Fault with memory controller?

VARDY · 8 Sep 2009 at 17:39

Just checking to make sure that i have come to the correct conclusion before i go ahead and buy a new mobo.

Been getting some random BSOD's recently which i could not directly associate with anything. Got some memory errors whilst playing games so i thought it was the GPU. Got the new GPU and still same problems. Been doing memtest most of the day on each stick and nothing seems to be wrong with them (i removed all overclocks are restored to default values beforehand). All 4 sticks passed in one of my ram slots. So i then tried 2 sticks in a pair which caused memtest to crash on test #1 at 44%. Then tried it again in the other pair of slots and exact same problem. I then thought it might be the other slots not working. so tested each slot individually using different ram sticks and all was fine. could only then think of it being the bios or hardware. updated to the latest ASUS bios for my board which was 2202 iirc. started up memtest with dual channel and the problem persists.

the only thing i can think of now is the mobo/memory controller failing.
has anyone else got suggestions as the root of the problem?

VARDY · 8 Sep 2009 at 23:39

anyone suggest any other cause of the problem?

Jason1973 · 9 Sep 2009 at 14:48

Hi Vardy,

Your sig dont say what ram your using?

Did you buy them as matched pairs or as single sticks?

have you tried running in single channel mode?

HazardO · 9 Sep 2009 at 15:10

If each stick is fine on it's own, and each slot is fine on it's own, I'd suggest that you might need to up the DRAM voltage a little bit. My experience has been that often when you fully populate the motherboard with RAM, you sometimes need to raise the voltage above the recomended level to get stability.

VARDY · 9 Sep 2009 at 21:10

i have Geil Black Dragon 4x 2GB sticks 800Mhz. bought them as a set from here back in May. i did think of the voltages however even as a pair in the board there should be enough to power them.

i will have a look at upping the voltages but i dont think it will help

VARDY · 12 Sep 2009 at 01:09

Geil site says working voltages are 2.0V, someone think of a number i can chuck it to without frying them?

http://www.geil.com.tw/products/showSpec/id/122

HazardO · 12 Sep 2009 at 08:58

VARDY said:
Geil site says working voltages are 2.0V, someone think of a number i can chuck it to without frying them?

http://www.geil.com.tw/products/showSpec/id/122

I'd say 2.2V at the most.

IIRK my geil ultra PC6400C4 was rated for 2.1V, but with 4 sticks I ended up at around 2.3 volts for stability, but I was running them at 833 rather than 800.

pctestcard.com · 12 Sep 2009 at 09:16

reset Bio default, the problem could be the semi faulty RAM itself.
Try unplug the power cord and holding down the power button over 20 seconds to clear cache, discharge and reset the PC.

Hope this helps!
Bill