Possible RAM problem

[admin]

As I mentioned in my "FireFox slow loading" thread, my other computer has been having BSOD problems. I haven't had one since about 6 months ago, and all of a sudden, I was getting them 2 or 3 times a day, sometimes at start-up, sometimes just afterwards, and also at shut-down. In between, I can actually manage to use the computer fine, including playing games and all that.

Anyway, I removed a PCI card that has caused me problems in the past before (it's a HDTV card). But the problem still persisted. So I ran memtest+ (and also the Microsoft version of that), and both told me that the memory was problematic, but not all the time (only once every 3 or 4 passes or so, even in the same memory address space). So it looks like it's an intermitten memory problem.

My question is will a failed memtest definite mean a memory problem (or a problem that's related to the memory, like a faulty motherboard or power supply), or could it be in fact something else such as PCI/IRQ conflict, which was my previous problem (why I removed the HDTV card). If it is memory related, apart from buying new memory and seeing if the problem goes away, is there a way I can diagnose if perhaps the motherboard or the power supply is faulty (the voltage monitors seem to indicate everything is within spec).

Thanks.

[blutach]

Almost 100% sure it's memory. These progs load a byte and shift the bits and whatever and read them back.

Regards

[Wombler]

As I mentioned in my "FireFox slow loading" thread, my other computer has been having BSOD problems. I haven't had one since about 6 months ago, and all of a sudden, I was getting them 2 or 3 times a day, sometimes at start-up, sometimes just afterwards, and also at shut-down. In between, I can actually manage to use the computer fine, including playing games and all that.

Anyway, I removed a PCI card that has caused me problems in the past before (it's a HDTV card). But the problem still persisted. So I ran memtest+ (and also the Microsoft version of that), and both told me that the memory was problematic, but not all the time (only once every 3 or 4 passes or so, even in the same memory address space). So it looks like it's an intermitten memory problem.

My question is will a failed memtest definite mean a memory problem (or a problem that's related to the memory, like a faulty motherboard or power supply), or could it be in fact something else such as PCI/IRQ conflict, which was my previous problem (why I removed the HDTV card). If it is memory related, apart from buying new memory and seeing if the problem goes away, is there a way I can diagnose if perhaps the motherboard or the power supply is faulty (the voltage monitors seem to indicate everything is within spec).

Thanks.

Not guaranteed to work and not quite what you've asked for but before you order new memory try removing the existing RAM, clean the gold contacts with a soft pencil eraser and then reseat.

A minute layer of corrosion builds up on the contacts which can cause intermittent contact and this is a safe way of removing it.

I've had success in the past with this and you've nothing to lose providing of course you take the usual anti-static precautions.

HTH.


Wombler

[admin]

I've done a little bit of cleaning and reseating, and I've adjusted down the RAM timing (never did properly get the RAM running at the SPD speed). I'm currently running tests and it's been 10 passes without errors, so who know.

I think I'll need a new computer sooner than later though, but still want to keep this one going as a spare.

[Chewy]

relaxing the cas timings is a sign you didn't have bios right or it doesn't support the ram correctly

also a sign of too low a ram voltage

a dirty computer has lower voltages

[admin]

Thanks for all the tips.

I'll have to give the computer a good clean, and have a closer look at the power supply. I'm typing this post on this computer and it's been stable for a few hours now when I lowered the RAM timings.

[Wombler]

Thanks for all the tips.

I'll have to give the computer a good clean, and have a closer look at the power supply. I'm typing this post on this computer and it's been stable for a few hours now when I lowered the RAM timings.

Excellent!

Problem solved hopefully.

I clean mine out every once in a while with one of those air duster canisters and the vacuum cleaner.

It's amazing the dust that gets in there.


