PowerBook G4 Aluminum Owners! Help me out!

[unlockthesource]

Hello

This post is directed at Apple PowerBook G4 Aluminum owners only. If you are not among this select group: I thank you for your concern and willingness to help, but you need not read any more.

okay...
First, I am about to head out the post office to send back a stick of 512 mb ram that Apple claims is the cause of all my problems. This my second "defective" third-part mem stick for this portable. I find this to be highly irregular.

So... I have decided to purchase Apple memory.
The problem is that Apple memory is marked up about 200% ( 512 = $300!!!). The alternative, of course is to purchase the same memory Apple uses from somewhere else. I know Apple uses Hynix OEM memory modules, and I know the exact model they use for 256MB modules. What I do not know is the full hynix part number for an Apple OEM 512MB module.

The part number should be under the memory section of "About This Mac" (click the Apple icon... top left).
If someone could give me the data for their memory modules, I would appreciate it.

Note: you can also simply remove the memory cover on the bottom of the powerbook and read the numbers off the sticker on the module.

Note2: I have the PC2700/333Mhz PB, i need numbers for that module please.

 

[Shogun]

Here is what I put into my PowerBook. I have not had any problems with it.

 

[Ripster]

From from the sticker on the original 512MB DIMM in my 1.25 15" PB:

Samsung M470L6423DN0-LB3

Good luck, I had a bit of trouble getting an OEM Samsung 1gb module a few months ago (eventually got one, but had a vendor try to substitute a Micron part with the same specs, which my Powerbook did NOT like).

 

[unlockthesource]

Thanks guy.
These machine are so damn picky about what you put in them.

 

[Go3iverson]

Highly advise the use of Crucial memory. I've never had an issue with their memory, while I have, at work, with other brands. Crucial's customer service is top notch as well!

 

[jdogg707]

I have put two Transcend 512MB sticks, and now two 1GB sticks in my new Powerbook. They have all worked flawlessly and are very inexpensive at Newegg!

 

[unlockthesource]

Originally posted by: jdogg707
I have put two Transcend 512MB sticks, and now two 1GB sticks in my new Powerbook. They have all worked flawlessly and are very inexpensive at Newegg!

I threw 512 MB of Transcend RAM into the PowerBook when i tried to upgrade the first time.
I sent that one back without even talking to Apple. It was terrible. The machine NEVER came out of standby. With the Kingston, It had trouble returning from sleep when it was on for a very long time or when i moved it (long distances... in my backpack or car).

If anyone has a experienced similiar occurances, please let me know:
When the PB is sleeping and you release the display, you can hear the Hard drive and fans spin up, but nothing else happens. Blank screen, no responce from num-lock, caps lock etc... no sound.


Anyway. Since apple removed the kingston ram, everything has been working perfectly. I think the RAM slot is bad, not the ram.

 

[unlockthesource]

I would like to add that I happily use my off-the-shelf PowerBook as or more often than I use my completely custom beomouth of a PC .

Apple Rocks.

 

[jdogg707]

I would try calling Apple before I dropped the outrageous amount on a piece of RAM from them. Tell them you have tried a lot of different RAM and that you think the slot is bad, they should fix it for you.

 

[unlockthesource]

I sent my powerbook out for repair 2 weeks ago. "After extensive testing we have determined that the faulty part is third party RAM....blah blah blah."

That implies they tested the RAM as well as the slot. And the ram was under 60 days old, so newegg took it back without questions. I ordered an additional 512 of the exact same ram from newegg at the same time because you can never have too much RAM in a UNIX based product.

Basically if anything isnt working perfectly, it MUST be the logic board or possibly the dick drive. Both are covered under AppleCare. As for the memory, I have 30 days to determine if that was the problem afterall, or else i can send it back to newegg for refund.

 

[Gnurb]

I got a 1 gig chip from http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4158153 for $160 a week or so ago. It's been fantastic so far. I'm about to run to class, so can't check on the number for you but will post back here later tonight if you still need it.

 

[unlockthesource]

Well its official. My Powerbook is messed up.

I just swapped out my 256MB Hynix Apple-OEM RAM for a Kingston module of twice the capacity. The kingston went right from the packaging form newegg.com into the laptop and it has exactly the same specs as the Hynix...even the same RAM slot!!!

Tried to boot the machine 3 times. No dice. black screen once, kernel panic the next time before logging in, and hung once after typing password into login panel.

So now the question is... WHY OH WHY will the Hynix OEM work FLAWLESSLY while ANY other ram (transcend...kingston...) will not???????????