Hardware failure screen and memtest halting, help please...

metalmackey · 24 Mar 2008 at 16:12

Hi

Im getting a hardware failure, system halted screen in Vista. When I runmemtest it randomly halts with a error saying unexpected interupt, test halted. I have 4gb(2x2gb) of OCZ sli ready cas5 ram. I tried putting other unbranded ram in but memtest still failed and the hardware failure screen came up very quick. Ive put the OCZ ram back and windows is working while im typing this post but memtest halts anywhere from 11secs to 5mins. I tried removing a gfx card. I also upped the ram voltage from auto(1.065) to 2.150v and memtest lasted 1 pass but halted during the 2nd pass. Is my mobo screwed as ive tried 2 types of ram? I also tried the OCZ ram in slots 2 and 4 instead of 1 and 3. Any ideas?

Thanks

slowrunner · 24 Mar 2008 at 18:30

Have you tried increasing the memory controller voltage?

melbourne720 · 24 Mar 2008 at 18:53

1 stick of the OZ RAM, settings set manually in BIOS for that RAM, memtest => what happens?

metalmackey · 24 Mar 2008 at 18:54

How do I do that? and what should I set it to?

Thanks

melbourne720 · 24 Mar 2008 at 19:24

(a) If it is this set: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-090-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=

Then it should be set to 400 MHz (800DDR) CL 4-4-4-15-1T (CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS) and 2.1V

(b)If it is this stuff: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-082-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=

Then it should be set to 533MHz (1066DDR) 5-5-5-15 T2 and 2.1V

(C)and if it is this stuff:http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-097-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=

it should be set to 400 MHz (800DDR) 5-4-4-15 2T and 2.1V

Which set is it?

metalmackey · 24 Mar 2008 at 20:45

Its set 3. I tried 1 stick at a time, 1st stick gave 102 errors then halted, 2nd stick gave 12 errors then memtest halted. I dont think the memory is fault as I get errors with the old ram too.

melbourne720 · 24 Mar 2008 at 21:41

Do you know someone who has a DDR2 compatible system who could test the RAM for you?

If not, you could send it back. If it has errors, then it needs replacing. If not, then it might be the motherboard.

Are you sure you are giving it enough voltage? Memtest can halt on undervolted RAM.

metalmackey · 25 Mar 2008 at 01:54

UPDATE
I put both sticks of the OCZ memory in slots 2 and 4, then I set ALL mem related bios options manually and then made sure the mem volts was set at 2.100v. Ran memtest for over 2 hours(3 passes) and had no errors

Had no system halted screen either so far. Everests cpuid says the ram is at 6-6-6-18 but I manually set it at 5-4-4-15 in bios, so I dunno where everest got its numbers from. So far all is ok so looks like the mobo doesnt like anything set to auto.

melbourne720 · 25 Mar 2008 at 07:18

Use CPUZ to check the memory timings, but that looks like a result

metalmackey · 25 Mar 2008 at 14:18

CPU-Z says 6-6-6 too. Its definatly set to 5-4-4 in BIOS so I dunno what the timings are really at. I'm guessing 5-4-4 is right but who knows? LOL

metalmackey · 25 Mar 2008 at 15:46

Would you say the mobo is reporting the wrong timings to CPUZ or that they are at 6-6-6, even though they are set lower in bios?

melbourne720 · 25 Mar 2008 at 23:27

not sure. Probably the latter, but even so I'm sure there won't be a huge impact in performance.

metalmackey · 25 Mar 2008 at 23:42

Well I aint changing anything coz its stable.

metalmackey · 26 Mar 2008 at 21:42

All fixed now with a bios update