OCZ 8500+ problem

Crusader-

Crusader-

Crusader-

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8 Sep 2006
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near Swindon
I'm having some issues getting my system stable using OCZ 8500+ SLI (non Reaper) RAM. I built the system with a set of this back in July but after a week it started crashing apps in windows and bluescreening, then it suddenly stopped POSTing and would just sit there powering on and off 2 or 3 times before finally it would spin up all the fans and the GFX fan then sit there, before the POST beep.

Once I took a stick of ram out it POSTed again, so I took that stick out and tried the other and got 3 long beeps and reboots. So, I RMA'd that set, it failed a memtest and was replaced.

The new set has now started doing the same things, except not consistently. I've had it crashing apps and BSOD'ing 3 times now since I got the replacement set 2 weeks ago, each time it would fail a memtest (which I now have video of to assure myself I'm not going crazy :) ). It always seemed to start having problems after I'd had the system on for 6+hrs and was gaming, and the RAM felt pretty hot to touch so I was wondering if it was overheating somehow. Except today it locked windows solid while I was on the phone and idling in windows, it was working when I started talking and 10 minutes later it was locked up, no mouse movement, clock not moving, no keyboard inputs working. When I rebooted it went into the non-POST reboot cycle, eventually spinning up the fans and sitting there before the POST beep would usually occur.

So, I took one stick out and tried it. POST, boots fine, memtest 3.3 says no errors. Tried the other stick, same answer. Put both sticks back in the same slots, still no problem. This time the sticks were barely warm when I took them out so I don't think it was overheating.

While waiting for the replacement set the first time I bought some Crucial 8500 to get the system up and running, and in the week or so I was using it it was faultless, no crashes even after 10hrs+ of gaming. So, I don't think the rest of the system is faulty.

System Spec:
E6850 @ stock, Scythe Infinity with stock 1200rpm fan, Idle 26-30 Load 45-55
Gigabyte P35C-DS3R (F2 Bios), 35-40 Idle 39-48 Load
OCZ 2GB PC2-8500+ SLI-Ready 5-5-5-15 2.3v 1066MHz
BFG 8800GTX OC2, Idle 55-63 Load 69-80
Corsair HX620 PSU
2 S-ATA DVD drives
3 S-ATA HDDs
Antec P180B w/ Scythe Kama Meter controlling:
1200rpm intake
2x2000rpm@1600rpm exhausts
1x1600rpm@1400rpm HDD fan in bottom chamber

Anyone got any ideas? I'll be honest, since the Crucial was so rock solid I'd like to return the OCZ for a refund, but it keeps teasing me with these errors that disappear in a few minutes! I RMA'd this set after the first time it BSOD'd and failed memtest, and it was sent back after passing all the tests! driving me crazy!
 
Hi Crusader personally id contact Ryder at Ocz and explain the situation and memtest failiures and ask for a different set of modules or equivlent ie reaper modules as you have lost faith in the present product. Ocz have a good reputation and im sure they will set up a rma/ exchange for you.
 
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I got the same OCZ PC2 8500 set, I had to RMA the first set as they had errors, big time.

So I got my new set. I had to make major adjustments to get it working properly:

Before

I had my E4300 @ 3gig with 1.325 Volts, I had GeIL PC2 6400

Now my E4300 is stable with the same speed but at 1.4250 Volts.

It does make a big difference.

Make sure your ram is sitting in the right DDR2 slots for Dual channel, because if they are not the SLI function will not work or even the ram will not work.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Abz: The RAM is in slots 2&4 for Dual Channel as per the manual, slots 1&3 aren't that useable as slot 1 is too close to the CPU heatsink. As I'm running at stock speed the VCore is stock also at 1.35v. With the Crucial RAM that I have the system runs absolutely fine like this, or did for the week I was using it at least. Thanks for the suggestions though!

CyZMyAssBaby: Thanks for that info, I may do that as a last resort; as it stands I've got 3 sets of memory, 2 Crucial (8500 and a slower set) that work fine and this OCZ that errors then randomly fixes itself, consequently I'm out of pocket by about £100 if the OCZ won't stay dead, so if I get *another* new set I'd probably have to look to sell it. I've just never met memory that goes wrong then fixes itself like this before, so I was wondering if it was something I was doing wrong.
 
Hi Crusader

If the crucial are running fine as you state, this eliminates the possibility of defective mother board dimm slots. Rma the OCZ modules they are defective as they are showing errors as you describe. Regarding to you doing anything wrong i dont think so as your crucial memory clearly demonstrates.

When you receive the new OCZ modules you can sell them on, for example flea bitten bay. Hopefully you wont be out of pocket.

Are you using memtest v1.70?
 
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Thanks for the help CyZMyAssBaby, much appreciated

I've been using Memtest86 (not plus) v3.3

It locked up on me again last night while idling in windows which was the last straw, so I've put the Crucial back in while I'm waiting for OCUK support to analyse the information I've given them about the OCZ. If they decide there's nothing they can do I'll try with Ryder at OCZ as you suggested.

Thanks for the link to that info from OCZ, I'll use that in future if needed. Looks like my mobo might have been overvolting the RAM too which might have complicated matters, as you saw in the other thread.
 
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