Faulty CMX512-2700C2PT - REQ RMA

[Gandar]

Please reference forum post # 148230

 

I submitted and was approved for an RMA (post # 148230). I received the new stick and happily put it back into my system. To my horror, right after booting, the system started exhibiting the EXACT same symptoms that were present in the previous faulty stick. Windows XP and XP software is randomly crashing (including IE and Windows Explorer), games are Crashing To Desktop (including Everquest), and a host of other problems. I remove the new (faulty?) stick and the system is perfectly stable.

 

The new stick is CMX512-2700C2PT XMS2702v2.1 I have 2 other sticks of the same (v1.2 and v1.4) which are testing fine. I have tested the new stick alone and it's fine, but with all 3 sticks in the machine it consistently fails in the memory addresses of the new stick. Also of note, if the new stick is in bank 1, all 3 sticks fail. If it's in bank 3, only it fails.

 

Motherboard: Asus A7V333 w/ BIOS Updated

Processor: AMD 2600+XP w/ Barton Core and 333Mhz FSB

 

The stick in question is consistently failing test #8 of Memtest86+v1.26.

 

I have checked the BIOS settings per your other posts, included at the end of my post so you can see what I have done.

 

Is there anything that I have missed? I await the /nod to request my RMA, but I don't want to go thru this again (postage isn't cheap!). :( Hopefully it's just bad luck or something in the system setup and not another faulty stick (or worse, a motherboard problem).

 

Thank you!

~Gandar

 

Please make sure that you have the latest BIOS for your MB and load Setup/optimized default settings, and try the following BIOS settings;

CMX512-2700C2

CPU Freq: 166 MHz (333 FSB)

System Performance: User Define

Memory Frequency: 100%

Resulting Frequency: 166 MHz (333 FSB)

Memory Timing: User Define

SDRAM CAS Latency: 2.5T

SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 3T

SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 3T

SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 6T

DDR Reference Voltage: 2.7 Volts

AGP Voltage: Default *unless you have ATI 9200 or 9600 then 1.6 Volts suggested!*

All other settings are motherboards defaults

Then please test them one at a time with http://www.memtest.org and let’s make sure it's not some other issue! I would run the test for at least 2-3 passes to be sure!

[RAM GUY]

Since you do not have two identical memory module (different version), please set the CAS latency timing settings at 2.5/3/3/7 with a 2.8 DIMM voltage, and try to test it again with memtest86.

[Gandar]

Thank you for the quick reply. However, there appear to be some issues following your instructions.

 

SDRAM Config has the options: By SPD or User Define. By SPD sets it to 2.5T/3T/3T/6T.

 

SDRAM CAS Latency is set to 2.5T(DDR). The other option is 2.0T(DDR)

 

SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay is 3T. The other option is 2T.

SDRAM RAS Precharge Time is 3T. The other option is 2T.

 

SDRAM Active Precharge Delay is 6T. The ONLY other option is 5T.

 

SDRAM 1T Command Control is set to AUTO. I can ENABLE or DISABLE.

 

SDRAM Bank Interleave is set to AUTO. I can choose DISABLED, 2BANK, 4BANK.

 

I could find no option in BIOS for changing the DIMM voltage. Nor could I locate a jumper on the motherboard via the manual.

 

CPU/Memory Frequency Ratio has options: Auto or 1:1. I've tried both.

 

Please help!

 

Thanks Again,

~Gandar

[RAM GUY]

Please try this setting, also make sure you have the latest BIOS installed for your MB, maybe on their updated or new BIOS will have the correct or additional settings:

CPU Freq: 166 MHz (333 FSB)

Memory Frequency: 166 MHz (333 FSB)

CPU/DRAM ratio: 1:1

SDRAM Configuration: User Define

SDRAM CAS Latency: 2.5T

SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 3T

SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 3T

SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 6T or 7T (If you can)

SDRAM Command Rate: 2T/Disabled

SDRAM Bank Interleave: 4 Bank

SDRAM Burst Length: 4 beats/Disabled

SDRAM DDR DIMM Voltage: 2.7 volts

AGP Voltage: Default *unless you have ATI 9200 or 9600 then 1.6 Volts suggested!*

All other settings are motherboards defaults

Then please test them one at a time with http://www.memtest.org and let’s make sure it's not some other issue! I would run the test for at least 2-3 passes to be sure!

