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2.26 or 2.4 GHz / White plastic unibody enclosure

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Adding RAM, only boots if one old RAM is in a slot with one new RAM

Macbook A1342 started with original 2GB of RAM, I decided to go big and try to get 16 to work (reportedly, the machine can handle it). Ordered 2 8GB sticks —specs match exactly—. If I install both 8GB sticks, the machine will not boot up and makes a single beep every 4/5 seconds. If I put one of the old 1 GB RAM sticks back in (for a total of 9GB), the machine works fine (actually, so much better than with the original 2 GB). I’ve swapped the 8GB and 1GB sticks around in both slots and tried all combinations chips and slots with 8GB and 1GB and it works in all cases( so no bad chips or slots), but refuses to boot up with 2 8GB sticks installed. I tried resetting SMC and PRAM with no effect. It seems like others have had this trouble and frequently just give up and run the mismatched RAM. 9GB is much better than 2GB, can I return the second 8 GB stick if there is no way to make the machine use both of them?

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Do you have the 2.26 GHz or 2.4 GHz?

When you have the 9 GB of RAM installed, go under the Apple to “about this Mac” and tell us how much the machine is reporting.

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It is the 2.4 Ghz and 'About this Mac' reports 9GB.

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OK, it should take it. Tell us the make and numbers on the RAM you are trying to use. Also have you tried each 8 GB stick separately with the 1 GB.

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I've tried bioth new 8GB sticks, each of them works if an old 1GB is installed for total of 9GB. Purchased through Ifixit -- PC3 8500 8 GB -- Under the sticker the chips read (near as I can tell--very small):

SKhynix

H5TC4G83AFR

PBA 638V

DT3D487WQC

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Try putting both 8 GB sticks in. On boot up, immediately press and hold the p r option and command keys. Keep hold until it has toned three times then release keys and see if it will boot.

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Mick Riffie will be eternally grateful.
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