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2 x 512 Value Ram Crashing (Not Convinced it's the Ram's fault)


TheUltimateEnd

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Basically I think something in my bios is screwy and is raping the ram.

 

Why?

 

Well when my GF's father modified my bios my ram ran smoother than a babies bottom cheeks. However recently my graphics card had a meltdown and the effect was so extreme that I thought my bios were screwing something up (I didn't correlate the screen going ape**** with my gfx card at first...) So I hit "optimize settings" on the bios and now my ram has errors when I memtest (after he edited the bios however it ran on memtest for 48 hours without 1 error).

 

That was about a month ago, I doubt in a month the ram has devoured its core.

 

http://islesofscion.net/Report.htm

 

That's the report on my PC. Any help will be extremely appreciated (well not extremely...I think that would be a little disturbing)...I'll at least be happy ;D.

 

- Rico -

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Can you tell me the part number of the memory you have, as well as the make/model of the system/motherboard you are using? Also, I would recommend that you load setup/optimized defaults and test the modules one at a time with http://www.memtest.org. If one of the modules fails and the other works, then we will need to replace both of them for you. However, if you get errors with both of them, that would usually suggest some other problem.
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Can you tell me the part number of the memory you have, as well as the make/model of the system/motherboard you are using? Also, I would recommend that you load setup/optimized defaults and test the modules one at a time with http://www.memtest.org. If one of the modules fails and the other works, then we will need to replace both of them for you. However, if you get errors with both of them, that would usually suggest some other problem.

 

I've done this before, both pieces of ram fail and I know that it's not them :).

 

As a matter of fact you were the exact person I talked to about a year ago about this (not that I'd expect you to remember ;p. Just making a point).

 

Motherboard Name Unknown

Motherboard Chipset VIA PM800/PM880/PN800

 

System Memory 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)

 

the 1 gig is 2 x 512 corsair value ram from newegg :).

 

- Rico -

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Please open your case and look between the Video and PCI slots or around there for the silkscreened motherboard name. There are so many motherboard companies that use the VIA PM800-8237 chipset. Mercury, ECS, JetWay, etc... and these boards have different BIOS settings. To be able to help you, we need to know the exact motherboard manufacturer. The model name will very likely be the largest silkscreened numbers on the board.

 

ie:

 

PC Chips Mainboard 955G version 3.0

 

http://www.dsystem.com.br/loja/images/Image/m955.gif

 

http://www.pcenlinea.com/mp/54789.html

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Please open your case and look between the Video and PCI slots or around there for the silkscreened motherboard name. There are so many motherboard companies that use the VIA PM800-8237 chipset. Mercury, ECS, JetWay, etc... and these boards have different BIOS settings. To be able to help you, we need to know the exact motherboard manufacturer. The model name will very likely be the largest silkscreened numbers on the board.

 

ie:

 

PC Chips Mainboard 955G version 3.0

 

http://www.dsystem.com.br/loja/images/Image/m955.gif

 

http://www.pcenlinea.com/mp/54789.html

 

It's either made in china or PM9MS.

 

If it's neither of those I'll look for more words on it :P.

 

I have a "REALLY UNFOCUSED!" picture of it. My camera doesn't seem to like taking pictures in a dark area lit by a flash light ;p...

 

Putting it back where it is is a nightmare so I only remove the whole pc when I have to :P. Need some zip ties...that's what I need.

 

- Rico -

unfocused.JPG.f69e86aab2b532cb21624147e4330640.JPG

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It's either made in china or PM9MS.

 

If it's neither of those I'll look for more words on it :P.

 

I have a "REALLY UNFOCUSED!" picture of it. My camera doesn't seem to like taking pictures in a dark area lit by a flash light ;p...

 

Putting it back where it is is a nightmare so I only remove the whole pc when I have to :P. Need some zip ties...that's what I need.

 

- Rico -

 

You have a Jetway PM9MS Motherboard.

 

http://www.machspeed.com/manuals/PM9MSR2A.pdf

 

BIOS Settings:

 

Advanced Chipset Features

 

DRAM Timings

System Performance = Manual

RAS Active Time = 8

RAS Precharge Time = 4

RAS to CAS Delay = 4

DRAM CAS Latency = 3

Bank Interleave = Disabled

DRAM Command Rate = 2T

 

Set to these values and Memtest with Memtest v1.70 from http://www.memtest.org. Test each module singly and then the pair.

 

Results?

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What is the part number from the modules?

(How To Read the Memory Label)

VSXXXMB400 the timings should be Cas 2.5-3-3-8 @ DDR400

VSXXXMB400C3 should be Cas 3-3-3-8 @ DDR400

But if you have a 533 FSB CPU the memory frequency would need to be set manually to DDR333 at Cas 2.5-3-3-7 and I would set the memory Voltage to 2.7 Volts as well.

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You have a Jetway PM9MS Motherboard.

 

http://www.machspeed.com/manuals/PM9MSR2A.pdf

 

BIOS Settings:

 

Advanced Chipset Features

 

DRAM Timings

System Performance = Manual

RAS Active Time = 8

RAS Precharge Time = 4

RAS to CAS Delay = 4

DRAM CAS Latency = 3

Bank Interleave = Disabled

DRAM Command Rate = 2T

 

Set to these values and Memtest with Memtest v1.70 from http://www.memtest.org. Test each module singly and then the pair.

