Prep H Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Ok, it's been about 8 months since I built my computer and I've had no major issues. Now, in the last week I've gotten several blue screens claiming memory management problems. So, naturally I ran memtest and came up with 46 errors in 2 runs. Now, I think I've got a problem because I've been running on this memory for months now, unaware that there were bit errors. This is the first machine I built and I bought all quality parts (I thought). Now I've never RMA'd anything before so I don't know how THAT works, but I'm more worried about the lasting effects on my computer storage and OS's because I just took a look at my HD and there seems to be about 45 GB of space 'missing'. (o.0) Now, I check all the hidden files and whatnot and can't for the life of me figure out where all that space is going, so I'm wondering if that could be do to corruption of some system file. Alright, so that's about the gist of it. I bought the http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/TWIN2X1024-6400C4.pdf which is a matched pair, so I didn't bother testing them separately, since I think I'll have to send them both in and get a new pair. Can someone answer some of my questions about the lasting effects of having run faulty memory for a long period of time on a machine? AM I gonna have to reformat and reinstall everything or what? Oh, and of course I'm, of course, a bit disappointed. I guess I should make it a habit of testing all of my components regardless of how good the brand is. Thanks for any responses, I'm really in a crunch to get this machine back up and running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 12, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 12, 2007 Can you tell me our modules part# (How To Read the Memory Label) and the make and model of MB you have along with the CPU speed and it’s FSB as well? In addition, please tell me the bios settings you have set for both CPU and memory and any performance settings that you may have set? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Oh boy, here goes. I'm a bit new to everything, but here is what I have gathered. My system is all at stock speeds. My motherboard is an nforce 680i SLI; I have a core 2 duo E6600, so the speed is 2.4 GHz and FSB is 1066 MHz. After looking through the website here I upped the voltage on the memory to the recommended 2.1 V and tested again, same results. The modules numbers are: XMS2-6400. I think that addresses everything you wanted. Let me know if you need more, and thanks. :o: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Ok, I just talked to a couple of my friends who purchased the same exact memory modules as mine and all three of them have had to return at least one of the set in the last four months. Is there a recurring problem with this particular model or are we just all really unlucky? So could this memory problem have caused any of the problems I talked about? I'm a student and I need a stable computer, is there a better module you can suggest for my setup? specs: Boring old CRT monitor nvidia 8800GTS nforce 680i SLI Thermaltake 700 W power supply Some old optical drive 320 GB SATA drive Corsair XMS2 800MHz 2x1GB Intel E6600 Core 2 Duo Oh, and thanks for the quick reply. It's good to talk to someone who knows a lot on the subject. Thanks again RAM GUY!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 13, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 13, 2007 Please make sure that you have the latest Bios version and then load setup/optimized defaults and set the Dim Voltage to 2.1 volts (+.3 Volts W/Giga-Byte) and then set the timings manually to the tested settings for the specific module you have, and then test the module/'s one at a time with http://www.memtest.org! If you still get errors, please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! However, if you get errors with both modules that would suggest some other problem and I would test them in another system or MB to be sure. In addition, with some MB's (Mostly ASUS) you have to disable legacy USB in the bios when running any memory test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 My modules are testing now. In the meantime I'm still wondering if you have any thoughts about the missing space on my HD. I'm really concerned about that. The first module tested fine and I'm running the second now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 I'm running fairly short tests (about 1 hour; 4 passes or so), but they both showed up clean apart from each other. So, now I leave it in your professional opinion. Where do I go from here and why am I getting BSOD with memory management? And where is the missing 45Gb from my HD? I'm really confused..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 ......ok, I put both modules back in together in the DIMM 2, 4 slots and there are errors again. So, by themselves they seem fine, but together in either slot pair they have issues. Oh boy....I feel like going camping, anyone else here feel like hiking with me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 15, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 15, 2007 What is the exact Part # of the modules you have and what are the settings you have set in the BIOS and on what test are you getting errors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 16, 2007 Author Share Posted November 16, 2007 Uh, I suppose the part number is CM2X1024-6400C4. The XMS number is XMS6404v2.1. I'm running the memory at 2.1 V with a 4-4-4-12 timing. All of the errors are appearing on test five. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 16, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 16, 2007 Errors in test 5-8 would suggest some other problem, did you try and test them one at a time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 25, 2007 Author Share Posted November 25, 2007 One at a time is fine, together in any match is not good. What's my problem here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 26, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 26, 2007 If they both pass one up that would suggest some other problem. Did you try and move the modules to the other two slots and test it again? Also please make sure the Command Rate is set to 2t and the TRC is set to 24-28. Also the lost space on your HDD could be anything from hidden files for the O.S. to undeleted files in the recycled bin, have you ran chkdsk on the HDD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 I've done all of that and it still gives me problems. I rechecked