[SOLVED] RAM Stability Issues

branderson86 · 04-11-2009, 03:17 PM

Hey all.

A couple months ago I built a computer for the first time, was a bit of a pain to figure out but shortly got things running just fine. Recently I've been attempting to upgrade the memory and this has resulted in some stability issues.

My current (Before upgrade) system:

MSI x48c Platinum Motherboard
INTEL BX80570E8500 Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16 GHz
Western Digital WD10EACS 1TB SATA
Patriot PDC34G1333ELK 2GB DDR3-1333
Diamond 4870PE51G Radeon HD 4870 1GB
Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1

I'm trying to stick in another 2GB and when I do it runs fine for a little while before succumbing to a BSOD. I've checked/swapped/etc. and determined that the memory stick itself is just fine. I've perused some forums and found posts with similar problems- the most common suggestion appears to be updating the BIOS and then manually configuring voltage settings and memory timings. I have updated to the latest BIOS and adjusted voltage settings accordingly but I'm not certain what specific settings they are referring to when talking about memory timings; the numbers they give are 9-9-9-24 (which is also on the memory itself) but I don't know what those numbers refer to.

If someone could list those off quickly I should be able to find them in the BIOS and try it out. Alternatively if you know another/better solution I would be more than happy to try it out. Thanks in advance for any help!

**grimx133** · 04-11-2009, 06:54 PM

Here's a quick explanation of timings, you'll find them in the bios, advanced section of some sort.

http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/...AMD/memory/131

branderson86 · 04-12-2009, 05:13 PM

Thanks for the link, I was able to find my way through the BIOS to change the settings. Unfortunately this still did not fix my problem

Anyone know any other common stability issues with RAM?

**grimx133** · 04-12-2009, 06:44 PM

Check with the manufacturer of your ram, see what the rated voltage is. When the motherboard is on auto, some use too low of a default voltage, which leads to instability. Take it off auto and put in the rated voltage.

Here's the specs at patriot. 1.5 volts
http://www.patriotmemory.com/product...&id=701&type=1

And that ram is listed as compatable in their configurator.
http://www.patriotmemory.com/product...&id=701&type=1

Soooooo, see what the bios is using for voltage, and manually raise it if not 1.5 volts.

branderson86 · 04-13-2009, 06:25 PM

The BIOS listed the RAM voltage setting as [AUTO] so I manually set it to 1.5V to be certain. I also change the timing settings according to the stats given by Patriot, but oddly enough, this only seemed to make the problem worse- the system wouldn't even POST and I had to use the clear CMOS button just to get it on again. Should I be adjusting any of the other memory timings? (outside of the 9-9-9-24 in this case) Or any other general BIOS settings I should change along with the memory timings?

**grimx133** · 04-13-2009, 09:49 PM

You could try loosening the timings, see if that makes a difference, would be slower, but stability is what you're looking for.
Do you recall what the timings were set at when it was on auto?

Correct me if I'm wrong, you have 2 - 2GB sticks that weren't purchased as a kit but separately?

Check and see what cpu-z says. If it isn't a kit, the ram chips on the sticks may have come from different suppliers, though you'd think that's a little unlikely. See if it's running in dual channel, cpu-z will tell you that, as well as a bunch of other things.
And, what slots do you have your ram in?
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

branderson86 · 04-17-2009, 06:48 AM

Sorry for the delay.

It's 2 2GB sticks that came as part of a kit so they're the same. They're running in dual channel in the correct DDR3 slots. (if you had a chance to check out the board it has DDDR2 and DDR3 slots, I have their "turbo card" placeholders in the DDR2 and a stick of memory in the first of both DDR3 pairs which the manual said would run them in dual channel)

I don't remember the original timings off the top of my head and I have to run for work soon so I can't boot the BIOS right now- I'll post them this evening if you still want to know.

On an odd note, I tried changing the timings again and once more ended up having to clear the CMOS to get back to POST, BUT now it seems to be stable all of a sudden... I don't know if that will last or if its just going to be a little longer before it crashes but its been 2 or 3 days now. I'm not certain what it is I did :-\

**grimx133** · 04-17-2009, 08:53 PM

Stranger things have happened. Let us know how it goes.

branderson86 · 04-24-2009, 06:49 AM

Well its been about a week and the system is still stable so I guess its been corrected somehow. I wish I could figure out what I did in case it happens again, but for now I'll just copy down some of the BIOS info in case I need to set it again.

Thanks for your help though!

