Andehh Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Hi All, I built my pc almost a month ago and have recently started having BSODs in windows. At first I thought it was a software/driver issue because it only happened in Bioshock but then it started happening randomly no matter what I was doing. My CPU was overclocked but had tested fine in Prime95 previously (I'm now running everything at default settings) I have tested both sticks of RAM with memtest at the Bios auto settings and at 2.1v. One stick is fine at both settings. The other stick had errors (160k+ in 3mins) at auto settings but seems ok at 2.1v. However, I have not tested either for an extended period. Although it seems fine at 2.1v I still get BSODs in Windows. Should I test both sticks individually at 2.1v for 6-12hrs+ to be certain? Or is it safe to assume that one stick is definitely faulty and request an RMA? I'm in the UK and should still be covered by the reseller's warranty so is it best to arrange it with them rather than direct with Corsair? Do they have UK facilities or would I need to send mine to the US? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 15, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 15, 2007 These modules may not be stable unless you have set the memory voltage to 2.1 volts. If both modules are passing memtest individually at 2.1v there may not be an issue with the memory. If you are consistently able to get errors, try using one module at a time and see if you still get the errors with each module. It would be unlikely that both modules would produce the same type of errors, and that they would fail at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 15, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 15, 2007 These modules may not be stable unless you have set the memory voltage to 2.1 volts. If both modules are passing memtest individually at 2.1v there may not be an issue with the memory. If you are consistently able to get errors, try using one module at a time and see if you still get the errors with each module. It would be unlikely that both modules would produce the same type of errors, and that they would fail at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted October 17, 2007 Author Share Posted October 17, 2007 Thanks for the info! Both sticks seem fine at 2.1v in Memtest, whether tested individually or together. Windows seems fine using either stick on its own (games are fine and I've stress tested CPU with Prime95) but BSODs with them both in (usually page_fault_in_non_paged_area / irql_not_less_or_equal). I've tried using some diagnostic software on the minidumps but they don't suggest any specific software or driver causing the problem as far as I can tell. Could this be in issue with the memory controller on the motherboard? Should I try upping the voltage on the Northbridge and see if it makes any difference? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 17, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 17, 2007 You can try raising the NB voltage, do you only get the BSODs during certain applications, or is it random? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 It seems more likely to crash during games or when stress testing the CPU and RAM in Prime95. If I select a test that uses little RAM then it lasts a lot longer but still may crash. It has also crashed when I've just been web browsing though. Other than playing with the NB voltage I'm pretty much out of ideas. If the machine also crashed with either of the sticks individually, or with both of them in Memtest it would be easier to pinpoint the problem. I haven't tested the memory slots individually, or tried running the memory in single channel mode (if I can?). I assume running 2 x 1GB sticks is preferable to running a single 2GB stick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 It seems more likely to crash during games or when stress testing the CPU and RAM in Prime95. If I select a test that uses little RAM then it lasts a lot longer but still may crash. It has also crashed when I've just been web browsing though. Other than playing with the NB voltage I'm pretty much out of ideas. If the machine also crashed with either of the sticks individually, or with both of them in Memtest it would be easier to pinpoint the problem. I haven't tested the memory slots individually, or tried running the memory in single channel mode (if I can?). I assume running 2 x 1GB sticks is preferable to running a single 2GB stick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 18, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 18, 2007 That would suggest some other problem, if it does the same thing for either module. Have you checked with MSI to see if there is a newer MB BIOS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 18, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 18, 2007 That would suggest some other problem, if it does the same thing for either module. Have you checked with MSI to see if there is a newer MB BIOS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 Well with either stick on its own it's fine regardless of what it's doing. With both sticks in it BSODs, and most often when it's making more intensive use of the memory. I have the latest bios and drivers for my motherboard. Thanks for all your help. I'll enquire on the MSI forums and see if a friend will swap his TWIN2X2048-5300 with me. That should determine once and for all whether the memory is faulty or whether I have a fault or incompatibility issue elsewhere in the system. Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 Well with either stick on its own it's fine regardless of what it's doing. With both sticks in it BSODs, and most often when it's making more intensive use of the memory. I have the latest bios and drivers for my motherboard. Thanks for all your help. I'll enquire on the MSI forums and see if a friend will swap his TWIN2X2048-5300 with me. That should determine once and for all whether the memory is faulty or whether I have a fault or incompatibility issue elsewhere in the system. Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 18, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 18, 2007 Andy did you try moving the modules to the other two slots and do they have a newer BIOS available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 18, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 18, 2007 Andy did you try moving the modules to the other two slots and do they have a newer BIOS available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 I had just typed a post saying how I'd moved the stick from slot 3 into slot 2, making it single channel and that it appeared to be ok.. when it BSOD'd! I'll try slots 2 and 4 tomorrow. Can't be bothered to mess around with it any more tonight because I have to take the fan off my heatsink to get to slot 1. The bios is up to date. I had to update it to v1.4 when I first built the system because v1.3 wouldn't even post with 800MHz memory. A common problem according to the MSI forums. Had a fun couple of nights before I discovered that though. Borrowed some 667MHz off a friend to get it all up and running, then flashed to v1.4. Think I'll go play Halo 3 and hope the 360 doesn't explode or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 I had just typed a post saying how I'd moved the stick from slot 3 into slot 2, making it single channel and that it appeared to be ok.. when it BSOD'd! I'll try slots 2 and 4 tomorrow. Can't be bothered to mess around with it any more tonight because I have to take the fan off my heatsink to get to slot 1. The bios is up to date. I had to update it to v1.4 when I first built the system because v1.3 wouldn't even post with 800MHz memory. A common problem according to the MSI forums. Had a fun couple of nights before I discovered that though. Borrowed some 667MHz off a friend to get it all up and running, then flashed to v1.4. Think I'll go play Halo 3 and hope the 360 doesn't explode or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 19, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 19, 2007 Let us know what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 19, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 19, 2007 Let us know what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 It's been a while but I have finally solved the problem.. I had the memory replaced which didn't work (but no errors in Memtest at <2.1v now). I found that a new BIOS for my motherboard included a CPU Microcode update, I looked up more information on it and discovered that it was also released as a Windows Update to improve stability on certain C2D processors. However, the BIOS update caused errors in Prime95 and didn't fix the crashing either so I tried the windows update which also had no effect. I did a bit more googling and found out that a lot of people actually had problems caused by the windows update when it was released a few months ago. Turns out I'd installed it back in September/October as one of a hundred critical updates when I first built the machine. Removed it completely from add/remove programs and so far the machine actually seems to be ok. Ran a Prime95 Blend test for 24 hours with no issues and played Crysis for a couple of hours last night \o/ So far so good! Thanks for your advice on this, even if the memory had nothing to do with it :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted January 11, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted January 11, 2008 No problem! Glad you were able to isolate the problem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted January 12, 2008 Author Share Posted January 12, 2008 Actually it still crashed! I'm buying a mac :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andehh Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Fixed it again! Used WinDbg and the Microsoft Driver Verifier tool to identify a particular software driver that's apparently known to have issues! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted January 23, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted January 23, 2008 At least you know there is not a hardware issue! If you get anymore problems you might try a clean reinstall of the OS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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