compatibility and it says I'm fine. HDD shows no errors and I've checked for hidden files and deleted all the usual culprits for space waste. Still missing space, still getting errors. If it helps, the problem mostly happens when the system is under load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 30, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 30, 2007 Are you able to test the modules in a different system? If you get the same issues in a known working system, then we should get the memory replaced for you, however if the issue go away, you may have a problem with your motherboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 Sadly, this is my first and only computer. So the only solution now is to try another board with this memory? I can't afford a new board, so how do I test the one I have now(board I mean)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted December 1, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted December 1, 2007 Have you ran http://www.memtest.org on the modules one at a time to see if its just a failing module, what were the results? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prep H Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 I've tested both modules separately in DIMM slot 1 and they are fine. I tested the pair in DIMM 1, 3 and DIMM 2, 4 configurations, but both showed errors on test 5 and sometimes 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted December 3, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted December 3, 2007 I would recommend that you test a known good module in each slot of the motherboard and make sure you do not have a faulty slot. If you get no errors on any of the slots, then test the modules in pairs in both dual channel and single channel configuration. If you only have trouble when running in dual channel there may be an issue with your motherboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseHacker Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Hi there. I recently have encountered the same trouble. I got 2 GB of memory (model number TWIN2x2024 6400 C4) and I keep getting a bad stick in the pack. This is the full story starting with the first pack. I built my own machine for the first time and I noticed I continued to get memory management errors in Vista (as well as not being able to use the OS properly). I ran Windows Memory Diagnositic with both stick in and found errors. I took one out, got no errors and was finally able to get into Vista and install it properly. My troubles didn't return until I took the good memory out and put the other stick back in. This was using the same slot as the stick that passed the diagnostics. I ran the diagnostic and it found errors on the stick. As is the stick was now in a different slot as it was before, it confirmed that it was the stick and not the board. Any how I took the pack back and got a replacement. I got home put only one stick in to play it safe and wasn't even able to boot the machine. No sooner had I turned it one, it became trapped in an infinite loop of power cycling and I had to turn the machine off at the wall. I took the stick out, put the other one and have not had a single hiccup since then. My question is, am I able to have only that stick replaced? I live in Australia and my retailer wants me to take them both back again and I don't want to do so in the even I find a third bad stick. For the record, all my memory tests were done on the same slot so I've rule out the rest of my machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted December 5, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted December 5, 2007 If the parts were purchased as a TWIN pack, then you may need to have both modules replaced. If you are still getting issues with another replacement there may be some other issue. What type of motherboard do you have and what have you set the memory voltage to, in the BIOS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseHacker Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Sorry, I should have been more exact. I know nothing of voltages and I only use the BIOS for setting my devices. My motherboard is a Gigabyte P35 DS3R revision 2.0. But this is what gets me. I have gone through two twin packs, and both had one good module and one bad stick. I have confirmed it to be one stick in both backs as I have been trying to run the computer with just one stick in it. With the first pack, the problem became clear when the system booted and operated properly when removing one of the sticks. Back then I had a stick in slot one and three of the board (not going for dual channel). When I took the stick out of slot 3 the machine stabiles. When I then removed the stick from slot one and put the stick from slot 3 in it (not putting the stick from slot one back in), the system failed the memory diagnostic. The case was the same with the second pack. When I opened it and put a stick in slot 1, the machine failed to boot. I then took it out and put the other stick in slot 1. The machine booted then. I'm all but certain it is a case of dumb luck and I keep getting a bad stick in the twin pack. ----- I just checked my settings. While the memory was set to 4-4-4-12, I found that my mother board was set to 5-5-5-18, I think I'm following it right. What do there numbers mean and what settings to they relate to Gigabyte boards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted December 6, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted December 6, 2007 All 6400C4 modules may not be stable at the default voltage. They are tested at 2.1 volts and in the Gigabyte BIOS you will need to set memory voltage to +.3 volts (default DDR2 voltage is 1.8v). Also, the 4-4-4-12 (CAS-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) timings would need to be entered manually in your motherboard, otherwise the system will boot at the default 5-5-5-18 timings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseHacker Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Got that stick replaced and I followed you advice and updated my settings. So far so good. Not a single problem and both sticks are in. The only problem I have now is stopping Vista from hogging it all :laughing:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted December 7, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted December 7, 2007 Glad to hear everything is running! Unfortunately I can't help you with your Vista memory hogging issue :laughing: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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