[amislove]

I have an issue with my 15" 1.25 GHz PowerBook, and I'd appriciate any advice other members could provide. Last week, I decided to bump my laptop to 2 GB of memory, so I ordered 2 1GB Crucial sticks from mwave.com, shown here. The specs exactly match what should go into the PowerBook (PC2700, 333MHz, etc...), and are the same specs as an existing 512 MB stick I have been using in my PowerBook. Crucial is generally regarded as very good memory, and I've never had a problem with their RAM working in a Mac.

When the memory arrived, I installed it and immediately got repeated kernel panics at the login screen. I tried both sticks seperately and together in both slots, with the same results each time. I then put just my Crucial 512MB stick back in the machine, and everything works fine. So I'm thinking that both of the memory sticks may be bad (although very improbable). I then put one of the sticks in my girlfriend's 12" 1.0 GHz PowerBook, and it works fine. I then try putting the other stick in a friend's 15" 1.5 GHz PowerBook (one revision newer than mine), and it also works fine and even passes the Apple hardware test. Additionally, this friend also bought the same RAM from mwave, too, and his stick kernel also panics in my machine and works fine in his. Thus, it seems that RAM is actually okay.

So now, I'm beginning to think that my laptop may be at fault. To test this, I put one of the 1 GB sticks into another friend's 15" 1.25 GHz PowerBook (identical version to mine), and his kernel panics at the login screen just like mine. Thus, it seems that it's not just my PowerBook, but the entire revision of PowerBooks with is incompatible with this RAM.

So I take the machine and all of the RAM to my local Apple store. The very helpful techs there put both 1 GB sticks into my machine and run the extended hardware test. It passes. So they take it for the weekend for triage (I have an AppleCare plan). I got a call today saying that they've decided that the 3rd-party memory is causing a problem, and that there's nothing they can do.

So, in one last attempt to resolve the problem, I call AppleCare and explain the problem. My case gets elevated to a Product Support Specialist who says flat-out that this is not Apple's problem and there's nothing they can do since "you should have bought Apple memory".

So I'm now in a situation where I have to return the RAM to mwave and have to pay the 15% restocking fee and return shipping costs, which adds up to around $65. While I understand Apple's position (this is 3rd party RAM, it's not their problem), I feel somewhat shafted as this is good, high quality memory which *should* work with my machine (and in fact does work with every other PowerBook revision I've tested).

What do you think? Should I feel shafted, or should I just view the 300% Apple RAM premium as their compatibility guarantee and any other RAM as gamble at my expense? I was considering calling Apple back one more time to just lodge a complain (not asking for anything, just expressing my displeasure) - do I have a leg to stand on?

Thanks!

[Sakino]

I will give you some input I came across as I plan on updating my ram for my powerbook.
I noticed that the 1.25 g4 powerbook has had some issues in the past when dealing with ram. Orginally I ended up sending my rev a in because it was only reading 256mb of ram, when I took the ram piece out the motherboard failed and I ended up sending it to apple to have it replaced. This could be one problem you might be having. I have been reading through other posts regarding upgrading my ram and came across this post that might give you alittle more insite.
http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...&highlight=ram


Posted by cybermat
>>
Correct me if I am wrong, but after going through the entire thread, I came to this conclusion.

Rev A and Rev B Al powerbooks are more picky than Rev C or Rev D ones.

The following brands have been verified to work with Rev A and Rev B from this thread.

Samsung
Patriot

On the other hand, if you have Rev C+ , the following brands will work:

Samsung
Patriot
Kingston
Kingmax

Cheers<<

Although I noticed that he didnt include cruical in that listing for rev a/b powerbooks. I can state that I did have a 512mb dim in my rev a powerbook from Crucial and never had a single problem. I hope this solves some of your problems. It might actually be that your powerbook is picky about its ram.

[analogika]

The 1.25 15" Powerbook specifically has some memory incompatibilities.

It is not broken. Just picky.

[webb3201]

Originally Posted by analogika

The 1.25 15" Powerbook specifically has some memory incompatibilities.

It is not broken. Just picky.

Hey analogika, can you point me to some notes or support forums on this? I have a Powerbook 1.25 that is giving me fits on a memory upgrade! I would love more information.

[Sakino]

Originally Posted by webb3201

Hey analogika, can you point me to some notes or support forums on this? I have a Powerbook 1.25 that is giving me fits on a memory upgrade! I would love more information.

I posted a link above that has a number of posts talking about rev a/b having issues with ram. Check it out.

[bimmerphile]

Well if you decide you want to get rid of one of those sticks, I'm sure my 12" 1.5GHz would be happy to eat one.

[cybermat]

Actually there is a reason why curcial was not on the list because I have heard mixed reviews regarding crucial ram with the rev A powerbooks. Apparently, there are two prices on Crucial website for the same memory. If you use the selector, the powerbook ones are actually more expensive. Now I am not sure what the reason behind it is perhaps only the cream of the crops can be used for Powerbooks. That's why they are more expensive.

Amislove, before I return for a refund, I would exchange the RAM for another crucial stick to see i the problem persists (if you can, tell the vendor that you are using it for a powerbook and you need this one with this P/N)
http://www.crucial.com/store/MPartsp...&WSPN=CT434058

I hope this information helps you.

Good Luck