Is this RAM Faulty ? What next?

blackninja

blackninja

blackninja

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Story so far for this stuff: OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2G8004GK). I have set this memory to the stated 1.9v AND to 2.1v just for good measure and tried THREE different systems ... with the following results:

Memtest errors on a friends IP35 Pro and his computer fails to BOOT with one of these sticks and will boot with the other.
Memtest errors on MY IP35 Pro and MY computer fails to BOOT with one of these sticks and will boot with the other.
Memtest errors on MY Gigabyte-965P-DS3 and it fails to BOOT with one of these sticks and will boot with the other.

I really do hate repeating myself but what the hell :) Me suspects a memory issue here!!

Out of a matched pair set one stick passes consistantly whilst the pcs (3 different ones!) will not even boot with the other as the only one RAM stick there, Memtest with the good stick @ 400 FSB 5-5-5-15 -->

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Memtest with both sticks of RAM @ 400 FSB 5-5-5-15 and guess what -->

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Does this indicate a problem with the RAM? What should I do next?
 
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I would like to add that this memory was RMAed to the vendor who returned it after testing as NOT FAULTY with the comment 'Passed 10 cycles of Memtest' ... you have been charged X amount plus shipping ... blah blah!

3 different computers - same result each time so - can anyone explain why this is the case as I sure as hell can't !!!!
 
Thanks for the suggestion.

This was part of an 8GB order with 2 kits of 2x2GB ... 3 sticks work consistantly fine and one does not. To my mind there is something obviously wrong and I am just helping someone out who knows little about computers. He is not the sort of person who can deal with this type of problem as in a) the product is faulty and diagnosis is required & b) the vendor who gave NO useful comment in the return specially as the original problem (which is now evidenced on 3 computers) was explained over the phone and by electronic means.

I can ask that he test the tRFC at 54 ... and see what happens. Methinks that if there is no resolution here the guy will complain to the vendor and withdraw his custom and then flog the RAM on you know where as it is obviously OK and fit for purpose and he is just unlucky this time round!

BTW: I'll probably stick with the Value stuff meself as I have never had issues - I have even had some really good uns over time :D
 
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You've tested each stick on its own in 3 motherboards and 1 out of 4 doesn't POST, the sticks are identical so all 4 should POST without making any changes to the BIOS settings. This is thinking logically.

Now becuase they have "tested" them and found no errors we have to start thinking illogically which brings about the unlikely possibility that the sticks worked fine on their testing motherboard.

You can now proceed in 2 ways;

1) Flog the sticks on eBay and take the negative feedback when the stick don't work maintaining that they have been tested OK - its your feedback.

2) Demand a full refund including any associated costs and buy something else.

Its tempting just to flog them on eBay and wash your hands of it but this way you won't get your associated costs back, if you go for the full refund you may not end up getting all your money back but at least original cost + your eBay reputation remains intact.
 
A critical issue here is that the vendor was told under what circumstances the problem arose but there was absolutely no information received as to how the product was tested what circumstances the Memtest that they did was done under.

Simply saying that it has passed is not satisfactory when the original problem still exists and where it is obvious that something is actually amiss - of course if nothing is wrong then some advice should be forthcoming! Customer service is somewhat at issue here it seems.

There just might be a good deal here for someone who can get this stuff to work on their system ;)
 
blackninja said:
A critical issue here is that the vendor was told under what circumstances the problem arose but there was absolutely no information received as to how the product was tested what circumstances the Memtest that they did was done under.

Simply saying that it has passed is not satisfactory when the original problem still exists and where it is obvious that something is actually amiss - of course if nothing is wrong then some advice should be forthcoming! Customer service is somewhat at issue here it seems.

