Memtest report

Due to frequent shutdowns that have been associated with hardware issues (covered under a separate thread), I decided to run Memtest to check my RAM.

I have a total of 5 GB RAM (2 x 512MB + 2 x 2GB). The suspicion I have is that the original, 512 is at a 4200 speed, while the added, 2 GB are rated by my Mac's System Profiler as 3200.

Also, I did a regular restart before running Memtest (via the Terminal), because when trying to start up as single-user (Command-S) I got a DOS-like screen that was not at all clear to me....

Here is the report, and I would greatly appreciate getting a feedback, telling me if all OK, or are there any issues with my RAM:

Last login: Fri Oct 19 17:33:46 on console
(my name)s-power-mac-g5:~ Ami$ memtest all 2

Memtest version 4.22 (64-bit)
Copyright (C) 2004 Charles Cazabon
Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Tony Scaminaci (Macintosh port)
Licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 only

Mac OS X 10.5.8 (9L31a) running in multiuser mode
Memory Page Size: 4096
System has 2 PPC processors(s) with Altivec
Requested memory: 4531MB (4752113664 bytes)
Available memory: 4531MB (4752113664 bytes)
Allocated memory: 4531MB (4752113664 bytes) at local address 0x0000000001000000
Attempting memory lock... ERROR: Memory lock failed - reason unknown.

WARNING: Testing with unlocked memory may be slower and less reliable

Partitioning memory into 2 comparison buffers...
Buffer A: 2265MB (2376056832 bytes) starts at local address 0x0000000001000000
Buffer B: 2265MB (2376056832 bytes) starts at local address 0x000000008e9fc000

Running 2 test sequences... (CTRL-C to quit)

Test sequence 1 of 2:

Running tests on full 4531MB region...
Stuck Address : ok
Linear PRN : ok
Running comparison tests using 2265MB buffers...
Random Value : ok
Compare XOR : ok
Compare SUB : ok
Compare MUL : ok
Compare DIV : ok
Compare OR : ok
Compare AND : ok
Sequential Increment: ok
Solid Bits : ok
Block Sequential : ok
Checkerboard : ok
Bit Spread : ok
Bit Flip : ok
Walking Ones : ok
Walking Zeroes : ok

Test sequence 2 of 2:

Running tests on full 4531MB region...
Stuck Address : ok
Linear PRN : ok
Running comparison tests using 2265MB buffers...
Random Value : ok
Compare XOR : ok
Compare SUB : ok
Compare MUL : ok
Compare DIV : ok
Compare OR : ok
Compare AND : ok
Sequential Increment: ok
Solid Bits : ok
Block Sequential : ok
Checkerboard : ok
Bit Spread : ok
Bit Flip : ok
Walking Ones : ok
Walking Zeroes : ok

All tests passed! Execution time: 15404 seconds.

Based solely on that report, there is nothing wrong with your memory.

From my teeny bit of understanding - Memtest cannot lock greater than 4GB of memory on a 32 bit machine. That would be a standard error.

So this has nothing to do with me not starting up in Single-User mode?

And the fact my basic DIMMS are at 4200 speed, while the added 4GB DIMMS are at 3200 does not indicate any problem in the report?

Not when we have no idea which and what the specs are for the sticks you have in the machine.

Mamamia said:

So this has nothing to do with me not starting up in Single-User mode?

And the fact my basic DIMMS are at 4200 speed, while the added 4GB DIMMS are at 3200 does not indicate any problem in the report?

Click to expand...

It would be nice to know the exact model Macintosh we are talking about…so that we can check exactly what ram should be in it.

- Nick

^^ That also - Nick will be much more familiar with the PPC Macs than I.


I'm an Intel Mac baby.

Sorry, and thanks for inquiring:

PowerMac G5 "Late 2005"

Mamamia said:

Sorry, and thanks for inquiring:

PowerMac G5 "Late 2005"

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Three Powermac G5's would fall into that category…but it does narrow things down quite a bit.

If this Powermac G5 truly is a "Late 2005" model…it's only supposed to be using PC-4200 ram. The prior Powermac G5 generation used PC-3200.

Powermac G5's can be pretty sensitive to what ram is used in them…and in this case it's even more important to use the correct ram…because the "Late 2005" Powermac G5's is when the processor design went from a "dual-cpu" setup to a "dual-core" setup (for the 2-cpu models…there was a quad-core as well).

Long story short…I would remove the 4gig of PC-3200 ram…and only install PC-4200. And that's PC-4200 ram that is also guaranteed to be Macintosh compatible…which the folks at OWC and Crucial sell.

HTH,

- Nick

Thanks, Nick. I think I will have a little discussion with Crucial on Monday.... And I will order the 2 x 2GB 4200 from OWC.

Mamamia said:

Thanks, Nick. I think I will have a little discussion with Crucial on Monday.... And I will order the 2 x 2GB 4200 from OWC.

Click to expand...

How is Crucial related to this conversation (I don't recall Crucial mentioned earlier in this thread)?

- Nick

The 2 x 2GB DIMMS were sold to me by Crucial, 3 years ago. They claimed at that time (and still claiming) that 4200 was/is no longer available, and 3200 should work fine... Which they did, so far... After upgrading from Tiger to Leopard I've been having frequent crashes (covered under a separate thread), that apparently were hardware-related, and one of the suspicions was my RAM. That's why it was important for me to test the RAM.

Mamamia said:

The 2 x 2GB DIMMS were sold to me by Crucial, 3 years ago. They claimed at that time (and still claiming) that 4200 was/is no longer available, and 3200 should work fine... Which they did, so far... After upgrading from Tiger to Leopard I've been having frequent crashes (covered under a separate thread), that apparently were hardware-related, and one of the suspicions was my RAM. That's why it was important for me to test the RAM.

