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Mid 2010 Model A1278 / 2.4 or 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Lower RAM slot working with only one RAM chip

I recently got a mid-2010 MBP. It has the usual three beeps on startup indicating a RAM issue. The previous owner had bought two additional RAM chips, but this didn’t fix the problem. So I got 4 RAM chips in total.

After trying different things, I’ve found out that all the chips work in the top slot (as in “it starts booting”), but only one of the chips works in the bottom slot.

Not sure what to make of this. I would understand if none of the chips worked on the bottom slot, but this one does, consistently. My best guess is that it might be a slightly bent contact on the slot, with which this one RAM chip happens to make good contact?

How would you go about diagnosing and fixing this?

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OK, sometimes slots go partially bad and will take a lessor stick but not that a higher one. I’ve also had luck (and this is hard to believe) with loosening and/or tightening the Phillips retaining screws on the brackets. There are two on each side. You can see the two on the right on step # 5 of this guide:

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2010 RAM Replacement

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Thanks! Will give that a try.

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Ram sticks form factor is very consistent and I can’t remember any not fitting properly into the slots, if one fits and works fine so should do the others. It would rather be more likely the specifications might not be the correct ones for the Macbook in question. Core2duo Macbooks from 2010 are designed to work with PC3-8500 at 1066Mhz. Do the RAM sticks you’re trying to use comply with the designed specs ?

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Hey, thanks for your reply.

It's not the fit - all the RAM chips fit perfectly. It's also not the specs - all the RAM chips work perfectly if used individually on the top slot.

Sorry my original description wasn't clear enough!

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@gabrielg If you feel like removing the logic board from the top case in addition to @mayer advice you may also try blowing the slot with some canned air in case there might be some debris. Since the Mac has not always been in your hands it might be considered some other kind of damage (liquids ?) to the ram slot or the board itself..a visual inspection might give some hint.

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Gabriel will be eternally grateful.
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