Ram running at 533 not 667

[dreamsINdigital]

I bought RAM on eBay for my MacBook advertised as 2 GB (2 x 1 GB) of Samsung DDR2 667 PC2-5400 RAM. I installed it and it works, yet looking at About This Mac and System Profiler, it appears to be running at 533 and not 667. I tried each stick individually, and also combined with the stock MacBook RAM, yet it still reads as 533. I know it sounds bad since I got the RAM on eBay, but say it really is 667 RAM. Is there anything I could do get it running at 667 and not 533? Some setting I could change? Any program I could use to identify the RAM and speeds?

Searching google, I found this site with someone that says,

Francis Barr

I just got a MacBook Pro with 2GB RAM installed, and it has the random shutdown problem described by many other users. I tested both RAM chips individually and the factory fitted chip runs at 667 MHz while the other fitted by the Apple reseller only runs at 533 MHz. No wonder there are problems when both are fitted!!! Both chips are labelled as 1GB DDR2 PC5300 667MHz. The problem chip is Samsung RAM from First Choice Memory. Hope this helps anyone else having similar problems.

Even if it is 533 RAM, I read there's only like 1% performance difference from 533 and 667. Should I just keep it? After all, I only paid $160 for them.

This was the eBay listing.

What do you guys think?

Thanks

 

[dreamsINdigital]

In Windows XP through Boot Camp, looking at CPU-Z it's telling me that the memory is PC2-4300 266 MHz. :\ I don't know what to believe... the seller, what OS X reports, or what Windows reports.

I want to contact the seller, but I don't know what to say yet with these mixed reports.

 

[Bill Gates]

266MHz x2 = 533Mhz. It's just not multiplying it out under Windows. My guess is that there is an issue with the timings of that particular variety of memory module, and the speed would need to be manually set. However, without even fiddled much with Macs, I can say that it's highly unlikely that you'd be able to perform such a corrective measure.

 

[dreamsINdigital]

After closely examining the stickers, they look cheap and pixelated as if they were printed out of a computer and poorly cut not even straight. The corners are not rounded, but snipped to give a rounded appearance. They definitely do not look as good as in the auction picture.

Also, while I was lookin at CPU-Z on XP via Boot Camp, the manufacturer was not listed as "Samsung" but instead a bunch of zeros 000000000.

I suspect this RAM is counterfeit. Looking at the seller's feedback someone who bought some Kingston RAM from him said, "Item was not as describe; But Compatiable & working , Willing to take back item"

What should I say to him? Should I tell him I suspect the RAM is counterfeit or just try to say that the RAM isn't running as expected?

 

[Eidorian]

533 MHz RAM will run fine on on a 667 MHz bus. It just won't run at 667 MHz. You got scammed.

 

[generik]

Do the chips have Samsung imprinted on them?

 

[dreamsINdigital]

Do the chips have Samsung imprinted on them?

On the actual RAM itself, no. On the sticker that appears to be counterfeit there's a Samsung logo.