LCARS Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Ramguy, I have a somewhat complex problem with my computer and I was wondering if you could help. Back in 2007 I built a new computer. The specs are the same as the ones in my profile except I had an EVGA 680i SLI mobo. Everything worked fine up until December 2008 when I started getting random BSODs and freezing. One day I turned on the computer and it wouldn't boot giving me a "Memory Presence" error. After some testing, I decided that it was my memory and submitted them for an RMA (#1072411). The RMA was accepted and I was sent some new sticks of RAM (TWIN2X2048-9136C5D). Much to my horror, after inserting the new RAM, I started getting the same "Memory Presence" error. However, this time I could get the computer to boot by inserting just 1 of my DIMMs (didn't matter which one) into slot 0 in the motherboard. Putting more than 1 DIMM in caused the "Memory Presence" error. Putting a DIMM in any slot other than 0 also caused the error. At this point I was sure that my motherboard was faulty and I submitted an RMA for my EVGA 680i. The RMA was accepted and EVGA ended up sending me a 780i SLI motherboard. I rebuilt the computer with the new 780i motherboard and inserted the new Corsair RAM. As soon as I turned on the computer, it gave me the same "Memory Presence" error. I looked in the BIOS and all of my RAM timings and voltages were correct except the tRAS was set to 18 instead of 15 like the RAM is rated. I bumped the tRAS down to 15 and turned on SLI ready memory in the BIOS with 0% overclock. After that, everything worked beautifully! I used the computer for 2 days without a single glitch or any instability problems. Last night I shut down my computer. This morning I turned on my computer and much to my horror (again) it would not boot and is giving me the "Memory Presence" error again. What puzzles me is that I have a new motherboard and new RAM! :eek: My computer specs right now are the same as in my profile. Lets call my two DIMMs of RAM "DIMM A" and "DIMM B". After some testing I have found the following patterns: If I stick DIMM A in slot 0 and DIMM B in slot 1, I get the error. If I stick DIMM A in slot 0 and leave DIMM B out, the computer boots fine. If I stick DIMM B in slot 0 and DIMM A in slot 1, I get the error. If I stick DIMM B in slot 0 and leave DIMM A out, I get the error. If I stick DIMM A in slot 2 and DIMM B in slot 3, I get the error. If I stick DIMM A in slot 2 and leave DIMM B out, I get the error. If I stick DIMM B in slot 2 and DIMM A in slot 3, I get the error. If I stick DIMM B in slot 2 and leave DIMM A out, I get the error. Basically, I can only get my computer to boot if I use DIMM A in slot 0. Any other combination and the system will give me the "Memory Presence" error. Help! What is wrong? I have a new motherboard and RAM so surely its not one of those. Is it my CPU? My PSU? When the system was running fine for the past 2 days I didn't have any issues or symptoms. Even gaming with Crysis and Battlefield 2142 was without a glitch. :confused: Thanks for your time, LCARS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCARS Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hmm... I just managed to get it to boot with the following configuration: DIMM B in slot 0 and DIMM A in slot 1. This is the first time that I have gotten the "Memory Presence" error and been able to eventually boot with both sticks in. I am still not sure what could cause this. I know its not a heat issue as the errors will occur from a cold start. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted May 19, 2009 Corsair Employees Share Posted May 19, 2009 Do you have access to another system that you can test the modules in and see if this error follow the modules? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCARS Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 I just tested both DIMMs in another computer with an intel board. It previously had been working just fine with two CM2X1024-6400 DIMMs in. With my DIMMs it POSTs correctly but gives a BSOD right when Windows starts to load. I also tried the CM2X1024-6400 DIMMs in my EVGA 780i board and it gets past the memory detection but just freezes on "CPU Speed Detect". I don't know if those DIMMs are compatible with my 780i though so it could just be that. Edit: I put my RAM back in my computer in the configuration that it was just working in fine a few minutes ago (DIMM B in slot 0 and DIMM A in slot 1). Now it is giving me the "Memory Presence" error again. I really am at a lost as to what could cause it to work beautifully one minute and then not work the next minute. Edit 2: I am suspicious that the culprit might be my in window air conditioning unit. I noticed that I have had it on a lot today so I decided to keep the "RAM in the DIMM B in slot 0 and DIMM A in slot 1" configuration and try booting the computer with the air conditioner off. It worked! Now I'm running the NVIDIA Memory Test in slow setting. I will also do a memtest later. This could just be coincidence with the air conditioner. I will test this theory for consistency throughout the day as I have time. It sounds kinda far fetched but could it be that I was drawing too much power with the air conditioner for it to properly boot my beefy machine? I do have a 1200 Watt PSU and two 8800 GTX cards. Not to mention 4 monitors and some power hungry raptor HDDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted May 20, 2009 Corsair Employees Share Posted May 20, 2009 It sounds kinda far fetched but could it be that I was drawing too much power with the air conditioner for it to properly boot my beefy machine? I do have a 1200 Watt PSU and two 8800 GTX cards. Not to mention 4 monitors and some power hungry raptor HDDs. Actually that is a realistic cause of the problem, can you move the power source to another outlet that is not on the same circuit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCARS Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 I put a UPS on my computer and now it seems to be working normally. I'll be sure to post here if it stops working again. By the way, I would like to say that I have been impressed with Corsair's quality of service over the years. I now recommend them to all of my friends. Thanks for your help! :D: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCARS Posted May 21, 2009 Author Share Posted May 21, 2009 Ugh. Guess what, today my computer started giving me the same Memory Presence error. I have my in window air conditioner and all other appliances unplugged. I was thinking that this might be a PSU issue. So, today I went and bought a different 1200 Watt power supply to test in my computer. After plugging everything up, same error. :sigh!: Right now I am running the computer with a new mobo, new memory, and a new psu. All I have plugged in is my cpu and ram. No graphics cards or hdds or anything. If I keep this up I will end up with a completely different computer! :(: I have noticed one pattern. The error only occurs when DIMM B is plugged in. When DIMM A is plugged in alone, it will boot. When DIMM B is plugged in alone or in any combination with DIMM A, it won't boot. So it seems like DIMM B is faulty. This just doesn't seem likely because its memory that I received from Corsair via RMA. The only other component that I havn't changed out is my CPU. This seems unlikely to me because I havn't gotten any CPU related errors and I have none of the classic symptoms of CPU failure. This whole problem is very bizzare as just last night I was playing Crysis with full high settings for hours and it didn't miss a beat. It seems like overnight with the computer completely powered off it randomly decides to stop working. Any suggestions? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted May 21, 2009 Corsair Employees Share Posted May 21, 2009 Let's get them replaced, please use the On Line RMA Request Form and we will be happy to replace them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCARS Posted May 21, 2009 Author Share Posted May 21, 2009 Ok, I filled it out. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted May 21, 2009 Corsair Employees Share Posted May 21, 2009 NP Please let me know if you have any more questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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