Weird issue Quicksilver G4 Memory

[xtempo]

I have been using it for awhile now but now I noticed the center memory slot is empty but there is a stick in there. I thought it was working fine when I first got it out of storage. Would it be the board or the memory stick or even Tiger? I was thinking of reinstalling Tiger and make it seem fresh again on a new HD but now I want to sort the memory stick issue out.

Any ideas?

 

[Bug-Creator]

Doubt it could a SW error.

Change the DIMMs around and if the problem stays on the same slot you have one dead slot and might get deeper into diagnosing that.
If it changes to another slot get a new DIMM.

 

[xtempo]

okay will play around then. I forgot to put the amounts 2x 512mb and 1x 256mb. the one 512mb is problematic. Also does it matter if the vendors are different or can I mix and match companies? I thought I could but just wanted to ask anyway.

 

[xtempo]

top was the first error now the second slot is saying empty as well

 

[xtempo]

I want to point out it is happening on a stick that didn't have an issue so now it's two sticks that have issues or the board is done. I'll have to order some sticks if I don't having any in the parts bin to double check.

EDIT: the 256mb is the only working stick and in the only working slot so it looks like somehow both 512mb and first 2 slots are dead.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I want to point out it is happening on a stick that didn't have an issue so now it's two sticks that have issues or the board is done. I'll have to order some sticks if I don't having any in the parts bin to double check.

EDIT: the 256mb is the only working stick and in the only working slot so it looks like somehow both 512mb and first 2 slots are dead.

Hmm, sounds like cold solder joints to me. If you have someway to take the board out and heat up the solder joints for those slots (hot air gun/station etc), you could attempt to reflow them or resolder them (point to point with a soldering iron) outright to regain full functionality of those slots.

 

[Bug-Creator]

If it is that inconsistent it might not be the slot or the DIMMs but down to the Northbridge (hmm that should still have been a thing with a PMac G4) or even the CPU. Checking if the CPU is fully seated might be an idea.

 

[xtempo]

How would I go about that? I hate having to do stuff with the cpu as I never seem to get the thermal paste right.

Anyone have ideas as to why the memory sticks stopped working or at least not in the good slot? I might have to buy a new 512mb stick to bring up the good slot to a decent size since 256 isn't ideal.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Reseating and repasting the QS CPU is a breeze. Ifixit says its difficult, but it really is a straightforward task. Process below:

Power Mac G4 Quicksilver Central Processing Unit Replacement

Removing the CPU of the Power Mac G4 Quicksilver for replacement.

www.ifixit.com

Repasting is as simple as cleaning the old paste off (die and heatsink) with IPA and a cotton swab, apply a small amount (about a small spring pea sized blob per g4 die) and reapplying heat sink and allow that pressure to disperse the paste. Lots of example videos online but I like this one as it illustrates how less is more and how the pressure of the heatsink spreads the thermal compound. and metal is badass.

One simple test you can do to test if the ram slot has loosened from the board (causing intermittent ram failure) is to use a blow dryer on high/hot and blow hot air on the dimm slots for a minute or two. This will cause the metal connecting the slot to the logic board to expand and make contact. If the slots don't work and ram is not detected from a cold boot, but IS detected after booting up once you've pre-heated the slots, it is very likely that the ram slot solder points have become loose from the logic board and need to be reflowed which can be done from the back of the board and a heat gun or carefully point to point with a soldering iron. I experienced this wonky ram weirdness with a powermac g5. The repair has lasted now going on 4 years.

 

[ervus]

You could also look at the sockets carefully for debris like lint, cat hair etc. Something like this could be causing a bad connection.

 

[xtempo]

so one 512mb works again but in the good slot. the other one gives a beep in the good slot. will use a can or something on the others.

 

[xtempo]

so I used a can of air and I've tested one of the slots which is now working so now I have 768mb .

but even if the other slot is working I can't figure out my last 512mb stick. I mean when I put in that one slot that I thought was the only one working it beeped and wouldn't boot. So does that mean the stick is bad? like this but PC1333

 

[xtempo]

Well that is weird I got 1 GB now but the config is 512mbx2 not 256mbx2 like what shows here