Hi all. I got my 2x1gb of ram today from OWC and I was stoked. Unfortunately my NEW MacPro started crashing immediately upon running rember. I looked in system profiler after reboot, and sure 'nuff it was giving ECC errors immediately. I even rearranged the modules, putting the stock 512's on "B" and the 1g's on "A" (both closest to the MB) and same thing(also tested stock 512's separately and they passed fine). System profiler reports ECC errors even BEFORE I started rember to test. Oh well, at least OWC was cool about it, and HOPEFULLY the replacements will be here (and dependable) before Friday, so I have all weekend to test for stability. Just thought I'd let you all know. I suppose it's just a random thing, as it's not the first time I've got bad ram, especially with as many pc builds as I've done. I do have to admit tho, it hurts the most......I guess cause I've never paid as much for a home built's parts and DDR 2 modules, as I paid for the MacPro and these FB-Dimms. I would however still recommend OWC for their straight up courtesy to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.


Talk at yall L8terz, gonna go play with my measly 'ol 1gig of stock ram.......LOL

Oh, and by the way..for anyone that might be interested in knowing or confirming, its true that 1gig dimms run a hell of alot (well 5-8 degrees celcius) hotter than the 512 modules. This does'nt really bother me, as I use smcfan control on my MacPro and never leave the fans below
755-1000rpms, as noise doesnt bother me and I dont even hear the fans untill they hit over 1200rpms anyway. I do the same for my MBP as well, but I have them set to be at 3500 at boot. HEAT is the enemy people(I never allow my systems over 45-48 celcius), quit being so overly concerned about noise, and I GUARANTEE that your equipment will spend less time in for repairs. It's truly my opinion that Apple set the tolerances WAY to low for all of these machines before the fans kick up.

UPDATE.....Replacement ram was just delivered (UPS Red Label/overnight). Man, I wish I could get off of work so I can go play........

ARRRGHHH!!! The new modules are ECC error correcting(in system profiler) on both memtest and rember as well. Only 1 module fails with correctable ECC error, same as the other 2 modules. I even took the "good" module from the first set, and put it with the "good" module from the second set. Guess what...the "good module from the first set then fails. What the hell is going on?? Why is it that the Apple FB-Dimms can pass all tests, but not the OWC modules, which from my research are supposed to be Apple CERITFIED. Dam I'm bummed out. I mean, is it ok for the modules to show an ECC error correction in system profiler,(and if so, why do the Apple 512 modules not ECC error and correct?) or is that a sign that "Eminent' failure is liklely??? Maybe I should just get a another set of 512's and call it a day...

UPDATE...Sending all this {censored} back, ordering Wintec Ram from newegg. My advice, don't buy MacPro ram from OWC(NETLIST brand/supposed to be their PREMIUM VERSION). That is all...............

I have always bought my RAM from Crucial and it has always been absolutely fine.

The reason I ordered ram from OWC, is that according to 3rd party certified ram reviews, OWC is one of the BEST. Well, of course you can't believe everything you read now can ya?? Anyway, if this Wintec gives me any problems, I will go ahead and get some Crucial, since I've yet to have ever had problems with crucial...other than their price (but then again sometimes you do get what you pay for...).

just bought 1 gig kit from new egg for 160.00 delivered yesterday...good price...for my mac pro


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820148043

I am using this ram now...heatsinks with it also

Wintec ram from Newegg just arrived!!! I'll be back with updates after thourough testing.........................

It just keeps getting better.......

Well, the Wintec modules PASS all tests.......BUT (and this is a big BUT) they don't report temps in Temperature Monitor, which according to the temp monitor website means:

"Why are the temperature values for some of my FB-DIM modules in the Mac Pro or Xserve missing while others are displayed fine?

This indicates that you are using FB-DIMMs which are not fully compatible with Macintosh systems. In most cases this is caused by errors in the firmware of the AMB chip (Advanced Memory Buffer) controlling the module. You should replace this incompatible modules: If your system is not receiving valid temperature readings from the FB-DIMMs, the cooling control for the RAM temperature zone won't work correctly."

Well. I hate to say it but i'm seriously considering sending this MacPro back. It seems that it is just TOO proprietary for me. I dont know what the hell is going on anymore. I finally get good testing dimms, but they give no temp, which is what controls the fans to keep them from burning up(by the way, the Apple stock dimms are still reporting temps fine). I'll be damned if i'm gonna pay what Apple wants for their dimms!!! I even called Wintec and they said they'd never heard of this problem, so they are supposed to get back in touch with me. Otherwise it's either send modules back to newegg and get my last brand (corsair), or send the MacPro back and say fruck it.

