Memory Problem?

[davidnjina]

Hello everyone,

Clunk: it's david (and) jina <- my wife

This is my first post. I am a noob overclocker and found myself reading Clunk's DFI LP UT P35-T2R review because I had picked this MB on Ebay awhile ago and wanting to learn overclocking...

Anyway, I also picked up 2 x 1GB of Corsair Dominator PC2-8888 on ebay awhile ago, but I am thinking the memory is bad. I can't say the seller sold me bad parts because I did try some random settings I found internet when I first got them.

I read and followed Clunk's C2D Overclocking Guide For Beginners - DFI Add-On and I've been reading other overclocking guides.

Only the following settings are different:
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.20v
CAS Latency Time (tCL): 4
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD): 4
RAS# Precharge (tRP): 4
Precharge Delay (tRAS): 12

With my Q6600, my screen capture of CPU and memory tabs of CPU-Z are almost exactly as shown in above guide.

Now when I try to run prime95 blend test, I get one or two cores shut down within a min (usually less than 15 seconds). I am thinking it's a memory problem because when I run the 'small FFTs' test (which says RAM not tested much), I don't have above problem.

What can I do to figure out that my memory is the problem?

Assuming I need to get another memory, how is this one? Customer rating is good and abundant. Price $89 is right for 2x2GB. (I can't post URLs yet)

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

What I want to do eventually is to run my q6600 at 3.6ghz. Part of reason why it took me so long to setup was because I also started to watercool. At 3Ghz with 1.325v, two cores are 45C and other two cores are 52C running OCCT cpu test for about 10 mins. I'll post what my temp is in an hour or so again. Next time I need to redo my watercooling, I am going to try lapping my Q6600.

Thanks for your help.

[davidnjina]

I've been running OCCT cpu test for about an hour and two cores are still at 45C and other two at 52C.

[supershanks]

Hi davidnjina,
Welcome to the forum

There are two ways to specifically test your memory:-
1) get HCI Memtest & run it to test your memory. If running in windows you can run 2 instances which together will check windows free memory.
2) get Prime95 & run Large FFTs test.

The longer you test the less probability of errors. The only issue with the above is it doesn't test all memory, only free memory. It will detect any wrong settings etc., If you want to test all memorythen get memtest86+ v2.00 (se 2nd link above) or the Pro version of HCI which will run on a cd.

luck

[Clunk]

Originally Posted by davidnjina

Hello everyone,

Clunk: it's david (and) jina <- my wife

This is my first post. I am a noob overclocker and found myself reading Clunk's DFI LP UT P35-T2R review because I had picked this MB on Ebay awhile ago and wanting to learn overclocking...

Anyway, I also picked up 2 x 1GB of Corsair Dominator PC2-8888 on ebay awhile ago, but I am thinking the memory is bad. I can't say the seller sold me bad parts because I did try some random settings I found internet when I first got them.

I read and followed Clunk's C2D Overclocking Guide For Beginners - DFI Add-On and I've been reading other overclocking guides.

Only the following settings are different:
CPU VTT Voltage: 1.20v
CAS Latency Time (tCL): 4
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD): 4
RAS# Precharge (tRP): 4
Precharge Delay (tRAS): 12

With my Q6600, my screen capture of CPU and memory tabs of CPU-Z are almost exactly as shown in above guide.

Now when I try to run prime95 blend test, I get one or two cores shut down within a min (usually less than 15 seconds). I am thinking it's a memory problem because when I run the 'small FFTs' test (which says RAM not tested much), I don't have above problem.

What can I do to figure out that my memory is the problem?

Assuming I need to get another memory, how is this one? Customer rating is good and abundant. Price $89 is right for 2x2GB. (I can't post URLs yet)

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

What I want to do eventually is to run my q6600 at 3.6ghz. Part of reason why it took me so long to setup was because I also started to watercool. At 3Ghz with 1.325v, two cores are 45C and other two cores are 52C running OCCT cpu test for about 10 mins. I'll post what my temp is in an hour or so again. Next time I need to redo my watercooling, I am going to try lapping my Q6600.

Thanks for your help.

Welcome to the forums, and apologies for calling your wife a ninja - although you can see why I thought it


I agree with supershanks, memtest is the way to go at the moment, and make sure you cool the RAM while you are doing it.

With 2x2GB kits, they are all much of a muchness at the moment, and all perform similarly. The one thing you have to watch out for is that some sets that use.

From the troubleshooting section of the overclocking guide, this might be useful when selecting your new RAM.

