Added ram to mac pro, get ecc memory error and 4mem/9/40000006: B:0 C:0 R:0

Question

I recently purchased a 2.8 8 core Mac pro (early '08 model). It came shipped with 2gigs of ram (one gig on riser card a, one gig on riser b).
I purchased 2 1gig sticks from ramjet, i followed a apple tutorial and installed the 2 original sticks in riser card A (slots 1 and 2), and the 2 new Ramjet sticks in riser card B (slots 1 and 2) for a total of 4gigs.
When I powered on the computer everything was fine, clicked the black apple logo to view "about this mac" and the 4gigs total memory showed up. However when i clicked "more info" then "memory"... it showed the status on one of the new ramjet sticks as "ecc error"
I rebooted the computer and the error message was gone, all sticks showed a status of "ok"
a few days went by and i was constantly checking the system profiler and the status would always show the sticks as "ok" and the computer acts totally normal, i run pro tools, logic pro, photoshop and it would run flawlessly.
The fact it showed an error a few days prior was still bugging me so i decided to call the applecare protection and consult with them... they said to remove and re-install the memory, reboot holding down the "option + command + R + P" to reset memory, then to reboot again holding down the "D" to do a Apple hardware Test.
the first test showed pass, i checked the extended test and that showed a 4mem/9/40000006: B:0 C:0 R:0 error, the second and 3rd tests froze and i had to push the power button to reboot.
I contacted Applecare once again and they said that since my computer was not acting funny nor freezing during apps or showing any errors that it should be fine, as long as the status said "ok" in system profiler and all four gigs registered in "about this mac" that no harm is going to happen.
when i asked what that long error code was she said it did not come up in her computer but she thinks its because its not official apple memory.
I tried searching online in forums to solve this but i cant find anything on that specific error code.
sorry for the long post but i wanted to be as detailed as possible to get the best advice
thanks and any help would be much appreciated.
and by the way i did contact ramjet and they are willing to replace my memory but there advice was also not to worry that its only giving that error due to the memory not being "official" apple memory, but if it registers and the computer acts totally normal to just leave it be.
thanks again,
David
Message was edited by: priv510
Message was edited by: priv510

Answer 1

thanks for the reply Kappy,
yes they have heat sinks and ramjet states they are "apple grade"
i downloaded the istat widget (not sure how accurate that is) and it says the apple sticks on A run at 32 degrees and the ones on B run at 31 degrees
the comp is practically brand new and when i opened it for the ram install it still looked brand new (no dust) its only a few weeks old.
I am going to return the sticks for sure to be safe but where im lost is.... yes it did show ecc error once, never again, its been a week now still no ecc error. I ran tech tool deluxe and everything passes, i ran "Rember memory test" and it passes, system profiler registers all 4 gigs and shows status as ok, computer acts totally normal? but the apple hardware test fails i guess im lost to why the comp says the ram is ok nd passes most tests just not the AHT test.
Thanks for your help i hope the new sticks dont show any error
David
O and I forgot to mention i called applecare again and requested a different agent to help me and he said Ecc stands for error correcting? so if it came up once and not again it did what it was suppose to do... corrected itself (now that sounds like more b.s to me but i have no idea about computer stuff )
Message was edited by: priv510