Hello TSF,
Glad to see this site is still going strong,since my last conundrum as many years ago.
Hoping the wizards here can help solve yet another issue I'm dealing w/.
Recently built a PC w/ the main purpose of being a audio/vid./img. encoder/archiver.
Build was flawless,everything was like clockwork,smooth OS/driver install.
Which was a pleasant surprise considering my inexperience w/ SSDs, the fact i used some "budget" components.
So pleased was i, decided to forgo some of the burn-in test procedures memtest/prime95 etc.
Week or so goes by zero issues,and then dun! dun! dun! get my first program error..
No biggie or so i think,days pass then few more random program crashes/errors.
Off to the logs to see what's going on,find a few "common" errors mem/registry handle leaks.
Begin the process of investigating the problems driver/program compatibility etc.
Then..BAM! 1st BSOD get the not_less_than error,after a moment of Microsoft ranting i reset.
Boots clean,*sigh of relief* back to the logs, standard power kernel error but nothing "new".
No program errors just prior to the BSOD, still yet i go about cleaning up the OS.
Removed recent programs,cleaned up loose files,SFC command,ok maybe that fixed it?
30 minutes later..again BSOD different error this time..i forget what it was..
From there was all down hill, reliability floored..when it wasn't BSOD it was programs crashing.
Called a friend, looking for some SSD insight he say's "sounds like RAM to me".*facepalm*
Knowing i hadn't done a single hardware test, despite the fact my board came w. memtest integrated.(one of many reasons i chose it)
Sure enough errors start rolling by..out of 4 modules 1 made it past the first pass w/o errors.
Contact Patriot support,tech agrees it's bad RAM, issues RMA..
New RAM arrives..won't be so hasty this time, 4 passes each.(which takes foorever w/ 4GB modules)
Zero errors I'm happy ,all installed i boot it up..clear the logs and wait.
Beautiful no errors in 24 hours of normal use,time to do some encoding...
Like any good horror story, just when you think it's over..BAM! BSOD.
If i had any hair i would have pulled it out at that very moment,square one re-testing RAM.
Surprise surprise..insta-fail this time on all 4 modules,it's "budget"Ram but ***..
Contact Patriot again..this time the tech informs me "that RAM is untested on AM3 chipset" recommends i buy some new tested RAM.
OK, i know these modules wasn't on the boards approved list, nor was any at 4GB density.
The MB product page said it supported 16GB @ this RAM's Specs DDR3 1600 1.5v yada yada...
Honestly can't believe there is DDR3 floating around that wasn't tested on AM3 chipset,particular AM3 boards sure..but not entire AM3 line .
Whatever..the tech did issue yet another RMA , should be here in a few days..
My question is..what would cause RAM to degrade to failure so quickly?
Been around and around Google most say "cheap RAM" Heat or PSU.
Cheap RAM: sure at 200$ for 16GB..i was asking for it,but chances of 8 fail modules? Quality Control?
Heat: non issue, this rig ran like a ice cube I'm a stickler about temps, monitored w/software,bios,IR thermometer.
PSU: maaaybe..it's cheap also,i tested w/ multimeter w/o load today..all tested within 5% tolerances.(i think..1st time testing this way)
Thanks for reading my nightmare novel! feel free to tell me it was fluke and everything will be ok soon lol.
Build List.
MainBoard: BioStar TA870+ Ver.5.2
CPU: AMD PhenomIIx4 965 B.E.@ stock 3.4Ghz
RAM: Patriot Signature 240-pin DDR3 1600 16GB (4x4GB)@ Stock time/Voltage
SSD(OS): Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB SATA III
HDD(swap): WD Caviar Blue 250GB SATA III
VGA: HIS Radeon HD 4670 1GB PCI-E x16 @ Stock
PSU: Thermaltake TR2 500w 12v v.2.2 ATX
CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK LOKI H.D.T. SD963
Case: Thermaltake V3 Black Edition MidTower
Case Fans: 3x Scythe "slipstream" 120x120x25mm
2x Scythe 120x120x12mm
Fan Control: 1x Sunbeam Rheosmart3 30w
2x XIGMATEK Mono-Cool
OpticalDrive: 1x Asus combo SATA
OS: Win7 Home Prem.OEM
Glad to see this site is still going strong,since my last conundrum as many years ago.
