[akrap35]

I've installed an ATI 9200 with 4X256MB Sticks of Cosair PC100 and a PCI IDE ATA 133 Card with a Western Digital Calvalier 80GB ATA 133 drive. Also I've added a Pioneer DVD burner. I've tried numerous differnt combinations of stock hardware and updgraded and inbetween but it seems that the install crashes always around the 70% of Installing Base System. I can't figure out anyway around this. Any help would be much appreciated.

[zacharydz]

Originally Posted by kuys

I've installed an ATI 9200 with 4X256MB Sticks of Cosair PC100 and a PCI IDE ATA 133 Card with a Western Digital Calvalier 80GB ATA 133 drive. Also I've added a Pioneer DVD burner. I've tried numerous differnt combinations of stock hardware and updgraded and inbetween but it seems that the install crashes always around the 70% of Installing Base System. I can't figure out anyway around this. Any help would be much appreciated.

Does your computer have the latest firmware patches? Are you installing from an older version of OS X, or from os 9?

[OreoCookie]

Didn't you install a cpu upgrade in that machine?
If so, did you install the necessary firmware upgrade? If not, please do and try again. Also, read up here for more information. A simple search could probably have answered your question already.

[akrap35]

Originally Posted by zacharydz

Does your computer have the latest firmware patches? Are you installing from an older version of OS X, or from os 9?

No, it's a fresh install of OSX 10.4.3 on a freshly formated drive. I've narrowed the problem to the Ram I bought. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145132

When I use the stick it came with it will install just fine. But if I put any one of the Cosair Dimms in a socket it will crash everytime durning the install. I dont' understand why it is doing this. The ram is compatible with G3 B&W. No I haven't installed the CPU upgrade yet. I was going to wait untill I had this problem sorted out before I even attempted it. Any help would be a great help! Ha

[reader50]

Try the RAM in a different slot. The slots don't have to be populated in order in this model. It's possible that one slot is unreliable.

It's also possible that dust has accumulated in a slot that hasn't been used in years. I'd vacuum the RAM slots, then reseat the questionable DIMM a few times. This can solve many connection problems by allowing it to have a clean connection on all pins.

[akrap35]

Originally Posted by reader50

Try the RAM in a different slot. The slots don't have to be populated in order in this model. It's possible that one slot is unreliable.

It's also possible that dust has accumulated in a slot that hasn't been used in years. I'd vacuum the RAM slots, then reseat the questionable DIMM a few times. This can solve many connection problems by allowing it to have a clean connection on all pins.

I've actually tested every Dimm. They will all crash the install. This lead to me to belive that there wasn't anything actually wrong with the ram because what are the chances of 4 dimms being bad?

[reader50]

Try this. Install the Apple DIMM in the first (lowest-numbered) slot. No Corsiars for now. Make sure you have an OS9 install on the HD, and boot into it to make sure it works. Then download DIMM First Aid. This is a utility that checks RAM timings and configuration, it reports incompatible DIMMs and is able to fix some of them by adding missing timing info.

The DIMMs may be getting rejected because they are PC-100 while your B&W wants PC-66. SDRAM is supposed to be backwards compatible, but if Corsair skipped checking the DIMMs at 66 speed, they may also have skipped putting the 66 timing data into the DIMM's firmware. DIMM First Aid can fix this by cloning the PC-100 timing settings. ie - CL2, CL3.

Shut down. Put the Corsairs in the other slots, then boot from OS 9 again. Run DIMM First Aid, see what it has to say about the RAM in the higher slots. OS9 has a small enough RAM footprint that it will probably all fit in the lowest DIMM, and not run into the problem with the Corsairs in the higher slots.

[akrap35]

Originally Posted by reader50

Try this. Install the Apple DIMM in the first (lowest-numbered) slot. No Corsiars for now. Make sure you have an OS9 install on the HD, and boot into it to make sure it works. Then download DIMM First Aid. This is a utility that checks RAM timings and configuration, it reports incompatible DIMMs and is able to fix some of them by adding missing timing info.

The DIMMs may be getting rejected because they are PC-100 while your B&W wants PC-66. SDRAM is supposed to be backwards compatible, but if Corsair skipped checking the DIMMs at 66 speed, they may also have skipped putting the 66 timing data into the DIMM's firmware. DIMM First Aid can fix this by cloning the PC-100 timing settings. ie - CL2, CL3.

Shut down. Put the Corsairs in the other slots, then boot from OS 9 again. Run DIMM First Aid, see what it has to say about the RAM in the higher slots. OS9 has a small enough RAM footprint that it will probably all fit in the lowest DIMM, and not run into the problem with the Corsairs in the higher slots.

I will install OS9 to a seperate drive then try what you have described above and come back and let you know of the results. Thank you very much if it works or not. The efforts what counts. : )

[tooki]

Originally Posted by reader50

The DIMMs may be getting rejected because they are PC-100 while your B&W wants PC-66.

The B&W G3 is PC100. Only the beige G3 used PC66. (Plus the original iMac, and the Lombard PowerBook.)

tooki

[reader50]

tooki is correct, my bad. I still recommend DIMM First Aid to see what it has to say about the Corsair sticks. Note: OS9 wasn't recommended just because of the smaller memory footprint; DIMM First Aid doesn't run under OSX, not even in the Classic environment.

[akrap35]

Originally Posted by reader50

tooki is correct, my bad. I still recommend DIMM First Aid to see what it has to say about the Corsair sticks. Note: OS9 wasn't recommended just because of the smaller memory footprint; DIMM First Aid doesn't run under OSX, not even in the Classic environment.

