MacBook Pro Crashing after installing RAM

[ringeringering]

Hello all,

Posting a question here for my friend. He has a 13" MacBook Pro from 2009 which came with 2gb (1gb x 2) of RAM. He recently decided to purchase 8gb (4gb x 2) to replace and upgrade his memory. He did this primarily to improve gameplay experience as well as using Photoshop. He installed it without difficulty 2 days ago and has noticed improvements in performance, but a new issue has arisen.

The RAM functions fine while on the internet, on Photoshop, or whatever task he has performed in the past 2 days, except for while he is playing games. For some reason, while playing games after a little while (maybe after 15 minutes of gameplay), his screen will freeze followed by his computer turning off. When he turns it back on it gives the message saying that his computer has crashed because of a problem. The message isn't specific with what problem has occurred.

He's gone on some forums and has been reading that his RAM is probably bad (it was bought from Best Buy) and that he simply needs to buy another one. He's hoping that isn't the case, so I told him about Tom's Hardware and I decided to post his problem here.

If you have any questions, let me know! Thanks very much for your help!

- Ring

 

[Georgehillier]

Has he tried playing the same games with the old ram in? It could be a heating issue or that the laptop isn't up to spec

 

[ringeringering]

Before purchasing the RAM, he researched what his MacBook could handle and what kind of specifications the RAM would need to have and bought accordingly.

Also, before playing with the 8gb, he had been playing all the same games with the 2gb without a problem save for the lack of quality that he was hoping to attain through the 8gb.

 

[notherdude]

Running memtest is the standard test for bad ram. That's easy on a windows machine but I've never tried it on a mac. Here are some instructions though.

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/285041-how-to-run-memtest-under-mac-os-x/

 

[ZachLombardi27]

Hey, so i was curious if you guys ever figured out the problem? My Mac is mid-2009, had only 2 gigs of RAM (1gb x 2 as you had), and i also finally upgraded. Went to Best Buy (coincidence?) and got PNY DDR3's 4 gb... i'm not too savvy but yeah, they were PNY. I tried the first night, wasn't happening, then i tried just one 4 gig RAM stick in one slot, and it worked. Finally was told maybe the other one was bad RAM, so made the exchange finally and tried again. Now, the mac is working a bit, then crashes... today, i switched each 4 gig stick with each other, and it seems to be working... so i just don't have a fuckin idea lol. i was reading sometimes your mac might just say "hey i don't want you in here" n just say no to the new RAM. But, hopefully it stays on the working end this time. The mac was like new with just the 4 gigs, so 8 is just awesome lol just hope it stays this way. thanks!