Jaimie Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 System: RAM: Corsair XMS TwinX1024-3200C2PT Motherboard: Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR Processor: AMD Athlon64 2800+ Video Card: Leadtek GeForce 6600GT AGP 128MB Sound Card: SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Hard Drives: 2x Maxtor 7200RPM SATA (80GB & 160GB) Optical: Lite-On DVD-ROM, NEC DVD-RW Power Supply: Fortron Blue Storm 500W Dual Rail My computer started acting up lately, in the past three days. I put it off as just being a typical slowdown until today when I was listening to music (iTunes) and chatting online (MSN) with Folding@Home running in the background, along with a firefox window, a standard task for me. When the system started showing issues with this as well, especially with a slow in window resize and closure, I fired up task manager to see if there were any amuck processes. To my sorrow, none. However, the physical memory has drastically been reduced to 256MB. I restarted the computer to see if it were an anomolie (sp), which it was not, as the second reboot showed the same thing. I then reseated my RAM, again, 256MB. I took each DIMM and inserted it individually (running 1 stick instead of 2). DIMM1 showed as 256MB alone. DIMM2 showed as 512MB. Putting both in, in either order makes the total show up as 256MB, instead of the expected 768MB. Obviously DIMM1 is broken, although MemTest does not detect errors in either DIMM. It seems to breeze through the DIMMs' cycles quickly though, much faster than when the full 1GB appeared. I have maintained an overclock of 9x270 for the past 5 months, with a divider of 166, to place the ram at around 221Mhz (442 effective) @ 2.5-3-3-7. The overclock has not been unstable, as I would have noticed through Priming and Folding constantly. The other odd thing is that it is Corsair XMS memory, which should not break at these speeds, especially considering that I was running it at 235Mhz (470 effective) @ 2.5-3-3-6 with 9x235 earlier this year, with full stability, before switching to the present OC. I remained within the voltage specifications on all parts, so I have not oversurged any of my chips. I have also had issues in the past two months with my sound (card: Audigy 2ZS) popping and getting stuck, freezing the entire system and requiring a reboot sporadically. This symptom leads me to wonder if my motherboard is corrupted in addition, considering the memory reading issues, and this possible instability. Corsair memory suddenly dropping out is highly uncharacteristic of their quality, and there is probabally another reason behind this that I would like to solve as well, so this problem dows not remanifest itself. For the moment I am using DIMM2 (512MB read). The most confusing thing is the lack of errors, and the fact that both sticks together read as 256MB instead of 768MB. I am highly upset about this situation and request assistance on what to do. Jaimie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted May 24, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted May 24, 2005 Jamie, What you have posted so far may suggest a module is failing, but also what you have posted may suggest that the MB you have will just not OC that much any more. I would suggest testing the modules in another system one module at a time with http://www.memtest.org to be sure. And I would try and run your system not over clocked if you cant test them in another system to see if its the CPU or MB or maybe the module. If you have a failing module it will fail not matter what setting you have the memory at. CPU Freq: 166 MHz Memory Frequency: 100% Dim Voltage to 2.7 Volts Resulting Frequency: 166MHz SDRAM CAS Latency: 2.5T SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 3T SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 3T SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 6T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimie Posted June 17, 2005 Author Share Posted June 17, 2005 This is a bit of a long time between responses... sorry. I tested this on a friend's computer and I replaced my motherboard AND CPU and the RAM still reads as 256MB with both sticks, although they are not failing MemTest, having tried this on three machines now and the error persists, except on the friends computer, when it read correctly. On all three computers however the SPD information is horrendously wrong for the second module in CPU-Z, Everest Home, and SiSoft Sandra. It is not showing the part#, manufacturer, timings, etc. for the second stick. This stick is obviously bad, everything else has already been replaced and the RAM is still a no-go. I would like to request an RMA if you would oblige please do so soon, this ordeal has been very frustrating. Jaimie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 17, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 17, 2005 Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimie Posted June 17, 2005 Author Share Posted June 17, 2005 Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! Thanks, I got an RMA #. I have the original packaging, should I pack it in there and then return both sticks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 17, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 17, 2005 Yes but make sure your RMA if for both modules either 1-Twinx set if that what you have or 2-single modules. If that is not listed correctly please contact Customer Service before you send the modules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimie Posted June 17, 2005 Author Share Posted June 17, 2005 Yes but make sure your RMA if for both modules either 1-Twinx set if that waht you have or 2- single modules. If that is not listed correctly please contact Customer Service before you send the modules. OK, I listed it correctly when I sent the RMA form in. Thank you for all the help, Jaimie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 20, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 20, 2005 Please let me know if you have any more questions and when you get the new modules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimie Posted July 18, 2005 Author Share Posted July 18, 2005 Please let me know if you have any more questions and when you get the new modules. I got the new modules in about two weeks ago, they ran like a charm for a while but have buckled and will not take any voltages past 2.7v and pass MemTest, generating hundreds of erros on even the first test when they are at only 2.8v. The sudden drop happened while experimenting with hitting DDR460 rates with the memory at 2.9v. I was unable to revert to the previously stable overclocked settings. (I am now on a DFI LanParty UT nF3) Both modules will not take any voltage past 2.7v, even when tested individually. This is obviously hindering with my overclock... They still run at stock speeds though... so I can't complain too much, but this is very frustrating... XMS falling apart after those voltages is not a good thing... The rest of the system is rock stable. Jaimie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted July 19, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted July 19, 2005 Jamie, That would suggest some other problem, can you test the modules in another system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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