04-11-2009, 03:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
branderson86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1	[SOLVED] RAM Stability Issues Hey all. A couple months ago I built a computer for the first time, was a bit of a pain to figure out but shortly got things running just fine. Recently I've been attempting to upgrade the memory and this has resulted in some stability issues. My current (Before upgrade) system: MSI x48c Platinum Motherboard INTEL BX80570E8500 Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16 GHz Western Digital WD10EACS 1TB SATA Patriot PDC34G1333ELK 2GB DDR3-1333 Diamond 4870PE51G Radeon HD 4870 1GB Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1 I'm trying to stick in another 2GB and when I do it runs fine for a little while before succumbing to a BSOD. I've checked/swapped/etc. and determined that the memory stick itself is just fine. I've perused some forums and found posts with similar problems- the most common suggestion appears to be updating the BIOS and then manually configuring voltage settings and memory timings. I have updated to the latest BIOS and adjusted voltage settings accordingly but I'm not certain what specific settings they are referring to when talking about memory timings; the numbers they give are 9-9-9-24 (which is also on the memory itself) but I don't know what those numbers refer to. If someone could list those off quickly I should be able to find them in the BIOS and try it out. Alternatively if you know another/better solution I would be more than happy to try it out. Thanks in advance for any help!

04-11-2009, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: RAM Stability Issues Here's a quick explanation of timings, you'll find them in the bios, advanced section of some sort. http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/...AMD/memory/131 __________________

04-12-2009, 05:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
branderson86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1	Re: RAM Stability Issues Thanks for the link, I was able to find my way through the BIOS to change the settings. Unfortunately this still did not fix my problem Anyone know any other common stability issues with RAM?

04-12-2009, 06:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: RAM Stability Issues Check with the manufacturer of your ram, see what the rated voltage is. When the motherboard is on auto, some use too low of a default voltage, which leads to instability. Take it off auto and put in the rated voltage. Here's the specs at patriot. 1.5 volts http://www.patriotmemory.com/product...&id=701&type=1 And that ram is listed as compatable in their configurator. http://www.patriotmemory.com/product...&id=701&type=1 Soooooo, see what the bios is using for voltage, and manually raise it if not 1.5 volts. __________________

04-13-2009, 06:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
branderson86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1	Re: RAM Stability Issues The BIOS listed the RAM voltage setting as [AUTO] so I manually set it to 1.5V to be certain. I also change the timing settings according to the stats given by Patriot, but oddly enough, this only seemed to make the problem worse- the system wouldn't even POST and I had to use the clear CMOS button just to get it on again. Should I be adjusting any of the other memory timings? (outside of the 9-9-9-24 in this case) Or any other general BIOS settings I should change along with the memory timings?

04-13-2009, 09:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: RAM Stability Issues You could try loosening the timings, see if that makes a difference, would be slower, but stability is what you're looking for. Do you recall what the timings were set at when it was on auto? Correct me if I'm wrong, you have 2 - 2GB sticks that weren't purchased as a kit but separately? Check and see what cpu-z says. If it isn't a kit, the ram chips on the sticks may have come from different suppliers, though you'd think that's a little unlikely. See if it's running in dual channel, cpu-z will tell you that, as well as a bunch of other things. And, what slots do you have your ram in? http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php __________________ Last edited by grimx133; 04-13-2009 at 09:50 PM. Reason: oops, forgot link again

04-17-2009, 06:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
branderson86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1	Re: RAM Stability Issues Sorry for the delay. It's 2 2GB sticks that came as part of a kit so they're the same. They're running in dual channel in the correct DDR3 slots. (if you had a chance to check out the board it has DDDR2 and DDR3 slots, I have their "turbo card" placeholders in the DDR2 and a stick of memory in the first of both DDR3 pairs which the manual said would run them in dual channel) I don't remember the original timings off the top of my head and I have to run for work soon so I can't boot the BIOS right now- I'll post them this evening if you still want to know. On an odd note, I tried changing the timings again and once more ended up having to clear the CMOS to get back to POST, BUT now it seems to be stable all of a sudden... I don't know if that will last or if its just going to be a little longer before it crashes but its been 2 or 3 days now. I'm not certain what it is I did :-\

04-17-2009, 08:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: RAM Stability Issues Stranger things have happened. Let us know how it goes. __________________

04-24-2009, 06:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
branderson86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1	Re: RAM Stability Issues Well its been about a week and the system is still stable so I guess its been corrected somehow. I wish I could figure out what I did in case it happens again, but for now I'll just copy down some of the BIOS info in case I need to set it again. Thanks for your help though!