Wombler

[Chewy]

My overclock kept failing to boot

--------[ Overclock ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU Properties:
CPU Type AMD Athlon 64 3500+
CPU Alias Venice S939
CPU Stepping DH-E3
CPUID CPU Name AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+
CPUID Revision 00020FF0h

CPU Speed:
CPU Clock 2249.80 MHz
CPU Multiplier 9.0x
CPU FSB 249.98 MHz (original: 200 MHz, overclock: 25%)
Memory Bus 249.98 MHz

CPU Cache:
L1 Code Cache 64 KB (Parity)
L1 Data Cache 64 KB (ECC)
L2 Cache 512 KB (On-Die, ECC, Full-Speed)

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID 63-1408-000001-00101111-063005-K8T800P$A0036001_BIOS DATE: 06/30/05 17:34:14 VER: 08.00.09
Motherboard Name Asus A8V Deluxe (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 DDR DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)

Chipset Properties:
Motherboard Chipset VIA K8T800Pro, AMD Hammer
Memory Timings 2.5-4-4-10 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Command Rate (CR) 1T

SPD Memory Modules:
DIMM1: Micron Tech. 256 MB PC4000 DDR SDRAM (2.5-4-4-10 @ 250 MHz) (2.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz)
DIMM2: Micron Tech. 256 MB PC4000 DDR SDRAM (2.5-4-4-10 @ 250 MHz) (2.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz)

I had moved my computer with me out of town for a couple of months while I helped some friends with a renovation

It was so dirty I couldn't see the heat sink fins for the dust

When it boots it gives you the choice to load setup defaults or just enter bios and then you can save and immediately reexit(F10)

I pressed the wrong F key and was running stock for over a week before I could tweak it back

I think my PSU is getting weak since I had to set my mem voltage to it's highest setting to get it stable

that extra 25% in fps in encoding is crucial with a single core cpu

[Wombler]

@Chewy

Hey I thought I was the only one left still running on that calibre of hardware!

I know exactly what you mean though regarding the encoding and I've been feeling the urge to upgrade for a while now although I'm trying to restrain myself just a little bit longer.

Apparently Intel are releasing some new processors in November so I'm hoping to get a good bargain on a Core 2 Quad when the latest chips are released.


Wombler

[blutach]

Gee, I'm not too far ahead of that....

--------[ Overclock ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CPU Properties:
      CPU Type                                          DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2
      CPU Alias                                         Manchester S939
      CPU Stepping                                      BH-E4
      CPUID CPU Name                                    AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
      CPUID Revision                                    00020FB1h

    CPU Speed:
      CPU Clock                                         2499.44 MHz
      CPU Multiplier                                    10.0x
      CPU FSB                                           249.94 MHz  (original: 200 MHz, overclock: 25%)
      Memory Bus                                        208.29 MHz

    CPU Cache:
      L1 Code Cache                                     64 KB  (Parity)
      L1 Data Cache                                     64 KB  (ECC)
      L2 Cache                                          512 KB  (On-Die, ECC, Full-Speed)

    Motherboard Properties:
      Motherboard ID                                    10/21/2005-NF-CK804-A8NSLI-P-00
      Motherboard Name                                  Asus A8N-SLI Premium  (3 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x4, 2 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)

    Chipset Properties:
      Motherboard Chipset                               nVIDIA nForce4 SLI, AMD Hammer
      Memory Timings                                    2-3-3-6  (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
      Command Rate (CR)                                 2T

    SPD Memory Modules:
      DIMM1: Corsair CMX512-3200C2                      512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM  (3.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz)
      DIMM2: Corsair CMX512-3200C2                      512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM  (3.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz)

    BIOS Properties:
      System BIOS Date                                  10/21/05
      Video BIOS Date                                   12/28/05
      Award BIOS Type                                   Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
      Award BIOS Message                                ASUS A8N-SLI Premium ACPI BIOS Revision 1009
      DMI BIOS Version                                  ASUS A8N-SLI Premium ACPI BIOS Revision 1009

    Graphics Processor Properties:
      Video Adapter                                     nVIDIA GeForce 6200 TurboCache
      GPU Code Name                                     NV44  (PCI Express x16 10DE / 0161, Rev A1)
      GPU Clock                                         351 MHz
      Memory Clock                                      334 MHz

Regards

[Chewy]

bios and higher mem voltage to get correct spd from those chips?

[blutach]

Yes. Mem voltage is 1.4 now - not too bad. I'm sure it could go higher to squeeze a bit more.

BTW: I haven't updated my BIOS or drivers in eons. Is there some freeware which whill analyse your drivers and allow you to DL and install the correct drivers?

Regards

[Chewy]

Test voltage: 2.75V

[blutach]

[Chewy]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145416

Voltage 2.6V
stock/auto

which is why the spd table is kicking down to cas 3

your mobo supports up to 3.0 volts