Click to expand...

Ooh…I see. But 3 years ago?? Are you saying that this computer was working fine for the past 3 years with the 4 gig of PC-3200 ram in it? Has this computer always had (or at least the last 3 years)…had the same ram configuration as mentioned in the beginning of this thread (4 gig of PC-3200, and 1gig of PC-4200)?

- Nick

Yes.... But most of those 3 years I was running Tiger, 10.4.11... Few months ago I upgraded to Leopard, 10.5.8. Soon after I started getting those fans blowing loud and the Mac down, and always around midnight, with the red LED #7 glowing.

What I've done couple days ago was (A) swapping the placement of the DIMMS, because I found out the inward slots were occupied by the new 2GB DIMMS, while the original 512MB DIMMS were outward, which was wrong, and (B) I reset the SMU button. Since then my Mac has been behaving OK, no crashes at night....

SO I'M GUESSING THAT THE WRONG SPEED ISSUE WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF MY TROUBLE (but I still think I should challenge Crucial, and buy the 4200 from OWC).

...Go figure....

Mamamia said:

Yes.... But most of those 3 years I was running Tiger, 10.4.11... Few months ago I upgraded to Leopard, 10.5.8. Soon after I started getting those fans blowing loud and the Mac down, and always around midnight, with the red LED #7 glowing.

What I've done couple days ago was (A) swapping the placement of the DIMMS, because I found out the inward slots were occupied by the new 2GB DIMMS, while the original 512MB DIMMS were outward, which was wrong, and (B) I reset the SMU button. Since then my Mac has been behaving OK, no crashes at night….

Click to expand...

Ok…more info means more questions.

1. After the ram was swapped into the correct slots…you mentioned that the computer was/is "behaving ok". What do you mean…no crashes at all…or not as many?

2. After the ram was swapped into the correct slots…is LED #7 still lit?

- Nick

Since I swapped the DIMMS and reset the SMU we passed 2 "quiet" nights w/o the typical crashes, that were defined by blank screen, fans blowing and red LED #7 glowing.... So I'm GUESSING / HOPING that the issue has been resolved....

What can I say beyond that? I don't know, maybe come next week it will start all over again... I'm willing to spend the $70 and get myself OWC's 4200 DIMMS, though, so to prevent ANY EXCUSE for my Mac to behave badly....

Mamamia said:

Since I swapped the DIMMS and reset the SMU we passed 2 "quiet" nights w/o the typical crashes, that were defined by blank screen, fans blowing and red LED #7 glowing.... So I'm GUESSING / HOPING that the issue has been resolved….

Click to expand...

Well (fingers crossed)…we may be "spinning our wheels" in the thread…because everything may be fine!

Mamamia said:

What can I say beyond that? I don't know, maybe come next week it will start all over again... I'm willing to spend the $70 and get myself OWC's 4200 DIMMS, though, so to prevent ANY EXCUSE for my Mac to behave badly....

Click to expand...

Technically we (or I) still don't know EXACTLY what model Powermac G5 you have (we narrowed it down). Go to your Mac's Apple drop-down menu…and post what info it has there regarding the processor & processor speed.

Thanks,

- Nick

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18148&stc=1&d=1350762205

Thanks again for the info. Yes…this Powermac G5 is the model I thought it was (based on the previous info). A Powermac G5, Late 2005, dual-core, 2.0ghz.

Regarding the ram. Technically it is supposed to use PC-4200 ram. If Crucial's "Ram Advisor Tool" is used…it does not differentiate between the Powermac G5 "dual-cpu" and "dual-core" models (which are different generations). The "dual-cpu" models (before your PM G5) used PC-3200…and the "dual-core" models (like your's)…used PC-4200.

If you go to Crucial.com…and use their "Ram Advisor Tool" for your PM G5…it actually comes up with PC2-5300 ram:

4GB kit (2GBx2), 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 upgrades for Apple Power Mac G5 (Dual 2.0GHz DDR2) Desktop/PC, CT519132 from Crucial.com

If you go to OWC…they say (and will sell you) PC-4200 ram. For example…here's an OWC 4gig ram upgrade (2 x 2gig PC-4200):

OWC OWC4200DDR2M4GP 4GB Matched Pair (2GB modules x... in stock at OWC

Maybe Crucial has information that proves that PC-3200 ram will work fine in your PM G5…and now that your ram sticks are in the proper slots…maybe it will be perfectly stable. Maybe give it a good solid week of running to see what the stability is like…before calling Crucial & maybe making a possible fuss.

Crucial is actually very very good about honoring their lifetime warranty on their ram…so even after 3 years…they may say…just send it back in…and they will send you (hopefully) the proper replacement ram!

- Nick

Thanks so much, Nick!!!

I actually talked to Crucial on Thursday, when realizing that 3200 is not the right speed for my G5, and when suspecting that my problems were RAM-related (that was before I ran Memtest). They were willing to ship me new DIMMS free, as long as I ship them back the ones I have. I now actually checked my invoice online and IT DOES SAY "CT519132 DDR2 PC2-5300" — so they did send me 5300 speed, to replace my 3200...

I guess I should be happy you told me this, 'cause I think now I don't have to purchase the 4200 from OWC, spend more money.... Am I right?

Turns out the 2GB DIMMS were actually 5300 speed, even though my Mac registered them as 3200. Crucial were nice enough to send me new 5300 DIMMS, but again, my Mac rates them at 3200. Either way, the computer is back to normal, which is good news, knock on wood....