Reasons for Memtest errors?

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16 Jan 2006
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Location
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I would REALLY appreciate some of your help here guys so please bear with the lengthy description...

I built my sytem in Feb/March this year with the following components:-

Enermax Galaxy 1kw PSU
Abit IN9 32X Max Motherboard
E6600 CPU
2 x 1GB Cellshock DDR2 PC2-8000 1000MHz RAM
7900GS GFX
74gb raptor for OS
250gb Hitachi deskstar for documents

When I first got the system set up I had all sorts of problems getting it to post, then getting it to boot but eventually I did. I had heard the IN9-32X boards were a bit tempremental so I stuck with it, updated the BIOS and started to overclock.

I managed to get the CPU stable at 3375Mhz @ 1.365v (8hrs orthos) with the RAM running @1000Mhz on a 3:2 divider at its rated speeds of 4-4-4-12 @ 2.2v. This was running happily for a few months during which time I updated the Mobo BIOS (with the newest beta BIOS's when each came out). Every time I updated the BIOS the system became unstable when trying the same overclocks as previous so I kept flashing back to the stable BIOS. I found this to be the case with the last two official BIOS's also. After flashing to the most recent official BIOS and back I am getting all sorts of crashes. Unfortunately even though I have flashed and re-flashed [repeatedly] back to the previously 'stable' BIOS the system will not boot or if it does I get BSOS in XP.

So I unclocked everything and tried running at stock , I get no problems [so far]. I try running the RAM unlinked at its stated speeds and I get crashes galore!. I have run memtest on both sticks and each stick individually and tried using different DIMMS but they always produce loads of errors on test#7.
I tried running it linked on the 3:2 divider at its stated speeds and get the same errors.
These problems could well have been there from day 1 but what I want to know is:-
Is it definately my RAM at fault?
Could it be the mobo or other?

Is there any way I can find out for sure which component it is before I RMA - I don't have any spare [compatible] kit to swap it with to test?

Thanks in advance.
 
if it ran windows fine before this suggests all your hardware was working fine until you changed the clock settings in your bios.
i would suggest looking in your motherboard manual and see if there is a bios reset jumper or trying to take your bios battery out and putting it in again to fully reset the bios.
if this doesn't work try taking out the ram, reseting the bios again, and installing the ram again.
look at your manual first though if your not sure how to do this.
 
Unfortunately there are no BIOS instructions in the manual at all!
Have tried removing the battery and resetting the BIOS but the crashing continued.
Will try resetting the BIOS without the RAM installed and get back to you.
 
Ok, I've FULLY reset the BIOS (taking battery out and disconnecting ALL power cables from the mobo) and tried removing and replacing the ram and re-flashed the mobo BIOS again. It still comes up with loads of errors in memtest, even with the timings loosened to 6-7-7-25 AND running it well below stock speeds (800mhz). Any other suggestions?

Currently I am thinking of getting some cheapish RAM to try in the system then if that fails I know its the mobo at fault, if it passes then I RMA the Cellshock. What do you guys think?
 
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