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leffo · Sep 2, 2003, 04:15 PM

Relieved to to at last be able to run OS X with more than 96 MB of RAM I installed my newly bought 256 MB SO-DIMM. Before that I updated my firmware to 4.1.7 as that update makes my iBook recognise the 256 MB modules.

However, only 128 MB of that 256 MB SO-DIMM is recognised, and I don't understand why. Some research points to an issue with the new firmware being very picky with what kind and brand of SO-DIMM:s are installed. But this memory should be okay. It's a Viking MIBOOK/256P-modules, specifically made for the iBook.

I'm using the first clamshell model (300 MHz), by the way. I've installed the memory correctly and reset all possibly PRAM:s, NVRAM:s and whatnot. Does anyone have any good ideas?

joeytomatoes · Sep 2, 2003, 07:27 PM

I Have the 14"900 mhz,with 128 built in,with 1 slot to add.Apple added 128,as standard to give me 256.

I added 256 to give me 512,but,but,but only 384 showed up.Back to the Apple store with ibook in hand and after a lengthly and somewhat confusing explanation I was credited the $100.00 charge for the 256.

Charged $50.00 for a 512 and now I show 640.

A+++

for Apple to keep a "switched"person happy.

jt

arclight · Sep 2, 2003, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by joeytomatoes:
I Have the 14"900 mhz,with 128 built in,with 1 slot to add.Apple added 128,as standard to give me 256.

I added 256 to give me 512,but,but,but only 384 showed up.Back to the Apple store with ibook in hand and after a lengthly and somewhat confusing explanation I was credited the $100.00 charge for the 256.

Charged $50.00 for a 512 and now I show 640.

A+++ for Apple to keep a "switched"person happy.

jt

Your math is screwy.

128+128=256

128+256=384

There is only one slot for user installed RAM.

joeytomatoes · Sep 2, 2003, 07:53 PM

Originally posted by arclight:
Your math is screwy.

128+128=256

128+256=384

There is only one slot for user installed RAM.

128+128=256 Standard with the 14"
256 standard +256 I added=512
About this Mac showed only 384.
So the math was correct,and it is not worth explaining any more.

jt

chabig · Sep 2, 2003, 08:01 PM

Joey,

You misunderstand the iBook memory. The machine has only one slot, both of which are filled for the standard 256.

128 + 128 = 256

When they put in the extra 256, they had to take out the existing 128, leaving you with a total of 384.

128 + 256 = 384

When they later added 512, you got a total of 640.

128 + 512 = 640

And 640 is the best you can get. Welcome to Mac!!

Chris

joeytomatoes · Sep 2, 2003, 08:42 PM

Yes that is true,but I was told there were 2 slots.

So it was to break done this way.
128 soldered to the board,128 free from Apple for the 1st expansion slot,and 256[which I purchased] in the 2nd expansion slot.

But the crazy math started with the one slot.But that is over and resolved.

The second gripe which is not resolved yet, is with the HP all in Printer[2210ix] and Airport Extreme.Apple says they are compatible,and they are not.So,now back to the store....and so it goes.

arclight · Sep 2, 2003, 08:45 PM

arclight · Sep 2, 2003, 08:46 PM

leffo · Sep 3, 2003, 04:21 AM

Hey guys! Not cool.

Great, I thought, seven replies. This issue will be resolved before the end of the page. And then you guys've hijacked my thread with misunderstandings and stuff. Not cool.

Any other ideas? Still just 160 MB out of a possible 288 MB here.

arclight · Sep 3, 2003, 06:45 AM

Hey leffo,

Sorry to be such a kid but I couldn't resist. I had the same problem with a 512 chip I got from OWC online. I would say that you have a bad chip. Nearly all memory that I've purchased has come with a 'no questions' warranty. You should be able to return it for another chip. That would be my first solution.

radarbob · Sep 3, 2003, 08:12 AM

My credentials. See my signature.

