Worrying MemTest Results

Kemik · 8 Feb 2008 at 16:14

Hello,

I'm running MemTest86+ v1.70 and within a few minutes it started pumping out errors.

I don't understand the results but seen as the count is constantly increasing and its in red I'm guessing it's not good. The test is still going. I just wanted to get some inital ideas because errors so early couldn't be a good sign. I should add, the system has been runnign Windows XP SP2 perfectly fine the past few months however recently I've been seeing Firefox 3 crash more and more. I put it down to being a beta.

Tst: 2
Pass: 0
Failing Address: 003d082cb0 - 976.1MB
Good: 00000000
Bad: 10000000
Err-Bits: 10000000
Count: 115 at 24% of pass
Chan:

The RAM in question is Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C3 667MHz Dual Channel Kit (BL2KIT12864AA663), bought on the 13th May 07. The reason I'm testing it now is that Vista had some errors during install and several people have recommended testing the RAM.

What do the results mean? What actions should I take? Is this a permant problem or would something like resetting the BIOS and rechecking the BIOS settings work?

Edit: After posting this I went back to see a screen full of red. On test 5 it had added 9 more lines but these contain different letters for the Good/Bad with the failing address 992.1MB.

It's been going 15 mins - error count 343.

Thanks.

Kemik · 8 Feb 2008 at 16:35

Energize said:
It's a permanent problem, assuming the ram isn't overheating or running at non-standard settings.

I reset my bios to optimal settings, tried testing again and got the same errors.

The only thing I had originally changed was the timings to match the RAM.

Does anyone have experience with Crucial returns?

Kemik · 9 Feb 2008 at 10:59

From reading your replies it sounds like it's just died from use and not something I've done wrong.

It shouldn't be this hard to use RAM and the RAM should last longer than 10 months. All I should have to do is set the timings and voltage at the level the manufacturer says and then be good for at least 2 years (not that I keep RAM that long).

When I get my RAM what should the definate settings be regarding voltage? 2.1V with Northbridge +0.1v? I'm going to look around the Crucial website.

Kemik · 9 Feb 2008 at 20:54

Just for clarification then.

You suggest:

1. Setting timings to 3-3-3-12
2. After overclocking the CPU (see sig) to 3.0GHz I set the voltage level to 2.2v, test stability via memtest and then keep lowering and testing until I have problems?

I thought higher voltage does more damage to RAM than using a lower voltage?

Kemik · 10 Feb 2008 at 11:44

I've got the NZXT Lexa so there's enough fans to keep the RAM cool enough.

I'll RAM this set, sell the ones that come back and buy the G.Skill ones everyone's been recommending (2x2GB). I should be able to get about £30 for the RAM Crucial send me back.

Thanks for the help guys. No doubt I'll be making a thread on recommended starting voltage for this RAM when they arrive. I won't be setting the RAM at the advertised Voltage again