Bad RAM or Bad Logic Board?

Question

Hello,
I've had my Powerbook G4 running along pretty well for the last 9 months or so. Some days ago I noticed that the machine would not start when I pressed the power button. I had to keep pressing the button for the startup chime to finally come and boot the machine. Once booted it would run fine.
The issue got worse. Sometime it would take about 15 minutes of continuously pressing the button and resetting the machine for the startup chime to finally sound. I would hear the HD spin up, the CD drive initialise but no startup chime and nothing on screen.
I did the usual, reset PRAM and PMU and nothing. I still occasionally have the no startup chime but it is not as consistent as it was. Most times now I get the startup chime. But the machine boots to a white screen. No Apple logo nothing. I removed the HD and I use it to boot another machine but I put another working HD in there. I tried to start the non-functioning Powerbook from that external drive, to no avail. I tried holdind down the Option key to get the available startup discs, the machine would boot to the correct screen but no drives would show up (again, the external drive works because I am using it to boot a borrowed Powerbook). I have tried to startup from the CD drive. I get the Apple logo in that case. I get that spinning thing on the bottom. Eventually the machine freezes.
This morning on startup I got what looks like a UNIX screen with a memory error. I had concluded before that the Logic Board may have died. But after seeing that error, I'm now wondering (and hoping) that its only a RAM issue. I have both slots filled. Never had any memory issues. I get the usual beeps if I remove the memory. The problem is, the machine is so old that I have no immediate means of trying another known working RAM module. I don't want to purchase another logic board for faulty RAM.
If I actually needed a logic board what would it cost to get it repaired by Apple? I am in the Caribbean right now and there aren't any Apple techs around to diagnose. I have the repair bill from some months ago from Apple (don't remmeber which repair it was). I notice a flat rate of $210 for the part and $100 for labour. Is that a standard fee? It would be very good if this were the total cost for that repair. Anyone has any insight into the actual pricing of these repairs?
Thanks a million for the help.

Answer 1

Since you have two RAM modules, remove one and test with only the other in place. Then switch modules and repeat the test. Try each module in each slot, one at a time. If you get no joy with any configuration, the LB is probably dead.
Sorry, but I don't know what Apple's repair charges might be, either in the USA or in the Caribbean.