[Gandar]

I have followed all of your instructions, but I still can not find any setting in BIOS for the SDRAM DDR SIMM voltage - or anything similiar. I also do not have a setting for AGP Voltage.

 

The motherboard is an Asus A7V333 w/ BIOS 1018-Beta. I upgraded per your instructions from 1017.

 

Asus Motherboard A7V333 Manual

 

I've included a link to the motherboard manual in case you want to take a look at it.

 

I am still failing test #8 of Memtest86+v1.26. The system is completely unstable with the additional memory in.

 

I appreciate your time and effort in this.

 

Thank You,

~Gandar

[RAM GUY]

Please search for this MB at http://www.asusforums.org as I seem to remember them posting the Dim Voltage settings for this MB as they were not published by ASUS. But I would try and set the Dim Voltage to 2.7 Volts and if you have 2 modules they should be in slots 1-3 as well. If that does not solve the problem, then lets try replacing them.

Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it!

[Gandar]

The search on asusforums.org revealed:

Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms.

 

I googled the following phrase:

a7v333 dimm voltage

and came up with several posting of the DIMM Voltage on this board.

 

From PCModshop Techie Tips

Here are a few undocumented jumper settings that I have found on the A7V333.

 

Just above the AGP slot you will see 2 jumpers (J1 and J2)

These are the setting for J1 and J2, with them it is possible to adjust the DIMM/RAM voltage.

 

JP1 [1-2] - JP2 [1-2] = 2.59 - 2.63V

JP1 [2-3] - JP2 [1-2] = 2.88 - 2.94V (default)

JP1 [1-2] - JP2 [2-3] = 2.78 - 2.83V

JP1 [2-3] - JP2 [2-3] = 2.95 - 3.06V

 

I will try the 2.78-2.83V setting and get back to you. I posted these settings to help others in the future.

 

Again, I appreciate your assistance. There is a reason I went with Corsair Memory. That reason is Customer Service & Support. I'm very happy I haven't been let down in these regards!

 

~Gandar

[Wired]

Dim Voltage for A7V333

 

vB's search sucks.

[Gandar]

Hello, Again!

 

Ok, the results were actually opposite from what we were looking for. The DIMM Voltage jumpers were both already set to 1-2, which should be 2.55-2.59V. I set them to 1-2, 2-3 which should be 2.75-2.80V. I ran Memtest and all 3 sticks failed tests 5 and 8 repeatedly. I switched back to 2.55-2.59V and the original 2 sticks passed again. Of course, the problem remains, adding the 3rd stick causes all 3 to fail again on test 8.

 

So, I am back to square 1. Altering the DIMM Voltage does not appear to help the issue at all.

 

On a side note, I did turn OFF the Jumperless setting for the motherboard and set the processor VCore and FSB manually. There was some confusion in what I read whether or not the DIMM Voltage jumpers worked with the mobo in the jumperless mode. I actually tried it both ways but I am currently running with the mobo manually set. I also triple-checked my settings and I have a 166/333FSB. I AM NOT OVERCLOCKED. I know that this can be an issue, so I thought I would clarify.

 

So, if I need to return the memory via RMA, should I return all 3 sticks so that they will then be the same version?

 

Do you have any further suggestions/hints or is the RMA of all 3 sticks our next course? I have other systems on my home network, so I can send all 3 sticks and just use another machine for a week or so. Obviously that is not my favored course of action, but I would rather have a stable machine with 1.5GB of RAM (like it used to be).

 

Please advise and thanks again to everyone for your assistance!

~Gandar

[RAM GUY]

Can you please try to test the module in a different system or in a friend system if possible, just to confirm if the memory modules will get the same results or not, and to make sure its not some other issue!