so i finally got some nice RAM...

procupine14

So here's the scoop, i finally got some decent RAM (in my book)

The wintec that i still have in my profile was a complete failure (30,000 errors in memtest)

so i now have G.Skill DDR2 800 2X 1GB RAM 5-5-5-15@ 1.8v

now the problem...
as ive said before in the overclocking forum i have a 3800+ 64 x2 AMD processor that, before this new RAM, had the ability to OC to 2.6Ghz stable. Now i can't get over factory settings without bluescreens and all kinds of problems. I OCed to 2.2 and got a barely stable boot and then this new RAM failed memtest and BSODed. so i returned to factory settings (2.0 Ghz @1.25v) and POST and boot were fine. my computer is currently running memtest with no errors.

Any speculations as to what the problem could be?

obviously i have no idea. Let me know if you need any more info.

H3X4D3C1M4L

Did you crank up the RAM voltage?

CDsDontBurn

yea, i was going to say voltages.

i bet if you increase voltages to something like 2.0v, you can get 4-4-4-12 timings at default Mhz speed.

procupine14

yeah unfortunately when i crank up the voltage to 2.0 that when the blue screens start happening so im not really sure on that ill have to attempt that when i get home from my vacation

procupine14

So I am now home and having problems with this RAM. I can't get it to budge from stock settings one bit. Every time I even attempt to move the timings and voltage my motherboard won't even post. Then, the only way to get that to stop is clearing the CMOS and starting all over. I don't understand at all. With my old DDR2 667 Patriot RAM I could overclock all I wanted. Now I can't even get BIOS to load without sticking to the stock settings. Also, my processor will not overclock higher than approx 2.2 Ghz again.

procupine14

Any help or advice would be much appreciated

CDsDontBurn

maybe your MoBo doesn't like Patriot RAM, or maybe it doesn't like DDR2-800? Have you tried updating your MoBo's BIOS? maybe that will help?

PangingJr

if the system with the installed memory modules can run stable at all default settings, this includes CPU, DIMM and chipsets voltages, memory timing, multiplier or divider, and also when it's at default memtest is error free, system stress test is passed, then i'd say the memory modules is most likely okay. however, when you overclocked your system, some memory settings and/or the system overvoltages control settings were somewhat not that correct yet.

but it could be that the module IC's was damaged, or the compatibility issues with the platform and the memory modules. you could try to contact G.Skill directly (at techsupport @ gskill.com) and ask them for help.

anyways, first, you might want to try setting and leaving the DIMM voltages and timing in BIOS setup at the memory modules's rated spec, and overclocked your CPU with a small clock speed and CPU voltage increases, then increase MCH and chipset overvoltages setting, try increasing the MCH voltage with a small amount at a time until the memtest is error free. see if this helps.

if with the BIOS settings (whatever they are, i wish i can tell you the exact values, but i just don't know about your system board platform and need a lot more info) and when the system finally boot okay, passed memtest, Windows loads okay, however, this is no mean that your system will stable at all time yet. and some more CPU or other voltages still needs to be added. some memory modules won't get error free by just using their own voltages when system FSB and CPU are overclocking. keep us posted anyways.

however, if no matter what you try to get the memory modules to work, even after increased a quite amount of MCH and chipset voltages, but it won't working,
then i would say the module IC's was somehow no good, or there is a compatibility issues, or there is a limit of IC's that used with the modules.

the system was overclocked before by you, so you know that the system can be damaged when you try to have the motherboard's BIOS to overclock the system for you.

procupine14

ok I will try those suggestions with voltages and get bck to you all within the day. I've been experimenting with memtest and at stock settings all 2gb of RAM pass 100% without error. I let memtest run all day yesterday and no errors were recorded. Also, I've noticed that since I've switched from my Patriot to my G.skill I can no longer accomplish any clock higher than 2.2 Ghz which I'm going to have to look into right after I'm finished typing this article.

_________________


Yes I was right. I can no longer overclock above 2.2Ghz. Every time I do it comes up with a thing with my mobo saying that the last POST failed and that I need to change my settings so that it will boot. This ASUS crash-free BIOS thing is a little annoying

H3X4D3C1M4L

Eh I find Memtest doesn't find errors when it should....

You might try the trail version of Goldmem.... its a handy tool to have and worth buying.

Dig: My machine was unstable and I couldn't figure out why. It passed Memtest and a bunch of other things but would fail. Then I run Goldmem and found out that the mobo's memory controller was fried RAM was fine in another system but the mobo wouldn't test any RAM with a pass.

I've also found Memtest won't find errors in some older systems that Goldmem did find (and replacement RAM also fixed the issues in those systems).

Moral of the story... don't always believe what Memtest says