Hoping the wizards here can help solve yet another issue I'm dealing w/.
Recently built a PC w/ the main purpose of being a audio/vid./img. encoder/archiver.
Build was flawless,everything was like clockwork,smooth OS/driver install.
Which was a pleasant surprise considering my inexperience w/ SSDs, the fact i used some "budget" components.
So pleased was i, decided to forgo some of the burn-in test procedures memtest/prime95 etc.
Week or so goes by zero issues,and then dun! dun! dun! get my first program error..
No biggie or so i think,days pass then few more random program crashes/errors.
Off to the logs to see what's going on,find a few "common" errors mem/registry handle leaks.
Begin the process of investigating the problems driver/program compatibility etc.
Then..BAM! 1st BSOD get the not_less_than error,after a moment of Microsoft ranting i reset.
Boots clean,*sigh of relief* back to the logs, standard power kernel error but nothing "new".
No program errors just prior to the BSOD, still yet i go about cleaning up the OS.
Removed recent programs,cleaned up loose files,SFC command,ok maybe that fixed it?
30 minutes later..again BSOD different error this time..i forget what it was..
From there was all down hill, reliability floored..when it wasn't BSOD it was programs crashing.
Called a friend, looking for some SSD insight he say's "sounds like RAM to me".*facepalm*
Knowing i hadn't done a single hardware test, despite the fact my board came w. memtest integrated.(one of many reasons i chose it)
Sure enough errors start rolling by..out of 4 modules 1 made it past the first pass w/o errors.
Contact Patriot support,tech agrees it's bad RAM, issues RMA..
New RAM arrives..won't be so hasty this time, 4 passes each.(which takes foorever w/ 4GB modules)
Zero errors I'm happy ,all installed i boot it up..clear the logs and wait.
Beautiful no errors in 24 hours of normal use,time to do some encoding...
Like any good horror story, just when you think it's over..BAM! BSOD.
If i had any hair i would have pulled it out at that very moment,square one re-testing RAM.
Surprise surprise..insta-fail this time on all 4 modules,it's "budget"Ram but ***..
Contact Patriot again..this time the tech informs me "that RAM is untested on AM3 chipset" recommends i buy some new tested RAM.
OK, i know these modules wasn't on the boards approved list, nor was any at 4GB density.
The MB product page said it supported 16GB @ this RAM's Specs DDR3 1600 1.5v yada yada...
Honestly can't believe there is DDR3 floating around that wasn't tested on AM3 chipset,particular AM3 boards sure..but not entire AM3 line .
Whatever..the tech did issue yet another RMA , should be here in a few days..
My question is..what would cause RAM to degrade to failure so quickly?
Been around and around Google most say "cheap RAM" Heat or PSU.
Cheap RAM: sure at 200$ for 16GB..i was asking for it,but chances of 8 fail modules? Quality Control?
Heat: non issue, this rig ran like a ice cube I'm a stickler about temps, monitored w/software,bios,IR thermometer.
PSU: maaaybe..it's cheap also,i tested w/ multimeter w/o load today..all tested within 5% tolerances.(i think..1st time testing this way)
Thanks for reading my nightmare novel! feel free to tell me it was fluke and everything will be ok soon lol.
Build List.
MainBoard: BioStar TA870+ Ver.5.2
CPU: AMD PhenomIIx4 965 B.E.@ stock 3.4Ghz
RAM: Patriot Signature 240-pin DDR3 1600 16GB (4x4GB)@ Stock time/Voltage
SSD(OS): Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB SATA III
HDD(swap): WD Caviar Blue 250GB SATA III
VGA: HIS Radeon HD 4670 1GB PCI-E x16 @ Stock
PSU: Thermaltake TR2 500w 12v v.2.2 ATX
CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK LOKI H.D.T. SD963
Case: Thermaltake V3 Black Edition MidTower
Case Fans: 3x Scythe "slipstream" 120x120x25mm
2x Scythe 120x120x12mm
Fan Control: 1x Sunbeam Rheosmart3 30w
2x XIGMATEK Mono-Cool
OpticalDrive: 1x Asus combo SATA
OS: Win7 Home Prem.OEM