3 beeps ram issue

Back again guys,
So ive been experiencing the 3 beep issues for over a year. but just recently upgraded to the Crucial 8Gb memory at the recommended type for my 2010 MBP. I originally just thought i had a bunch of bad MEM (orig memory & Kingston Hyper X <!~ outta spec memory) that was causing the issue. I can accept the memory issues from the Kingston but here is my question....but got the 3 beeps , but the computer restarted normally and i was able to use it.. (normally would have to reseat the mem sticks)

WHY AM I STILL GETTING THE RANDOM 3 BEEPS ... Looking for other possible causes to this. RAM - changed... HD - changed New OS - installed.

Im aware that this is a memory data integrity issue but can this be caused by software. I use the MBP to dj using serato & this issue is driving me nuts.

The 3 beeps are not caused by software so you can rule that out. Since the machine boots and seems to work OK but you're still getting a random 3 beeps, it could be caused by the memory slots being loose. In other words, not holding the modules tight enough. Or the beeps could be caused by a logic board defect.

chscag said:

The 3 beeps are not caused by software so you can rule that out. Since the machine boots and seems to work OK but you're still getting a random 3 beeps, it could be caused by the memory slots being loose. In other words, not holding the modules tight enough. Or the beeps could be caused by a logic board defect.

Click to expand...

I didnt think it could be a software issue.. but just checking. but this started happening with my orig machine (brand new from apple) i just got a another refurb last week.. and what its doing is the screen starts to distort heavily and says i need to restart the pc .. then on restart the 3 blinks starts...............

That sounds like you're also getting kernel panics. Does that happen in conjunction with the 3 beeps?

chscag said:

That sounds like you're also getting kernel panics. Does that happen in conjunction with the 3 beeps?

Click to expand...

on this recent machine yes.. screen distort (restart machine by holding down the power button) restart 3 beeps.. 30 min later the machine started up fine.

That does appear to be some kind of intermittent problem with the memory. Since you purchased Crucial modules, I'm hesitant to say that one or more could be acting up. What happens if you pull one of the modules and run the machine on half the memory?

Also, why don't you download the free MemTest for Mac and run it overnight to see if it finds anything wrong with the memory.

so i let the memtest run over night.. maybe you can disect this error due to computer shut down

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 43764 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 1
Anonymous UUID: 9F485F2A-29D9-4054-BCB9-D63E5D74088F

Thu Jul 11 15:45:32 2013
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x2abf6a): Kernel trap at 0x0029a969, type 13=general protection, registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0xa46a6d20, CR3: 0x00100000, CR4: 0x00000668
EAX: 0x0efd2602, EBX: 0x0df81cd8, ECX: 0x19000000, EDX: 0x039b1d7c
CR2: 0xa46a6d20, EBP: 0x7c013ed8, ESI: 0x039b1d74, EDI: 0x0e0d7000
EFL: 0x00010213, EIP: 0x0029a969, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0xf7500010
Error code: 0x00003f58

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x7c013cf8 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x7c013d2c 0x223ce1 0x0)
0x7c013d48 : 0x2abf6a (0x59e3d0 0x29a969 0xd 0x59e587)
0x7c013e28 : 0x2a1a78 (0x7c013e40 0xf00ec8c 0x7c013ed8 0x29a969)
0x7c013e38 : 0x29a969 (0xe 0x48 0x10 0x10)
0x7c013ed8 : 0x2345f4 (0x39b1d7c 0x22ad99 0x7c013f18 0x22adc9)
0x7c013f58 : 0x4d2fc9 (0x39b1d74 0x1be3f480 0x0 0x0)
0x7c013f98 : 0x4d45e4 (0xdf81cd8 0xd0f4b7c 0x7c013fc8 0x863688)
0x7c013fc8 : 0x2a179c (0x0 0x1 0x10 0xec803c4)

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: SixtyEightSettin

Mac OS version:
10K549

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 8710039074432
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DJDICEUSA said:

So ive been experiencing the 3 beep issues for over a year. but just recently upgraded to the Crucial 8Gb memory at the recommended type for my 2010 MBP.

Click to expand...

Agree with "chscag"...3 beeps is a memory/ram issue. Either the:

1. new ram is bad
2. one of the ram slots is bad
3. ram may not be seated properly

Solutions:

1. return the ram & get replacement ram
2. bad ram slot = replacement logic board (probably not something that's worth it)
3. remove & reseat ram

- Nick

Mem test

chscag said:

That does appear to be some kind of intermittent problem with the memory. Since you purchased Crucial modules, I'm hesitant to say that one or more could be acting up. What happens if you pull one of the modules and run the machine on half the memory?

Also, why don't you download the free MemTest for Mac and run it overnight to see if it finds anything wrong with the memory.

Click to expand...

Last login: Thu Jul 11 15:45:41 on console


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

NOTE: No command-line arguments have been specified
Using defaults: Test all available memory, one test pass, no logfile

Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549) running in multiuser mode
Memory Page Size: 4096
System has 4 Intel core(s) with SSE
Requested memory: 2114MB (2216693760 bytes)
Available memory: 2114MB (2216693760 bytes)
Allocated memory: 2114MB (2216693760 bytes) at local address 0x0000000101000000
Attempting memory lock... locked successfully
Partitioning memory into 2 comparison buffers...
Buffer A: 1057MB (1108346880 bytes) starts at local address 0x0000000101000000
Buffer B: 1057MB (1108346880 bytes) starts at local address 0x0000000143100800

Running 1 test sequence... (CTRL-C to quit)

Test sequence 1 of 1:

Running tests on full 2114MB region...

Running tests on full 2591MB region (STICK 2)
Stuck Address : ok
Linear PRN : ok
Running comparison tests using 1057MB buffers...
Running comparison tests using 1295MB buffers...(STICK 2)
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: 1281 seconds.

All tests passed! Execution time: 1560 seconds. (IN THE 2ND STICK, TESTED IN 2 DIFFERENT MACHINES SIMULTNSLY)

pigoo3 said:

agree with "chscag"...3 beeps is a memory/ram issue. Either the:

1. New ram is bad
2. One of the ram slots is bad
3. Ram may not be seated properly

solutions:

1. Return the ram & get replacement ram
2. Bad ram slot = replacement logic board (probably not something that's worth it)
3. Remove & reseat ram

- nick

Click to expand...

was 2010 just a bad batch?? this is my 2nd machine from 2010 n same issue with an additional symptom. What model or year are you seeing the least problems with like this 1? 13inch 2010? 2011, 2009? I really just need a reliable machine. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

It appears the memory modules are OK. Generally, it's a rarity to receive a bad module from either Crucial or OWC but it can happen. That's why I suggested running MemTest, however, the memory passed.

The kernel panic you received and reported above shows a memory problem though. That leads me to believe either one of the memory slots are bad or the logic board itself is at fault. And like Nick stated, replacing the logic board is probably not worth the expense unless you can find one cheap enough and do the work yourself.

DJDICEUSA said:

was 2010 just a bad batch?? this is my 2nd machine from 2010 n same issue with an additional symptom. What model or year are you seeing the least problems with like this 1? 13inch 2010? 2011, 2009? I really just need a reliable machine. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Ram problems can happen to anyone...with any model year computer.

Even though the ram tests showed no errors. I would still return the ram...and get replacements.

You could also reinstall the old ram (remove all new ram)...and see if your computer is more stable.

Of course if you've been experiencing the "3 beeps" for over a year...then this could be something more serious...like a bad ram slot (which is part of the logic board)...which basically means a bad logic board.

- Nick

p.s. Try cleaning the ram slots as well. Just in case some sort of crud is trapped in there.