I'm having trouble installing OS9 it complains about Quicktime versions.

[reader50]

You do not need Quicktime for this test. If it will allow you to ignore the complaint and install, go for it.

[akrap35]

Model: PowerMac1,1
PowerMac G3 (B&W)
DIMM0/J19
DIMM configured for 256MB
8008040C0A02400001755400800800018F04060101000EA060 0000140F142D20
15081508FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFF1296
43434154000000000101FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF FF020000020124
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000064F5
7.5ns PC133-333
DIMM checks out OK

DIMM1/J20
DIMM configured for 256MB
8008040C0A02400001755400800800018F04060101000EA060 0000140F142D20
15081508FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFF1296
43434154000000000101FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF FF020000020124
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000064F5
7.5ns PC133-333
DIMM checks out OK

DIMM2/J21
DIMM configured for 128MB
8008040C0902400001A06000800800018F04060101000EC070 00001414143210
20102010000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000001236
CE00000000000000014B4D4D3320363653313632334354202D 474C2043239915
658700FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFF64FD
10.0ns PC100-322
DIMM checks out OK

DIMM3/J22
DIMM configured for 128MB
8008040C0902400001806000800800018F04060101000EA060 00001410142D10
20102010FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFFFFF12C3
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000064F6
8.0ns PC100-222
DIMM checks out OK

All your DIMMs checked out OK

Results of the first test the two 256MB models are the ram in question. I do see that it is listing them as PC-133 So maybe that could be a problem? Ram timmings maybe a little to tight/loose? Will return with test results of other two sticks.

[akrap35]

Other two Dimms passed with the same with results showing PC-133. But the system was so unstable I couldn't make it into the forums to post the test results. What course of action should I take now?

Also I'm about to install a G4 500MHZ sonnet upgrade that I will later pull out after I purchase the daystar G4 600MHZ that doesn't reduce the bus speed. I'm also looking to overclock said chip. Where should I look for the proper aftermarket heatsink or fan that I would need to cool the heatsink?

One last question, how hard is it to roll firmware updates? I would imagine I would have to roll back the sonnet firmware patch to allow for the daystar firmware patch. Am I wrong?

[akrap35]

I just installed a Sonnet 500MHZ G4 upgrade and for some reason OSX sees it as a 450MHZ G3? What's up with that?


Edit: It seems I've been taken by an Ebay seller. The supposed New 500MHZ G4 Sonnet Upgrade I purchased in fact a used 450MHZ G3. Either that or it needs some additonal tweaking to see it as a G4. I don't think this is the case since system profiler see's it as a G3 with the 100mhz bus. Have I been had or is there addtional tweaking required? I installed Sonnet Cache 1.4 as well as the Sonnet File For OSX. Even OS9 sees it as a 450MHZ G3 with the 100mhz bus.

I just looked at the chip and it doesn't even have sonnet's label on it. It's got an XLR8 logo on the actual chip. So I did by a 450MHZ G3 upgrade......Oh well contacting seller right now demanding a refund. At least I think I'm right. Metronome see's it as a G3 750 running at 450mhz with a 99mhz bus speed with 1mb L2 cache at 180mhz. Does that sound like an XLR8 upgrade to you?

[reader50]

Originally Posted by kuys

...(DIMM First Aid report)...

All your DIMMs checked out OK

Results of the first test the two 256MB models are the ram in question. I do see that it is listing them as PC-133 So maybe that could be a problem?
...

My G4's report looks much the same, and my system takes PC100 also. It is reporting the fastest setting the DIMMs are rated for. The fact they checked out as OK means that acceptable SPD settings are present for 100 MHz. Otherwise, it would have stated the problem in red text and offered a repair button.

It looks more and more like the Corsair RAM isn't as compatible as newegg thinks it is. It's also seriously overpriced. I'd suggest returning it, and ordering RAM from a vender that normally sells for Mac. Here is a price page comparing the DIMMs you want from various Mac-friendly vendors. I've had good experience with Data Memory Systems and Other World Computing. Nothing against the others, just no experience with them.

You are starting to put real money into a machine that is over 5 years old. It might be prudent to set a budget limit.

[akrap35]

Originally Posted by reader50

My G4's report looks much the same, and my system takes PC100 also. It is reporting the fastest setting the DIMMs are rated for. The fact they checked out as OK means that acceptable SPD settings are present for 100 MHz. Otherwise, it would have stated the problem in red text and offered a repair button.

It looks more and more like the Corsair RAM isn't as compatible as newegg thinks it is. It's also seriously overpriced. I'd suggest returning it, and ordering RAM from a vender that normally sells for Mac. Here is a price page comparing the DIMMs you want from various Mac-friendly vendors. I've had good experience with Data Memory Systems and Other World Computing. Nothing against the others, just no experience with them.

You are starting to put real money into a machine that is over 5 years old. It might be prudent to set a budget limit.

I've went ahead and asked for a RMA for the Dimms from cosair as instructed by their resident Ram forum guy. If it doesn't fix the problem I'm going to go ahead and return them to newegg and buy from a diffrent vendor. The ram I don't consider part of this upgrade seeing as how I have many older based PC's that readly use PC-133 and PC-100. I understand what everyone is saying about the upgrading of this but I haven't really spent much. Only for a new video card I got extremely cheap and the CPU. Thanks again ram guy.

[akrap35]

I just tested two of the dimms with memtest for osx and they both had serious errors from the get go. I'm not even going to bother testing the other two. Instead i'm just going to RMA the whole lot and roll the dice again. Thanks for all the help.