Like said before, what about crucial.com? They have great ram and it works. So, no offense, but buy ram from somebody like crucial that know ram.

I ordered the crucial last night (NEXT DAY AIR), and this is the LAST one I'm gonna try before I send EVERYTHING back.........

Cool. If that doesn't work, then Apple really has f'ed up. But I am pretty cetain crucial will get it right.

According to this post, i am not alone. It took this guy 8 separate sets of 1gig dims from 3 different vendors before he got good dimms:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?...3818151#3818151


Dam these Macpro's are sensitive......

I know macbooks are are supposed to be so much more proprietary then pcs but got corsair. they make the best ram ive seen, and ive done a lot of builds. their xts(i think) series is near flawless. super fast, cool, stable.
ive seen problems a lot of times when people mix their ram sizes. when i did it in my pc i was getting constant crashes. maybe try 2x512 or just the 2x1gb.

Crucial arrived today. Been running remeber for an hour (still running as i type this), and I am currently experiencing:

0 - soft errors (ECC ERROR CORRECTIONS)

0 - Hard Errors (No Freeses or KP's/crashes)

and MUCH LOWER TEMPERATURES, which are also able to be measured now!!!

I am a HAPPY CAMPER!!!

It was worth the extra 80+ buxx to get a stable/DEPENDABLE set of TOP TIER MEMORY!!!!

and I still did'nt pay Apple 700bux, SCHWEET!!!


Let this be a lesson to myself and any other MacPro owners/buyers.......Corsair RAM kicks ass on the MacPro!!!!

Thank you all for your support. I'm now off to load Vista/XP/Stalker/TitanQuest/Maya, and several other proggies. Gonna be a good weekend I think!!!

Good. I always say to everybody, buy ram from places that DO ram. Then you will be happy.

OSXtasy, I'm in a simlar boat as you with getting 2 GB of OWC RAM. I'm on my second set, stock Apple 1 GB already in the system.

Couple of questions if you don't mind:

1) What was the temp (idle and under load) of the Apple RAM
2) What was the temp (idle and under load) of the OWC RAM
3) What is the temp (idle and under load) of your New RAM
4) What is your ambient temp.
5) Did the Mac Pro ever increase the fan speeds on it's own?

I'm using smcFanControl and Temperaturemonitor....I'm assuming that's what you are using?

By the way, in smcFanControl....can you increase your power supply fan speed? I can't. Doesn't do anything. The rest work fine.

-Kevin

kbmb, I'll be honest with you. I never wrote any of the temps down, but I did monitor them via temperature monitor, and the 1gig sticks (even my new corsair ones) do run 5-8deg celcius hotter than the 512's. In addition, the fans have NEVER kicked up on either of my Apple computers (MBP or MacPro). I swear I dont even think they will kick up, or Apple sets them so low that the machine has to almost be on fire. I am a firm believer in controlling temps myself, so I dont allow the fans to be any lower than 1200rpms on the mac pro (hottest 1gig corsair dimms stay at about 45-48 celcius when idle at this fan setting), and I don't allow the MBP fans to be below 3200rpms and it stays about 43-48 idle. I of course use SMC fan control (newest version 2.0). Good luck, and do yourself a favor, and get rid of that OWC ram and get you some crucial from newegg. Oh yeah, my ambient (via temp monitor) is usually 25-27 celcius, but I need to start turning on the A/C in the house soon, as it's getting quite warm here.... Also, smc fancontrol 2.0 turned up my powersupplyfan with no problem as far as the sliders say.......I set them all the same speed at 1200, AND ramp them up even more for more intense processing sessions.

Lots of problems here with OWC - macsales Netlist modules. I bought the premium ones, also having read reviews, so i wouldn't have problems. Didn't even mixed with other brand.
First minute, one module (heatsink physically bended) started to give thousand ECC errors, kernel panics. They sent another couple back, and now with their 4 1GB modules, between 6-60 ECC errors depending of the module after 2-3 hours usage and occasional Kernel Panic.

Tried to move locations, smcFanControl, nothing... It's not good to work knowing any time a Kenrl Panic could happen.