iBook Clamshell - Only Detecting 64MB of 512MB RAM Stick?

[rjkucia]

I just installed a 512MB RAM stick from OWC into my clamshell iBook. However, in Apple System Profiler, it's only showing the stick as 64MB (plus the 64MB built-in to the logic board, so 128MB total). I'm running Mac OS 9.2.2.

Normally I'd assume that I got a mislabeled part, but since I assume OWC is relatively trustworthy, could there be another cause that I'm overlooking or not aware of? Thanks in advance!

 

[MOS8_030]

Does the iBook have the latest firmware? Might try resetting the PRAM as well.

 

[mikes-macs]

Yea, that's not supposed to happen and I don't see how it can only recognize 64 MBs out of 512 MBs. It must be mislabeled. There's nothing you can try to make it see the rest of the RAM. They'll most likely exchange it for you. Very good company.

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

Look at the part number of the chips themselves then google it, you’ll be able to figure out the capacity pretty quick from that.

 

[rjkucia]

I checked the RAM, and OWC's label matches what I ordered. I looked at the individual chips, which are labelled as 48lc32m16a2. There are 8 of them. From googling these are 512Mb chips, so 8 of them would make 512MB.

I'll contact OWC to see if they have any ideas about it.

 

[MacUp72]

firstly, I would check if the RAM sits correctly, I had this with a Pismo and a Titanium, stick by stick. And then do resets.

 

[rjkucia]

I reached out to OWC, and here's what they suggested:

Thank you! You can try cleaning the contact pins. To do that you can use a rubber eraser to buff the contact pins. Then after that take a small amount of isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip and run that over the pins to finish cleaning them. That can help clean any potential resin residue that may be left from manufacturing, which can cause it to not function properly.

You're welcome! Also you can try a pram reset:

a. During boot press and hold Option-Apple (command)-P-R.

b. Hold for three boot chimes. It does take a bit. The third chime should normally be done within 30 seconds.

c. Release the keys and let it restart as normal.

I tried both these things (not the rubber eraser, as I couldn't find one at home, but everything else), as well as trying to clean the iBook's pins, but it's still only reading the stick as 64MB.

I'm not sure if I'll actually pursue this any further, as 128MB seems okay-ish enough for OS 9, and I have no way of knowing the stick is actually the issue versus the iBook. But, if someone else has any other suggestions, let me know and I'll give it a go!

 

[Phipli]

I reached out to OWC, and here's what they suggested:



I tried both these things (not the rubber eraser, as I couldn't find one at home, but everything else), as well as trying to clean the iBook's pins, but it's still only reading the stick as 64MB.

I'm not sure if I'll actually pursue this any further, as 128MB seems okay-ish enough for OS 9, and I have no way of knowing the stick is actually the issue versus the iBook. But, if someone else has any other suggestions, let me know and I'll give it a go!

I'd message them one more time explaining it didn't work. Do you know anyone with the same or similar machine to confirm if it is the memory or the computer?

Also spray some deoxit in the RAM slot in case there is crud on that side.

 

[rjkucia]

Very delayed response here, but I finally got around to trying Deoxit on the RAM & slot to see if that helped, but no dice.

 

[mitchW]

I would try to get a 256MB or 128MB stick in there just to see if it works.
Perhaps 512MB uses too high density chips and it somehow messes up the memory detection.
Or the stick itself is bad (not likely, but possible). Or it has somehow wrong information on the SPD EPROM so the iBook "thinks" it is a 64MB stick instead of 512MB

 

[rjkucia]

I had that idea, but weirdly 256 & 128MB sticks seem more expensive than 512. If anyone on here has one of those that they know works in an iBook, let me know and I'll be happy to buy it off you!

I also considered just straight up buying another stick from OWC since they're pretty cheap, but I didn't want to do that and end up in the same place. At least if I try someone else's known-good stick, I'll know for sure if it's OWC or my iBook.

It's definitely a weird issue! It'd be so much easier if it just didn't work at all - I don't think I've ever seen a RAM stick only partially working.

 

[treellama]

Is your 512 MB a PC100 or a PC133? OWC only lists the PC100 as compatible with the clamshell, which I think is wrong. But if it's a PC133, maybe that's the issue. I have a 256 MB that works in my tangerine clamshell, if I decide to upgrade I suppose I could send it to you.

 

[rjkucia]

The one I purchased is PC100. EveryMac says these take PC66, but usually higher speed sticks work fine running at lower speeds, don't they? https://everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/specs/ibook.html

 

[treellama]

Yes, I would think a PC133, PC100, or PC66 would all work.

 

[rjkucia]

I was able to test with a different clamshell, and the RAM still shows up as 64MB. Seems like it's most likely a bad stick, although this is the first time I've seen this exact issue. I've contacted OWC to ask for a replacement.

 

[rjkucia]

Got a replacement from OWC, and this one works perfectly. Guess it was just a bad stick!