Memtest

unknownsock

unknownsock

unknownsock

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After weeks of trying to find out whats causing my stutter in games etc.
Something i shouldve done firstly, but i have a result!

I tested each stick for 5 passes, they came out fine.
Tested all 4 together and memtest just completly crashed..

So i booted up windows with 3 sticks and tested out COD4, the stutter seemed to have gone. Although i could be wrong, ill test more tonight
So overnight i left 3 sticks in to test, it came out with 15 errors over 6 hours. Ive tried different sticks n different slots etc also.
At the moment i have a test runing at home with 2 sticks, this should be about 9 hours id say.
Is there any reason why 4 sticks are failing in memtest so badly? As my system still runs with 4 in, it just seems unstable or out of sync.

If the test comes out fine when i get home i think im gonna try RMA them tonight..
 
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When you installed all 4 sticks did you up the NB voltage (MCH)? It's not uncommon for the NB to require more juice with all 4 slots filled.

If not, try upping it 1 or 2 increments and run the tests again. You could also try slackening your timings too - if the voltage tweak doesn't help.
 
From what I know memtest86 can only handle 2gb of ram at a time, whereas memtest86+ can handle more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memtest86 Scroll down to known problems.

Also something I experienced on my Mobo was that the identical pairs of ram sticks had to be in specific slots on the board. That is: set 1 for example would need to be in slots 1 and 3 and set 2 in slots 3 and 4 if that makes any sense. I initially got an error on Memtest86+ having them in the wrong slots, but once I changed them it was all fine... though I still have other problems http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18023053

Hope this helps you ;)
 
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Nope didnt touch the NB voltage, everything is at stock atm.
I'll also try this, i may have already tried this though, not combined with memtest though.
Although if i had to slacken my timings lower that stated on the packet, is this something i can RMA for?

Also, i did error on 3 sticks, could the voltage tweak help this?

Edit: Oh my bad it is memtest86+, And they are paired up correctly in dual mode :)
 
unknownsock said:
Although if i had to slacken my timings lower that stated on the packet, is this something i can RMA for?
Click to expand...

An RMA won't help this situation. 4 modules is 2x the load on the memory controller vs 2 modules. As noted, you'll need to increase the memory controller voltage to compensate. If it is still unstable you may need to lower your memory frequency due to the limit of the memory controller.
 
Right i've just got home, my 2 sticks passed memtest over 9 hours.
I tried upping my NB voltage, in increments of 2 ..1.25>1.51 and my RAM from 1.6>2.1 in increments also. But this didnt work.

I'm just going to check my other 2 sticks for a few pass's and ill try what yellowbeard suggested, by lowering my ram freq.
 
Slackening the timings is definitely worth trying but keep the NB juiced at its new voltage.

If the 4 stick become stable with this combination of tweaks - lower the NB voltage incrementally until it buckles and then go back to the last stable voltage.

Additional: What's the recommended voltage for your memory? 2.1v seems high for DDR3 dual channel memory. If it’s meant to be running at 1.6v I would drop it back to 1.7/8v while you’re testing and only up it again if you can’t get it stable.
 
my memory at stock is rated 1600mhz 9-9-9-24 1.8v's
I've dropped it back to 1.9, i just put it higher to test etc

Tried slackening the timings to 10-10-10-26 etc + and lowering my freq, my system doesnt even boot :/

also tried at the stock rated settings, doesnt boot :)
 
volts - 1.8
Nb - 1.51
feq - 1066
9-9-9-24, doesnt boot.

Tried with 8-8-8-21, instead and it does, but memtest still is unstable. I'm kinda lost now..
 
Try them 2 at a time. You may have a weak memory controller or some issue with the MOBO or CPU. Based on your Memtest results it does not seem like a memory issue.
 
Right when memtests crashes, it does for a slight second say "relocated" on the same row as Pattern: ...could this possibly be anything..

Then my computer restarts :/
 
Right, i can confirm the other sticks passed memtest over another 9 hours, so i can pretty much say my memory is fine now.

2 sticks are fine.
3 sticks run with but with errors.
4 sticks completely crash.

I've upped the volts on neccesary parts, to compensate etc and this hasn't worked either.
I recon this is a good enough reason to take my motherboard back, unless someone's got ay other ideas before i do so.

Thanks for all your help etc.
So relieved i can get the problem sorted out now :D
 
Is your system still clocked? (just noticed your CPU speed.)

If it is you need to set the system back to stock settings and try the 4 sticks again - but still with the increased NB and slacker timings, if required.

Because you're troubleshooting - the CPU and other components should be set to default as this could be the cause of your instability with 4 sticks. It's not unusual to have to sacrifice a bit of overclock when using all the DIMM slots.
 
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If you've tested the memory to the n'th degree and are confident that it's ok then that leaves the motherboard and, as always, the PSU as the most likely culprits.

Can you get hold of a PSU just to eliminate it as a candidate or at least test it with a multimeter?
 
Well i got my PSU about 2 months ago from Overclockers.
A B-grade one though :rolleyes:

My could try my GF's computer but its a crappy generic 300w one out of a compaq, and its god knows how old now. Doubt it would power my system to test for stability.
I havn't got a multimeter either, not in the position atm to buy one either.

My CPU is lapped but i doubt thats the problem, as i'd see a hell of a lot more errors right?

Either way im gona take it back tonight and let them deal with it..sick to death of it now.
They don't sell that this model mobo anymore, so hopefully they may give me a credit note of a Whoooole £205's. :D

i'm 100% sure it isnt my ram now as i tested with both 2gb kits on L4d / tf2 and cod4 for a while. Seems stable.
 
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