2GB Geil Ultra PC6400 faulty???

[vipergrm]

I ran some teste using memtest and it came back with only a few errors, but the thing that concerns me most, is that memtest never actually finished.

I tested it yesterday for about 3 hours and it got to test #7, then an error came up. It seemed to take a very long time to get any further, so I switched it off.

Today before I left for work, I started the test again. This time when I came home, it found two errors, again on test #7. Yet again it was still running on test 7 at 44% completed and it was running for over 10 hours! Surely it shouldn't take this long?

Is there another memory tester I could try just to confirm it is faulty?

I have a feeling this is stopping me from overclocking properly because I have to reduce the FSB of the memory well below stock speeds to get higher CPU clock speeds.

I would really appreciate your input. Thanks guys

 

[Cob]

Does the timer freeze?

It's RMA time if it's failing at 800mhz at 4-4-4-12 @2.1v.

 

[vipergrm]

Does the timer freeze?

It's RMA time if it's failing at 800mhz at 4-4-4-12 @2.1v.

No, the timer doesn't freeze. It keeps as normal but the percentage gauge hardly seems to move at all. It's really annoying. I have checked CPUZ and the timings are all wrong. I just checked PC Wizard 2007, and it is definately well wrong. Here's the details I got. If anyone can tell me what needs to be changed in the BIOS I would very much appreciate it! I am using an Asus P5N-E SLI motherboard. Thank you!

General Information :
DIMM_A1 (RAS 0, RAS 1) : 1024 (Double Bank)
DIMM_A2 : Empty
DIMM_B1 (RAS 4, RAS 5) : 1024 (Double Bank)
DIMM_B2 : Empty

Information SPD EEPROM (DIMM_A1) :
Manufacturer : GEIL
Part Number : CL4-4-4DDR2-800
Serial Number : Unspecified
Type : DDR2-SDRAM PC2-6400 (399 MHz)
Format : Regular UDIMM (133.35 x 3)
Size : 1024 MB (0 rows, 2 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module EPP : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 0
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 1.8v
Prefetch Buffer : 4-bit
Manufacture : Week 39 of 2006
Supported Frequencies : 200 MHz, 266 MHz, 400 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 3 clocks @200 MHz, 4 clocks @266 MHz, 5 clocks @400 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @200 MHz, 4 clocks @266 MHz, 5 clocks @400 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @200 MHz, 4 clocks @266 MHz, 5 clocks @400 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 9 clocks @200 MHz, 12 clocks @266 MHz, 18 clocks @400 MHz
Min TRC : 12 clocks @200 MHz, 16 clocks @266 MHz, 23 clocks @400 MHz

Information SPD EEPROM (DIMM_A2) :
Manufacturer : GEIL
Part Number : CL4-4-4DDR2-800
Serial Number : Unspecified
Type : DDR2-SDRAM PC2-6400 (399 MHz)
Format : Regular UDIMM (133.35 x 3)
Size : 1024 MB (0 rows, 2 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Module EPP : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 0
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 1.8v
Prefetch Buffer : 4-bit
Manufacture : Week 39 of 2006
Supported Frequencies : 200 MHz, 266 MHz, 400 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 3 clocks @200 MHz, 4 clocks @266 MHz, 5 clocks @400 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 3 clocks @200 MHz, 4 clocks @266 MHz, 5 clocks @400 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 3 clocks @200 MHz, 4 clocks @266 MHz, 5 clocks @400 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 9 clocks @200 MHz, 12 clocks @266 MHz, 18 clocks @400 MHz
Min TRC : 12 clocks @200 MHz, 16 clocks @266 MHz, 23 clocks @400 MHz

Memory Controller Information :
Memory Controller : Standard, EDO
Number of connectors : 4
Max. Module Size : 32 MB
Max. Memory Size : 128 MB
Supported Speed : 70ns, 60ns
Supported Voltages : 5v
Error Detection Method : 8-bit Parity
Error Correction Capability : Unspecified
Current/Supported Interleave : 1-way/1-way

 

[vipergrm]

Right, I think I may have the timing right now. I have them set to 4-4-4-12 T2 @2.1V. I even upped the FSB to 850Mhz and everything is fine! Is there a benchmark tools I can use to test the memory performance?

I am going to run memtest tomorrow when I go to work to see if it's working correctly now that timings and voltage are correct. It annoys me that a BIOS can't pick these things up correctly!

Thanks a lot for your great help guys. Much appreciated

 

[netby]

I mate

your sticks of Geil PC2 6400 are manufactured in week 39 / 2006
but you bought them new ,a few time ago,right?

Geil has used 3 diferent kinds of chip´s on that ram
Micron (first batches) wich are great,but they change chip´s and later ones are Elpida ( wich is not bad) and some stick´s use Aeneon chip´s

Aeneon normally do not perform ok even at rated speeds (12-4-4-4 at 2.1V at DDR 800)

but there is no way to now what chip´s you got
(unless you could take off the heathspreaders ,but I advise you do not do that, cause most for sure you destroy the chip´s)

So when you buy Geil PC2 6400 ,it´s like a gamble, you could buy a good chip or not

Anyway if they do not pass memtest,at rated speed and Vdimm, you do not have another choice than to RMA it.

PS - I just read your last post

so now you find out the right timmings and Vdimm
in order to now what chip´s you got,try them at DDR1000 ( 500mhz) at 12-4-4-4 and 2.2V / 2.3Vdimm

if you can do SP 1M at these speeds ( or Orthos stable) than you got a very good chip in that Ram (could be Micron or most likely Elpida)

 

[Cob]

It annoys me that a BIOS can't pick these things up correctly!

It needs to pick them up like that so that they boot at the industry standard 1.8v vdimm for DDR2.

 

[Tuvoc]

I have this RAM and it works well for me, except that with 4 x 1GB sticks my board is a bit more fussy with the exact settings than with just 2 sticks

What I wasn't clear on, was if it actually NEEDS 2.1v to operate correctly at 4-4-4-12 2T or if that is the maximum that it is rated for and it is happy with less.... I guess the only way to find out is to try it

 

[bfar]

I have this RAM and it works well for me, except that with 4 x 1GB sticks my board is a bit more fussy with the exact settings than with just 2 sticks

What I wasn't clear on, was if it actually NEEDS 2.1v to operate correctly at 4-4-4-12 2T or if that is the maximum that it is rated for and it is happy with less.... I guess the only way to find out is to try it

My 4x1GB actually run stable at 2.0v.

Mind you, its an Asus P5B deluxe - the voltages on that mobo are all over the place.

 

[Tuvoc]

My 4x1GB actually run stable at 2.0v.

Mind you, its an Asus P5B deluxe - the voltages on that mobo are all over the place.

Thanks - I may try dropping mine, they'll run a bit cooler. They're only running at 711 not 800, so it should be fine actually

 

[vipergrm]

I ran the memory test again today with the correct settings. Everything worked beautifully. No problems at all and NO ERRORS!

Thanks a lot to you guys for helping me sort this out