Now, the 300MHz iBook has 32MB on-board ("on the motherboard", however you want to say it) memory. There is room for only one user-added memory module.

Despite the official Apple specs that say the revA iBook has a max memory module capacity of 256MB, I, and others, are living proof that this machine will work with a 512MB chip.

Go to www.4allmemory.com and (at the home page) through the series of drop down selections pick your exact model of computer, and the web site will tell you what (in stock) memory works with it. Click "buy". Vola, soufflet.

Sosa · Sep 3, 2003, 08:16 AM

Well you probably tried this already but when I got hit with the same problem a simple reboot solved the problem.

I buy all my memory from Crucial and never have had any issues. But recently I received my iBook back from warranty repairs and I immediately assumed they had reinstalled the wrong memory. Well after calling Apple and trying a few things, I rebooted and the problem was solved.

leffo · Sep 3, 2003, 11:59 AM

Thanks for the suggestions! Thing is, though, that the memory does function properly in another computer, which would indicate that my iBook has problems swallowing it. What I don't understand is why. However, if I boot OS9 I get this error message telling me to contact a service technican as there seems to be a memory-related problem. OSX doesn't complain though. Well, I guess it just comes down to my iBook having personal antipathies towards this particular SODIMM. It sucks.

SupahCoolX · Sep 3, 2003, 06:20 PM

Did your computer come with an Apple Hardware Test CD? If so, pop that in and run it. If not, take it in to the shop.
The RAM may work in a different computer. Apple is pretty strict over RAM specifications, so RAM must be of fairly good quality to work properly. Perhaps the other computer has less stringent requirements, so the RAM worked OK.

For the other issue- All iBooks have RAM in only two places: The built-in RAM on the motherboard, and the one RAM expansion slot.

leffo · 12:08 PM

SupahCoolX, it indeed did come with a Test CD. And, damn, did that CD complain shitloads about my memory. So, I decided to give up on it and invest in a different one (memory-module, that is). Turns out it was an excellent choice as I'm now typing this on a turbo-iBook equipped with a whopping 288 MB. OS X flies. Swoooosh!

So, FYI, I can happily announce that the Selectra 256 MB SO-DIMM 100/8 8 Chip works well with the first-first generation iBook.

leffo · Sep 4, 2003, 12:03 PM

Double post.

ae86_16v · Sep 5, 2003, 05:01 AM

I had a Powerbook 867 a few months back and same thing happened to me.

It originally has 256mb and I added a 512 Dimm on it, but it only showed up as 512 total.

Check it with the Hardward test CD and it shows up fine as 768 but in OS X under Apple Profiler it only had 512.

Never figure out why.

leffo · Sep 6, 2003, 02:38 AM

Someone should put up a database to which you could report which memory works and which doesn't when it comes to different iBooks and Powerbooks. That way one would have something to look into before buying more RAM and perhaps have a better chance of getting it right the first time. I don't know, maybe it already exists? Or maybe it's not really such big a problem.

tooki · Sep 10, 2003, 01:41 PM

It's simple: the modules where only 1/2 the RAM shows up are too new for the Mac in question.

For any given size module, there are several ways to do it: use lots of small-capacity chips, or few high-capacity chips.

The problem is, the memory controller in older Macs (like Power Mac G3 machines, and the toilet-seat iBooks) doesn't know how to properly address high-capacity chips, so it ends up only seeing 1/2 the capacity of each high-capacity chip.

So (illustrative example here) let's assume that a module has room for 8 chips (4 on each side). If you build, say, a 512MB module, you could do it with either four 128MB chips, or eight 64MB chips.

In an older Mac, the memory controller would see the whole 64MB chip, but it would only see a 128MB chip as a 64MB one, thus wasting half the capacity.

This is why it's important to buy memory for a specific machine... sometimes, the newer stuff isn't compatible.

tooki

P.S. Most PC100 RAM doesn't use the high-density chips that are incompatible with G3 PowerMacs and old iBooks. PC133 often does.