 

Results?

 

I set those values and now my pc won't turn on anymore.

 

I'm going to read up on flashing the bios to fix it or something. This is definately a huge step backwards ;p.

 

Update: Tried 3 separate pieces of 512 ram from corsair, each of them failed at test 7 :). I tried in both dimm slots and each of the three failed. I find the chance of both my dimm slots and/or 3 pieces of ram being bad to be REALLY far fetched. Especially considering as I said with a certain bios setting I had 24-48 hours of stability (damn you nvidia and damn me for foolishly thinking it was my bios's fault).

 

I'll contact him today (him being my gf's dad) and find out what he did. Once I know maybe the information will prove useful for you guys in the future.

 

- Rico -

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What is the part number from the modules?

(How To Read the Memory Label)

VSXXXMB400 the timings should be Cas 2.5-3-3-8 @ DDR400

VSXXXMB400C3 should be Cas 3-3-3-8 @ DDR400

But if you have a 533 FSB CPU the memory frequency would need to be set manually to DDR333 at Cas 2.5-3-3-7 and I would set the memory Voltage to 2.7 Volts as well.

 

Then if you have an 800 FSB CPU the timings should be set to 2.5-3-3-8 and I would set the memory Voltage to 2.7 Volts, but if you have a 533 FSB CPU then set the memory to DDR333/166MHz and set the timings to Cas 2.5-3-3-7 at 2.7 Volts.

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Then if you have an 800 FSB CPU the timings should be set to 2.5-3-3-8 and I would set the memory Voltage to 2.7 Volts, but if you have a 533 FSB CPU then set the memory to DDR333/166MHz and set the timings to Cas 2.5-3-3-7 at 2.7 Volts.

 

No dice. Both tries failed at test 7

 

Man...I wish I could figure out which of the bios options could affect the ram on that 7th test.

 

Currently the bios is the most updated possible, with standard defaults set, and usb keyboard and mouse on. Also shadowing for graphics is off (I was told before that that causes issues).

 

Perhaps if I took a video of all my bios options people could guide me :P. Just tell me which sections are important and I'll video it.

 

http://islesofscion.net/bios.avi - Feel free to check for virii, I understand if you don't trust me.

http://islesofscion.net/Report.htm - Just for anyone new that comes in to help. To compare the two.

 

I know the ram is set to spd atm but I've tried both your suggestions for timing and neither worked.

 

UPDATE: Unfortunately it was a fluke. I got one successful run of JUST 7 but then it failed when I tried running the whole process.

 

Overheating maybe?

 

If this worked I will declare my love for you (as a technician of course ;D).

 

- Rico -

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I note that you have two modules. One in A0 and one in A1. Can you insert the one in A1 into the A2 slot and retest.

 

I have 2 1 gig pieces of ram coming in at 3 today, I'll put them in and test them to see if I miraculously actually have 3 pieces of dead ram.

 

I'm trying my best to be optimistic and assume its not my mobo but considering it did past the test once (oddly enough) it seems a little more irradic.

 

Also keep in mind this mobo only has 2 slots, if it had 3 or more I'd be in heaven cause I'd have at least 1.5 gigs of ram atm :P.

 

Questions:

 

Are there ways to test a mobo's ram slots for imperfections that could lead to errors. Also is there an easy way to test the power supply to see if it is the issue.

 

I'm so careful because I live well below the poverty level, my income is almost a joke.

 

- Rico -

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Also keep in mind this mobo only has 2 slots, if it had 3 or more I'd be in heaven cause I'd have at least 1.5 gigs of ram atm.

 

My error, I just looked at your mainboard documentation again. Two DRAM banks.

 

Are there ways to test a mobo's ram slots for imperfections that could lead to errors. Also is there an easy way to test the power supply to see if it is the issue.

 

If your board is failing setting to 3-4-4-8, then yes, I suggest SPD settings. Set a single module in the first slot and test. Then the second module in the first slot and test. Repeat in slot 2. What are your results? Other than using a digital multi-meter and testing on idle/load the method I use is performing a test bed but for that you need another known working power supply to replace and test for repeated issues. What is the make of your PSU?

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My error, I just looked at your mainboard documentation again. Two DRAM banks.

 

 

 

If your board is failing setting to 3-4-4-8, then yes, I suggest SPD settings. Set a single module in the first slot and test. Then the second module in the first slot and test. Repeat in slot 2. What are your results? Other than using a digital multi-meter and testing on idle/load the method I use is performing a test bed but for that you need another known working power supply to replace and test for repeated issues. What is the make of your PSU?

 

It apparently was all 3 sticks of ram :).

 

I put in the new 2 gigs and they tested fine and run well :).

 

Thank you for your help, I can't believe I own 3 separate sticks of broken ram...

 

I've been assured that's highly unlikely but then again crazy things happen.

 

I suppose this thread can be closed. Thanks again for all your insight guys :).

 

- Rico -

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