Gamalen

Hi guy,
So last week, I upgraded my mac to a macbook pro (last generation, not the new ones currently out).
I decided to upgrade from my stock 2 GB of Ram to 4GB or Ram. I bought the following ram:
2 GB Kingston Ram DDR2 Ram : KVR800D2S5/2G , 2GB PC2 - 6400 CLF 200 - Pin SODIMM.
According to the local apple reseller, i had to guy this ram because my macbook pro has a 800 mhz system bus. I was initially going to buy the following Kingston Ram from futureshop because it was $40 versus $65.00 I paid for this ram.

Future Shop: Computer Add-Ons: Computer Memory: Kingston 2GB 200-Pin PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM Notebook Memory

The guy tells me that if I bought the FS Ram, that it will overheat and may affect the logic board and to just get this $65 Ram specifically for 800 Mhz system bus.

I have a 2.4Ghz (penryn Processor) which does support 4 GB of Ram.
I get home, installed both Kingston Ram and the macbook pro would boot up, the light on the front indicates there is power but my screen is blank.

So I assumed i didn't seat the Ram properly, I took them all out , re-seated them again in the Ram slot. Boot it up, again only the light appears, it does boot up by my screen is blank.

So I assumed that one of the Ram is bad, I take out one of the 2GB Kingston Ram, started up the macbook pro, and there was not problems, it read 2 GB of Ram on the "about this mac"

So I take out that ram, replace it with the other 2GB Kingston Ram, started up the macbook pro, and there were no problems, it read 2 GB or Ram on this "about this mac"

So inserted both both 2GB or Ram into the macbook pro, power it up and again, the power light is on, i can hear it boot up, but then it's a blank screen.

Frustrated, i just put 1 GB of stock Ram and the 2GB Kingston Ram for a total of 3 GB.

I looked online on various forums, including the apple support for this issue. From what I have read, this symptom indicates that either one of the Ram is damaged or one of the memory slot is damaged. However, this is just not true as proven by my troubleshooting.

Any suggestions?

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Macbook Pro 2.4 Ghz, 2GB of Ram,

TSeada

Hi Gamalen,

I am facing the same problem with the same RAM model on a macbook.
Any success in solving the problem?

Gamalen

Nope, i haven't figured it out. I talked to our local Apple Authorized dealer and he couldn't explain it. He offered to take my macbook pro in and look at it. Unfortunately, I rely on my macbook pro for school and need it for presentations.
I just returned the one 2GB kingston Ram and just have 3GB running right now. I'll take my macbook pro in December under warranty and see if they figure something out.

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Macbook Pro 2.4 Ghz, 2GB of Ram,

monokitty

The RAM type is wrong. All MacBook Pro's use 667 MHz (PC2-5300), except the glass display model (Late 2008) MBP's, which use 1066 MHz PC3-8500 RAM.

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ACMT
Mac mini (Mid 2011) 2.7 GHz i7, 8GB RAM, Crucial M4 256GB SSD + 500GB + 1TB FW800 OWC Mercury Elite Pro mini
iPhone 4S • iPod nano 8GB • Sound System Audio Engine A2 • Display UltraSharp U2412M 24"

Gamalen

Hey Lars,

Thanks for the heads up, i guess the person who sold me the Ram gave me the wrong advice. Should i leave that Kingston Ram in there or take it out and put the stock 1GB Ram in it?

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Macbook Pro 2.4 Ghz, 2GB of Ram,

CanadaRAM

I would find a new Apple reseller. The one you have is either ignorant or a liar. No, scratch that, they are a liar, the whole story about the 667 MHz overheating is a crock that they made up to get you to buy their RAM.

The problem is that although the MacBook Pro has an 800 MHz System bus, it has a 667 MHz memory bus. System bus /= Memory bus. It requires 667 MHz SODIMMs. THe Kingston 800 MHz modules you bought are generic modules, not Kingston's Apple-specific line.

Couple of rules:
Don't install 800 MHz RAM in a 667 MHz memory bus machine.
We never recommend Kingston generic ValueRAM for Macs, either.

AND... to add insult to injury the Kingston Apple-specific RAM KTA-MB667K2/4G sells for well under $100 for the 4 GB kit.

Gamalen

Hey CanadaRam,

Thanks for the feedback. Yup, i'll go to another Apple Authorized Re-seller. I'll take out the Ram right away when I get home and put the apple stock ram back in it. Thanks, hopefully they'll take it back and give my money back.

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Macbook Pro 2.4 Ghz, 2GB of Ram,

CanadaRAM

If they don't give you a full refund for their 'mistake' then march the case straight to your charge card company and the Better Business Bureau.