Macbook Pro beeping 3 times then pause and repeating.

My MAcbook pro just started beeping 3 times then pause then beep 3 times etc ongoing. black screen. I have seen discussion about faulty ram but have switched ram to no avail. What else could this be? tried re booted holding command and option keys down but no. Help. 2009 MAcbook pro running Lion 10.8.2 . bugger.

That's a classic indication of bad or wrong memory modules. Either that, or there's a problem with your logic board. Your MBP uses this type of memory:

2 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

Re Logic Board.

I have tried various other ram chips to no avail. We hadn't touched ram before this happened so I have to presume from what you've said it will likely be the logic board. Is this the same as the graphics card or another name for that?

You could try removing one stick and boot up since Mac's will not function if one of the pair is bad or you could try the original memory to confirm its ram or the logic board (mother board ) which has the GPU soldered (consumer non replaceable).

mac_canon said:

I have tried various other ram chips to no avail. We hadn't touched ram before this happened so I have to presume from what you've said it will likely be the logic board. Is this the same as the graphics card or another name for that?

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If you've swapped modules around and tried new ones without success, I would suspect a logic board defect. The logic board in your MBP is also known as the mother board - the large board where the components are soldered including the memory module sockets. The graphics chipset is likewise soldered to the logic board.

Three beeps means a RAM problem. Unless the RAM banks themselves have become corrupted somehow, it's not likely to be a logic board issue.

Note that the OP has stated he swapped the modules and even tried new ones. My first inclination is that it was a memory problem, however, if he has exhausted that end, it leaves the logic board as suspect. But since the OP has not responded back, we still don't know for sure.

The reason I suggested putting the original back in was a friend bought 2 different sets of ram unfortunately they were from different companies and both were wrong for her model and year Mac.

Also, I find that a lot of people (and I mean a *LOT* of people) really do not understand that they really have to press those modules until they SNAP into place, which causes a lot of issues when they fail to do that.

But I'm also with osxx on another possible source of the problem. If the OP would provide specific details about the RAM modules he's using, that might reveal an issue.