• If you have problems booting with some OCZ RAM (8000 platinum, 8000 Reaper X, or 8500 Reaper), it is possible that you have a set of sticks that aren't compatible in their original state with your DFI board. The problem relates to the tRFC being set to high in the module's SPD table, so you can reflash your modules relatively easily, as long as you have any spare DDR2 motherboard that will allow you to get to windows with the modules fitted. Click here for a walkthrough!

3.6 should be easily doable, assuming your Q6600 is a G0 model.

Also, make sure you have your RAM voltage set to whatever the RAM is meant to run at.

[davidnjina]

Originally Posted by supershanks

If you want to test all memorythen get memtest86+ v2.00 (se 2nd link above) or the Pro version of HCI which will run on a cd.

luck

I had to take an actuarial exam this morning and was much too busy studying.

First, I ran prime95 Large FFTs test for two hours and no errors. Meanwhile, I downloaded Large memtest86+ v2.01 and burn it on CD.

As soon as I rebooted into memtest, I started to see red lines scrolling down.

So I set the followings to 'auto' in BIOS

Bus/Ram ratio: auto
CAS Latency Time (tCL): auto
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD): auto
RAS# Precharge (tRP): auto
Precharge Delay (tRAS): auto

and ran memtest.

The screen says I am running at 333mhz FSB and memory at 666 with 5-5-5-18 settings.

So far, I am 40% thru test and over 900 errors.

Should I ditch the memory? Is this memory good for anything? I didn't have a single crash like BSOD yet.

Thanks.

[Clunk]

You need to make sure that your RAM voltage is set to whatever it should be when running memtest. Do test 5.

As soon as you see errors, you can stop.

Always have a fan blowing over the RAM when memtesting because it does get hot.

Set those memory timings above to whatever the manufacturer says they should run at.

Try that first, and if it is still showing errors, then do them one at a time in each slot. Doing that will help rule out bad slots and also help you isolate the bad stick/sticks.

[davidnjina]

Originally Posted by Clunk

You need to make sure that your RAM voltage is set to whatever it should be when running memtest. Do test 5.

RAM voltage is set at 2.38v. Specification for the memory is 2.4v.

Originally Posted by Clunk

Always have a fan blowing over the RAM when memtesting because it does get hot.

I've always had the dominator fan on them.

Originally Posted by Clunk

Set those memory timings above to whatever the manufacturer says they should run at.

I've set everything to spec except for RAM clock. Should I select higher ratio? It's currently running at 800. I guess the closest setting will be 266/1066. The RAM is rated at 1111mhz.

Originally Posted by Clunk

Try that first, and if it is still showing errors, then do them one at a time in each slot. Doing that will help rule out bad slots and also help you isolate the bad stick/sticks.

With everything set as spec except for RAM speed (set at 800), memory test failed.

With the first stick, same results with ram in Green and yellow slots (slot 1 and 2?).

With the second stick, it ran test 5 54 times with no error yet (46min). Considering that I had errors as soon as I started the test, I think I can deduce that slot 1 is okay and probably slot 2 is okay. The first RAM is bad and second RAM is okay.

Now what? What can I do with these? Should I toss these? Are they any good for everyday computing? I don't think Corsair will RMA these because I bought from other end-user.

By the way, I ended up buying

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Thanks for your advise.

[Clunk]

Thing is, if they wont run at 800Mhz without errors, then they are bad.

Yes, RMA them to Corsair, they should help you out. I think, as they have a lifetime warranty you should be ok.

[davidnjina]

Originally Posted by Clunk

Thing is, if they wont run at 800Mhz without errors, then they are bad.

Are they any good for anything else? I didn't have a single problem with any task I had to do i.e. transcoding avi to flash for webstreaming.

Originally Posted by Clunk

Yes, RMA them to Corsair, they should help you out. I think, as they have a lifetime warranty you should be ok.

Their support site says RAMs bought from other end-users are not supported. I almost went thru their RMA process and they ask where and when I bought the item. I am sure they have record of where they sold the particular kit to. I don't know what to do with it.

By the way, I am testing two sticks of Ballistix PC2-8500. Now I followed everything up to where I increase the FSB to 400 Mhz increasing my CPU speed to 3.6 Ghz, then I started to increase my voltage till I can boot into windows. I am at 1.4125v. I am still prime95 unstable. How high do I need to go?

Thanks.

By the way, do you live close to Manchester, UK? I thought I read somewhere you did.

[davidnjina]

Okay. It's running Prime95 for 10 min without errors so far.

I've up the voltage in BIOS to 1.475v but CPU-Z is reporting 1.456v. I'll test at this setting overnight and see what happens.

My temps are 57C on two cores and 49c on the other two. I guess I better reseat the heatsink when I have a chance.