or just CD?

 

[ayeying]

Check the Activity Manager and add up the ram. The About Mac will report how much you have installed, not how much it is being utilized.

 

[yayaba]

Check the Activity Manager and add up the ram. The About Mac will report how much you have installed, not how much it is being utilized.

Yep, I have 4GB of RAM on my pre-SR Macbook and the About OSX says 4gb but the Activity Monitor only shows about 3.2-3.3gb in use.

 

[RoscoeUA]

The Pre-Santa Rosa MacBook will display that you have 4GB of RAM but the hardware limitations only allow it to access 3.3 GB of that 4.