Chosen Solution
Hi all, This is my first time posting on here, so excuse the inner noobness. I decided to clean the fan out, I thought I would have a look at the RAM stick so I removed it and then re-inserted it… Upon hitting the power button, I didn’t get the normal chime; just a blank screen, and a beep every 5 seconds. What is happening: Hard drive makes a sound - like it is doing something for a few secs after powering onFan runs the whole time (it runs quietly)It beeps every 5 seconds - I know that this is related to no ram sticks being detectedThe standby light flashes (as it beeps)The screen stays blankBattery charges What isn’t happening: EverythingIt won’t boot upCaps lock doesn’t light upIt won’t chime What I have tried: I have unplugged the battery and held down the power button (to try and drain the motherboard)I have attempted to do a Pram resetAttempted to do a SMC reset The list goes on… however post your thoughts regardless of if I have done it :) Side notes: It has been well looked after and was running fine prior to dumb me removing the RAM stick and cleaning the fan. It has two RAM sticks, both aren’t being recognized. I have tried new RAM (admittedly 1600 MHz RAM). Any help is so so very much appreciated.
Here’s a good Apple T/N writeup on the different tones: About Mac computer startup tones. And here is more on the RAM error codes: Intel-based Mac Power On Self Test RAM error codes
First use the correct RAM for your machine: RAM Type: PC3-10600 DDR3 Min. RAM Speed: 1333 MHz Details: Supports 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM.
Your Logicboard can’t read the RAMs. The Boot-EFI say it to you with the beeping. Just to make sure: are you using the same RAMs like you are using before? Try and unplug both RAM-chips again and plug then in (carefully). Make sure they are complete in. Usually the click in. Start your Mac. You don’t have to make a SMC or VRAM reset. If your Mac doesn’t turn on. You RAM chips are faulty and you need new ones. Maybe you touched them without ESD protection. Let me know if this was helpful
This is a response to an old thread, but it still may be helpful to some. For MacBooks running Intel chips, there is essentially no difference between Mac memory and memory for one of the many brands of Windows laptops. Yes, you have to get the 204 pins, the speed and the voltage right, and I am not sure if 1xR8 memory will work OK in a MacBook, or whether 2xR8 is necessary. I guess I’ll have to find out, won’t I? Apple made the shrewd decision to use commodity SODIMM memory, then obfuscated by claiming that the memory had to be especially for the Mac. This is no different than Windows laptops, whose brand-name companies put brand name stickers on the memory to make it special and more expensive.
