New Macbooks struggling with 4GB DRAM

Robert Hallock 11 Dec, 2008 at 10:30am ET Article published in Tech

giantapple It has become increasingly apparent that the new unibody Macbook units are suffering a raft of issues when configured with four or more gigabytes of DRAM.

Gizmodo has been following the issue for some time and says that 4GB memory kits from well-known memory manufacturers like Crucial results in wild instability. “In short, memory upgrades—with all of the proper specifications like DDR3-1066, etc.—from third party makers, even super-reliable ones like Crucial and OWC, are making new MacBooks go bonkers, with crashes, lock-ups and other wonkiness,” they said. Continuing, they said that “reinstalling the original sticks make the craziness go away, like magic, as does purchasing the RAM straight from Apple.”

While Apple has since released an EFI (firmware) update for the units, users are still reporting that their machines are suffering from hardware glitches.

Comments

11 Dec 2008 ~ 11:15am MiracleManS I mean, I knew they had an apple tax, but this bad? Wowza
12 Dec 2008 ~ 10:55pm Tim Sounds like a money making scheme to me. Buy overpriced Apple RAM, and you'll be okay.

Yet another reason why I have no use for Apple computers!
12 Dec 2008 ~ 10:59pm Thrax Sounds like a chipset issue regarding JEDEC profiles.

Conspiracies are stupid.
13 Dec 2008 ~ 12:27am QCH I talked with a Mac support guy... he stated that Mac's are programmed to follow the exact specifications listed and not a range like most PC. When the voltage states 1.3v (or whatever) a PC can handle plus or minus .5 volts whereas the Mac will go bonkers. Same with timings.
13 Dec 2008 ~ 12:53am Thrax I sincerely doubt that that is what is actually happening. You can't permit that under JEDEC standards which the Macbook chipsets must adhere to.
13 Dec 2008 ~ 6:28pm DrLiam When talking to people about Macs I usually say something along these lines:
When dealing with Macs, you get what you see. It's limited and sometimes difficult to upgrade the hardware, software is limited and when they say that it is ready "out of the box", it is. And it will stay that way, aging and aging until you put it back it that box and throw it in the dump. (Or recycle )

This article only re-enforces my belief.
14 Dec 2008 ~ 6:12am Alka1ine It's a Nvidia chipset this time around and a brand new one on a custom logic board for the first time made by Apple....there are bound to be a few issues at first.

Look up some of the issues with nforce 2 boards and certain nforce3 mobos for pcs. They were awesome but I had to go through quite a few manufacturers and timings of memory before I found a nice and stable set.

DDR3 is still pretty new also, I'm sure it will be ironed out in future firmwares.