Memory Issue With New Rig...Help!

[Brian]

I recently built a new Vista system for myself with an E8400, an ASUS P5E-VM HDMI (w/latest BIOS) and 4GB (2x 2GB) of Mushkin EM PC2-6400. This new system was meant to replace the trusty (but old) rig in my sig.

After getting Vista installed and also installing all of my hardware drivers all seemed well. Then, the next day I started getting BSODs and reboots. Windows suggested it was a memory problem and when I ran both Windows Memory Diagnostic and Memtest86, I got lots of errors.

I RMA'd the RAM and got another 4GB kit of Mushkin EM PC2-6400 as a replacement. Immediately tested the new RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic for one pass and all was well. Waited until the system had been up and running for a couple of hours and tested again with both Windows Memory Diagnostic and Memtest86.

Tons of errors, all over again.

My main question is this: how likely is it that two consecutive RAM orders would be faulty like this? Could this be a motherboard issue? Is my RAM simply overheating and why? I have a big 120mm fan at the back and one at the front with lots of airflow in the Sonata III thanks to meticulous wire management. The memory is at the default voltage (1.8v) and stock timings of 5-5-5-18 and is warm to the touch after a while but not hot by any means.

This is really frustrating! I am hesitating to send back yet *another* set of RAM until I get some ideas from you guys about what else could be going on besides faulty memory.

Any ideas?

[Sir Skully]

Hey Brian, If you can get some air directly on the memory it may make a difference. It also sounds like maybe another set of bad memory. I run 8gig oc'ed with a fan right on top of the memory. Yours sure sounds like bad memory. Buy I'd try some direct air first and see if that works.

[ATINUT]

I'm not sure, but I would contact Mushkin, and find out what voltage you can increase that memory too without voiding the warranty, and also get some air blowing on top of that memory.

[ephekt]

The next obvious issue after faulty memory would be faulty memory channels/controller. Do you have a way of testing the module on another board?

[ATINUT]

Read this thread on the Mushkin forums, it's a thread on what Mushkin memory works on what motherboards.

Mushkin Support Forums • View topic - Mushkin Ram and Motherboard Compatibility List (Unofficial)

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Sir Skully

Hey Brian, If you can get some air directly on the memory it may make a difference. It also sounds like maybe another set of bad memory. I run 8gig oc'ed with a fan right on top of the memory. Yours sure sounds like bad memory. Buy I'd try some direct air first and see if that works.

I'll try it but I have to admit I don't think I should have to. I am not overclocking, everything is at the default voltage and timings so as far as I'm concerned, it should work! If I was an overclocker, I would understand the need for the extra cooling but not in this case...

Damn, I am a big fan of Mushkin RAm but this is testing my loyalty.

[Sir Skully]

Yeah memory compatibility with the mobo is another thing to look at.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by ATINUT

Read this thread on the Mushkin forums, it's a thread on what Mushkin memory works on what motherboards.

Mushkin Support Forums • View topic - Mushkin Ram and Motherboard Compatibility List (Unofficial)

Yeah, I read that list (and also posted a virtually identical thread there in the hopes that Mushkin themselves might have an answer). My board isn't listed there but this is kinda their basic, generic stuff (ie. not high-performance, overclocking RAM) so it should be compatible.

[ephekt]

The overheating issue is not very plausible...

Originally Posted by Brian

everything is at the default voltage and timings so as far as I'm concerned, it should work!

Check the voltage your memory requires. Most motherboards only push 1.8v while some memory requires up to 2.5v.

Originally Posted by Brian

Yeah, I read that list (and also posted a virtually identical thread there in the hopes that Mushkin themselves might have an answer). My board isn't listed there but this is kinda their basic, generic stuff (ie. not high-performance, overclocking RAM) so it should be compatible.

Compatibility is based on the IC the modules use...

[Brian]

Originally Posted by ephekt

Check the voltage your memory requires. Most motherboards only push 1.8v while some memory requires up to 2.5v.

The RAM only needs 1.8v. It is fully compliant with JEDEC as far as voltage and timings are concerned.

In other words, this is pretty much Mushkin's basic stuff (the RAM).

[Sir Skully]

I don't know, some mobo's are reallly, really, picky about memory. I've been there done that with memory compatibility issues.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by ephekt

Compatibility is based on the IC the modules use...

But if it was truly incompatible, how the heck did it POST, allow me to install Vista, drivers, other apps and run flawlessly the first day?

Also, I installed this exact RAM (the 2GB kit version) on a new computer I built for a friend (using the same motherboard: ASUS P5E-VM HDMI) and two months later, she has had no issues at all!

I'm starting to lean towards the notion I got another bad kit which really, really sucks...

[ctal]

Try raising the voltage a bit, preferably (as ATINut suggested) after checking to see what it can be raised to without voiding the warranty.

I've seen some cases where memory required higher than spec'd voltage to meet spec'd timings.

That would seem consistent with the fact that the memory worked at first, but not after a lengthy warmup. Propagation delays through the internal memory elements and other internal devices would become longer at higher temperatures, potentially bringing out a marginal problem if the total delay through some internal path increased so as to exceed the expected number of cycles of the internal clock.

Regards,
-- Al

[Brian]

Originally Posted by ctal

Try raising the voltage a bit, preferably (as ATINut suggested) after checking to see what it can be raised to without voiding the warranty.

I've seen some cases where memory required higher than spec'd voltage to meet spec'd timings.

That would seem consistent with the fact that the memory worked at first, but not after a lengthy warmup. Propagation delays through the internal memory elements and other internal devices would become longer at higher temperatures, potentially bringing out a marginal problem if the total delay through some internal path increased so as to exceed the expected number of cycles of the internal clock.

Regards,
-- Al

I'm very tempted to bump up the voltage anywhere from 1.82 to a maximum of 1.9 but the warranty on this kit is, in fact, void if you go anything over 1.8v.

[wallijonn]

I say take the mobo out of the case, put it up on wood, then test. Also, what psu do you have? Did you add up all the amperage for all devices? If not, then remove as many peripherals as possible. By any chance did you install a power hog video card in there? After taking out the mobo (employing anti static precautions, of course) look at the underside of the board and check where ever a screw is tightened down and look for a crushed circuit run. While the mobo is outside of the case you can blow on it with a 10" fan, Also see if the error occurs with the unit outside of the TV furniture in case you have bad air flow. Buy a power tester and see what the 3.3v rails look like.