There just might be a good deal here for someone who can get this stuff to work on their system ;)
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I still think you should get annoyed at this stage and demand a full refund, start quoting the SOGA etc why flog them to someone at a reduced cost when you have a right to a full refund. If they tested OK on my motherboard (which is very unlikely) I`d pay £ 18 a stick which is what I can buy very cheap 2GB PC6400 CAS6 stuff from an online supplier. The thing is I`m thinking about changing my motherboard soon so if they did happen to work on my motherboard there is no guarantee they would work on the new board.
 
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Call them, ask to speak with whoever is in charge and start speaking clear and loud, don't forget some b/f/s words - usually works for me when it comes to refund/replacement ;-).
 
blackninja said:
Customer service is somewhat at issue here it seems.
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If we're thinking of the same vendor, customer service doesn't seem to be an issue at all, as far as they're concerned... They seem to use whatever means necessary to avoid replacing goods, which i find a little odd if i'm honest!?!
I've just found that i have a faulty stick of RAM, and i'd sooner bin it than have any more dealings with them; i know they'll say it's fine and bill me for the pleasure.

Good luck mate. ;)
 
We have isolated the problem, but after the vendors claim that there was nothing wrong with the motherboard and memory combo the guy in question (brother) went out and bought a new PSU and graphics card neither of which solved the problem.

It was after we installed 3D Mark Vantage that we could reproduce the problem consistently and it failed everytime with the memory which had been tested OK memory by vendor. With my Crucial memory in the system its passed 3D Mark Vantage over and over more then 20 times.

It seems the vendors testing procedures have failed miserably this time and I hope they sort him out for an exchange at no extra cost.

EDIT: The whole story has not been reported here, the stuff that fails memtest was tested as OK when it clearly isn't aside from that the rest of the stuff which was also tested as OK passes memtest but fails with the device driver has stopped responding error when running 3D Mark Vantage. With the Crucial RAM I tested it works perfectly.
 
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beano said:
And reimberse him the £10 + VAT + Shipping i would hope too... :p
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From what I heard I don't think they charged him anything for testing/return but he hasn't checked his credit card statement yet, if they have that should be refunded + the £ 11 it cost to send motherboard/RAM back originally and the amount its going to cost to return all the RAM the 2nd time.

He did buy a new graphics card from them when he didn't need to but he's keeping that and I`ve bought his old one at least he got some extra performance, he's accepted the fact he bought a new PSU for nothing. This ****-up could get very expensive for them.
 
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I'd remove the name of the vendor if i was you, if only for your own legal protection. Also i think there are rules about that on here. ;)
 
beano said:
I'd remove the name of the vendor if i was you, if only for your own legal protection. Also i think there are rules about that on here. ;)
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Thanks for that I removed the references to the vendor in question soon after seeing your message, sorry about that - as far as I know they haven't replied to the latest message sent so my brother is going to speak to them on the phone again on Monday to try and get this sorted out.
 
In my very much considered view, this RAM is buggered. Comnmon sense would dictate that there is a fair chance that the vendor will also realise that. If they say that the RAM is incompatible (which, to be honest is possible and a GREAT cop out and NO FEFUND) then what one does is go to a competitor and be done with it as the service is somewhat lacking - over £1000 spent on a rig = x%profit therefore WTF difference is a component that retails for £50 gonna make? Never mind the collatoral damage caused by miffed friends, aquaintances not using that vendor! etc :)
 
Couldn't agree more ^^^

None of my friends are using said vendor anymore, and last year i spent over £1,000 with them. I'd rather pay a couple of quid more and get reasonable customer care!?!
 
beano said:
Couldn't agree more ^^^

None of my friends are using said vendor anymore, and last year i spent over £1,000 with them. I'd rather pay a couple of quid more and get reasonable customer care!?!
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To update I recieved 4x 2GB Dane-Elec Celenade CAS6 this morning from a competitor, this is for my system when I have the rest of the parts, its only £17.99 ex VAT a stick.

Put it in said system and it passed 3D Mark Vantage everytime, so now that's 2 different brands of memory we tried with no problems. My old stuff was Crucial well respected stuff but even this dirt cheap Dane-Elec stuff works fine.
 
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