Frustration sets in with RAM search... HELP

ok, so ive been looking for awhile for some ram. awhile back i ordered a PC2700 512MB on ebay. when arriving, i put it in my 1GHz iBook, and fit great, however... didnt work. i start looking at the forum and see people with the same problem/model as i have. they are saying, "go get a PC2100." easy enough. today i went to the store and bought a PC2100 DDR266. came home all excited that ill be bumping up my system, put it on, fits great, put my iBook back together, click on the apple to check out "About my mac" and wammm.... still running at 256. i took it back apart, tried putting it back in thinking maybe i missed a click or something, and same thing happened.

*** is going on? some people have told me to order online, cause its cheaper. a 1gig stick is much cheaper online, but a 512 is the same online/in stores, so if i can just get one, and bring it home, that would be wonderful. anyone else had this problem, and if so, what did you get to fix the problem? HELP.

Well you need to check a number of specifications to make sure it is compatible with your iBook:

Module Size: 1GB
Package: 200-pin SODIMM
Feature: DDR PC2100
Configuration: 128Meg x 64
DIMM Type: UNBUFFERED
Error Checking: NON-ECC
Speed: 266
SDRAM Timings: CL=2.5
Specs: DDR PC2100 • CL=2.5 • UNBUFFERED • NON-ECC • DDR266 • 2.5V • 128Meg x 64

Click to expand...

(that is from crucial.com - they guarantee it'll work with your iBook)
http://www.crucial.com/store/MParts...30A5CA7304&WSMD=iBook+(G4+1GHz)&WSPN=CT368655

It could of course also be an issue with the RAM slot on your iBook...

Aptmunich said:

It could of course also be an issue with the RAM slot on your iBook...

Click to expand...

Aptmunich may be right on. It ALSO could be that you think you put the RAM securely in the slot but you didn't. I know you said you did already but try it a third time and see if you can't get it running. The first time I put my gig in it didn't work because I didn't secure it in the slot. I had to open it up again and re-set it in the slot and then it worked fine, luckily on try #2. Mine is PC2700 btw, so that's not your problem. Pins are one of the most important specs on the RAM so check that, because you didn't mention what that spec was in your post.

Second of all I would never buy my RAM off of ebay. I only buy mine off of sites that guarantee it is compatible and have excellent return/exchange policies. That way you aren't screwed and left with sticks of RAM you can't use.

sursuciofla said:

I only buy mine off of sites that guarantee it is compatible and have excellent return/exchange policies. That way you aren't screwed and left with sticks of RAM you can't use.

Click to expand...

I agree. I only order my memory from sites that have tested the RAM and guarantee it to be 100% compatible. The prices are usually extremely competitive, and I can be sure that when it arrives, I'm not going to have any issues with it.

Definately need to make sure you seated it properly. I did the same thing the first time I upgraded my Ibook. Checked the ram again and sure enough, it was not seated completly. It makes a pretty good click when it seats in properly.

ed724