[flgator]

I installed a Crucial 512 MB stick about 4 months ago. The system has been stable except for the past few weeks.

I would get no video or scrambled video on boot, intermittently. I thought it was 10.3.4 so I re-installed 10.3.0 and upgraded to 10.3.3.

Now I am getting kernel panics. I removed the Crucial stick and so far the system has been running fine.

Is it possible for RAM to go bad? The Apple Hardware test found no errors, but did take an uncomfortably long time during the memory test.

[Podolsky]

Yes and, maybe no -- becasue both bad ram and bad code can yield panics.

What you might be seeing is that something you are computing now might be exposing a underlying problem with ram that hadn't been previously exposed. In fact, it is possible to have fundamentally flawed memory and never have the flaw manitfest itself. Than, out of the blue, new applications and/or system upgrades and your ram turns up bad.

Of course, this doesn't help you very much because you are in a huge gray area between hardware and software problems - that is, who owns the problem? I have also been getting more panics of late in both my 17" and my G5 - and while I cannot rule out flawed ram I also cannot rule out conflicts that arrise from poor memory management code in the OS or in some applications I use.

[flgator]

Thanks for the reply. I just ran MemTest (http://www.geocities.com/friskythecat@sbcglobal.net/) on both sticks one at a time. I ran the tests with the single sticks in the upper slot. Both tested clean on 3 passes each.

I plan on re-running the test on the sticks with the lower slot, that is if a PB can run with memory only in the lower slot.

The tough part would be if I find errors on eother stick in the lower slot, is the problem with the stick or with slot/logic board.

[Podolsky]

If you have Applecare than you have a utility called TechTool Deluxe which has its own, and I hear, more robust hardware, including ram testing utility. I actually had that detect bad ram that Apple's extended test missed. I would also call Crucial and really quiz them about the lot you ram came from and try to get someone to really fill you in there are problems with your particular ram. Often there can be bad batches and companies that really care about customers will fess up and make good. The inverse is also true, they have ram lots that have zero problems reported and see if you can someone at crucial to get you some of that. Alternatively, you can learn to accept some level of panics as livable. For me, I can accept one or two a week before I get irked enough to go looking for relief. Right now, I get most of mine from Internet Explorer and from finder when I go to connect to a server volume. Overall, I am happy.

[wedgewood]

Avoid crucial(Micron) memory in aluminium powerbook. There are a lot of reports about compatibiliy with Crucial RAM. Try Samsung or Hynix memory. As far as I know Samsung or Hynix memories are installed in aluminium powerbook.

[psk-ele]

wedgewood,

Thanks for the tip on the memory. I have a 12" PB coming this week and I'm looking to beef up its 256MB stock ram. I always thought crucial was the best, but I'm glad I know better (with the Al PB's that is...).

Where do you buy Hynix memory?? do they have their own website or do you buy them from certain 3rd parties??

[Grrr]

Yes it can go bad over time. If anti static precautions are not taken during installation, the damage can take some time to appear. Not at all uncommon..