RAM problem?

Sharx · 02-24-2009, 03:40 PM

I had a problem that I recently fixed, but also led to another related problem. My problem was that I was getting bsod in the early steps of vista home premium 64 installation. I got vista installed once I took my 2nd slot of ram out of the ddr2 slot 3 in channel B. it ran like a charm. After installation, I tried sticking the ram back into all other 3 open slots and only slot 3 hasnt worked. currently I have them in slots 1 and 4 but since this is a new build, I want to get what ever the hardware problem could be replaced so i dont have to worry about it in the future.

I was planning on running windows memory diagnostic . If that reports any errors, that means i should rma the ram right? If no errors are reported, do I rma the mobo? Could this problem be a bios problem even though channel A and B are set to identical settings? Any help is greatly appreciated.

My specs are:
MOBO: GA-EP45-UD3P
CPU: Q9550
RAM: G.Skill PC8500
GPU: MSI 4850
DVD Burner: LG with Lightscribe
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek HDT-S1283
PSU: Kingwin 700W
HDD: (3) WD6400AACS
Case: NZXT Alpha
Floppy

(I know that people suggest to use Memtest86, but I have been have not been able to burn an iso onto a disc and get it to boot. I burn the iso, but the disc just gets to where it says "loading............" in a screen that is just past my post screen and just before my windows loading screen. I have burnt an iso of the windiag and that program does boot. I have tried the floppy, but I think theres an incompattibility with my 64 bit computer.)

**twajetmech** · 02-25-2009, 08:55 PM

Hello Sharx and welcome to the TSF, I noticed your mobo requires a 24 pin psu connector and a 8pin aux psu connector, does your psu have both of these and are you using the 8pin aux connector....your mobo requires the additional 12v from the 8pin aux to work properly. Provided that your memory timings are correct and the memory voltage set to 2.0V if the memory fails the diagnostic then yes rma the modules, if however they pass, then it is possible that you have a bad dimm slot on the mobo and would need to rma it

Sharx · 02-25-2009, 10:06 PM

Ok, so I tested one stick in slot 1 with windows memory diagnostic and after 6 hours got several errors. I took that one out and put the other stick in slot 1 and tested for 14 hours (school + work :D). That one came out with no errors. So I stuck that good stick in slot 3 and booted to windows and it booted properly (more quickly than normal, probably normal speeds). After about 5 minutes of checking website and such, it rebooted without warning. I let it reboot, thinking just to see how long it would be to reboot again. I was able to open up a browser but then it bsod'd right away with a IRQL is not less or equal to stop. Right now I have the bad and good stick in slots 1 and 4 respectively. I'm guessing this means that I have both bad ram and bad mobo because I was getting errors on one stick and couldnt boot for more than 5 min on the good stick in slot 3.

EDIT: and yes, I have both the 8 pin 12v in the mobo power slot and the 20+4 pin connector connected to my mobo.

Sharx · 02-28-2009, 12:25 PM

Ok, so I managed to get memtest86+ vs 2.11 to work from a floppy on my computer. I booted and left it running for 9 hours. It reported 0 errors......this kind of throws a wrench in the whole diagnosis maybe? I'm guessing from my latest development that it is just my motherboard that is bad and needs to be rma'd. Correct?

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 01:33 PM

What is your Bios reporting for Temps and Voltages?

02-24-2009, 03:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sharx Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	RAM problem? I had a problem that I recently fixed, but also led to another related problem. My problem was that I was getting bsod in the early steps of vista home premium 64 installation. I got vista installed once I took my 2nd slot of ram out of the ddr2 slot 3 in channel B. it ran like a charm. After installation, I tried sticking the ram back into all other 3 open slots and only slot 3 hasnt worked. currently I have them in slots 1 and 4 but since this is a new build, I want to get what ever the hardware problem could be replaced so i dont have to worry about it in the future. I was planning on running windows memory diagnostic . If that reports any errors, that means i should rma the ram right? If no errors are reported, do I rma the mobo? Could this problem be a bios problem even though channel A and B are set to identical settings? Any help is greatly appreciated. My specs are: MOBO: GA-EP45-UD3P CPU: Q9550 RAM: G.Skill PC8500 GPU: MSI 4850 DVD Burner: LG with Lightscribe CPU Cooler: Xigmatek HDT-S1283 PSU: Kingwin 700W HDD: (3) WD6400AACS Case: NZXT Alpha Floppy (I know that people suggest to use Memtest86, but I have been have not been able to burn an iso onto a disc and get it to boot. I burn the iso, but the disc just gets to where it says "loading............" in a screen that is just past my post screen and just before my windows loading screen. I have burnt an iso of the windiag and that program does boot. I have tried the floppy, but I think theres an incompattibility with my 64 bit computer.)

02-25-2009, 08:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
twajetmech I helped the forums. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,388 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: RAM problem? Hello Sharx and welcome to the TSF, I noticed your mobo requires a 24 pin psu connector and a 8pin aux psu connector, does your psu have both of these and are you using the 8pin aux connector....your mobo requires the additional 12v from the 8pin aux to work properly. Provided that your memory timings are correct and the memory voltage set to 2.0V if the memory fails the diagnostic then yes rma the modules, if however they pass, then it is possible that you have a bad dimm slot on the mobo and would need to rma it __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs

02-25-2009, 10:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sharx Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	Re: RAM problem? Ok, so I tested one stick in slot 1 with windows memory diagnostic and after 6 hours got several errors. I took that one out and put the other stick in slot 1 and tested for 14 hours (school + work :D). That one came out with no errors. So I stuck that good stick in slot 3 and booted to windows and it booted properly (more quickly than normal, probably normal speeds). After about 5 minutes of checking website and such, it rebooted without warning. I let it reboot, thinking just to see how long it would be to reboot again. I was able to open up a browser but then it bsod'd right away with a IRQL is not less or equal to stop. Right now I have the bad and good stick in slots 1 and 4 respectively. I'm guessing this means that I have both bad ram and bad mobo because I was getting errors on one stick and couldnt boot for more than 5 min on the good stick in slot 3. EDIT: and yes, I have both the 8 pin 12v in the mobo power slot and the 20+4 pin connector connected to my mobo. Last edited by Sharx; 02-25-2009 at 10:08 PM.

02-28-2009, 12:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sharx Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	Re: RAM problem? Ok, so I managed to get memtest86+ vs 2.11 to work from a floppy on my computer. I booted and left it running for 9 hours. It reported 0 errors......this kind of throws a wrench in the whole diagnosis maybe? I'm guessing from my latest development that it is just my motherboard that is bad and needs to be rma'd. Correct?

03-01-2009, 01:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,448 OS: Win7	Re: RAM problem? What is your Bios reporting for Temps and Voltages? __________________ Power Supply and Selection