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    My MBP won't boot with 4 GB of ram

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Chris27, Jan 10, 2009.

  1. Chris27

    Chris27 Notebook Deity

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    I have an early '08 15" model.

    Anyway, I got two sticks of ram of 2 GB a piece and I can't get my MBP to boot with both of them. It will power on but stay at a black screen. However, if I use 1 stick of the new ram along with 1 stick of the original ram the MBP came with, it boots up just fine (3 GB). I've tried swapping out the sticks of ram and have ruled out the possibility that one of the sticks is DOA. Any suggestions of what I should try next?
     
    Chris27, Jan 10, 2009
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  2. lixuelai

    lixuelai Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Might be useful to mention what speed your new RAM is...

    Anyway my guess is your new RAM is DDR2-800. The MBP 4.1 (and a bunch other Macs) cannot run at DDR2-800. It is not smart enough to downclock the RAM either so you have to force it to run at DDR2-667 by having a slower stick in as well.
     
    lixuelai, Jan 10, 2009
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  3. Chris27

    Chris27 Notebook Deity

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    it's DDR2-667
     
    Chris27, Jan 10, 2009
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  4. Chris27

    Chris27 Notebook Deity

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    Well at least I thought it was ddr2 667. I double checked the ram sticks. They're ddr2 800. Is there anyway to force them to run at ddr2 667?
     
    Chris27, Jan 10, 2009
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  5. lixuelai

    lixuelai Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Yes, but it is not easy. You have to edit the SPD with SPDTool. SPDTool only runs in Windows and on certain Intel chipsets (mostly older ones as it is pretty old). Not sure if the MBP is compatible with it or not. I suggest you go find someone you know and trade a stick, will save you alot of pain ;).
     
    lixuelai, Jan 10, 2009
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  6. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Get the correct RAM, it is easy to find and is also quite cheap.
     
    circa86, Jan 10, 2009
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