Terran Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 I've been struggling to troubleshoot a new computer my friend built for me. I bought this computer for Photoshop and Starcraft 2 and it's been crashing a lot when I have the 2 2GB memory modules in the computer as dual-channel. I would get: 1. BSOD with "Page fault in nonpaged area" 2. Starcraft 2 would crash and say the game is corrupt but when I run the repair to verify the files it says there's nothing to repair. I originally thought it might be the O/S so I reinstalled Windows 7 64-bit. Then I thought it was the BIOS so I updated the motherboard's BIOS to the latest version which has the note: "Enhanced memory support". Then I dated all the drivers, rolled back, nothing fixed it. Then I went ahead and downloaded memtest and ran the modules 1 by 1 with no errors but as soon as I put the 2 memory modules into the 2 slots as dual channel, errors start right away at the first test. I'm pulling my hair out now because I have since pulled out the 2nd module and it's sitting on my desk. The computer hasn't crashed but it's annoying because it's a lot slower. Please help. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Are you running the default CPU frequency? Have you tried manually setting the the RAM to 9-9-9-24 2T @ 1066/1333 MHz. @ 1.5V? Do you get errors at both 1066 and 1333 MHz.? Are the two memory modules in the preferred dual-channel memory slots per the mobo manual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terran Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 Hi, Are you running the default CPU frequency? - Do you mean whether I'm overclocking? The computer's running at the default with no overclocking. Have you tried manually setting the the RAM to 9-9-9-24 2T @ 1066/1333 MHz. @ 1.5V? - Nope, but the auto setting looks like it's already 9-9-9-24 (not sure what 2T) @ 1333MHz means. Am I supposed to try running it at a slower speed of 1066? What's interesting is that I went through the technical support wizard on the corsair site and it says the model I'm using should be 1.65 voltage but the motherboard's auto settings are 1.5. Does this make a difference? Do you get errors at both 1066 and 1333 MHz.? - Haven't tried it. Are the two memory modules in the preferred dual-channel memory slots per the mobo manual? - Yup, I read the manual and they're slotted in the proper slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 The industry DDR3 standard RAM voltage is 1.5V. When RAM is speed rated for higher frequencies than the CPU maker guarantees the CPU to function at, the voltage is often increased to make the RAM/PC run stable at the increased frequency. Your Intel CPU is rated to run RAM at either 1066 MHz. or 1333 MHz. depending on the RAM you use. You can confirm the actual RAM timings by using CPU-Z, a free downloadable utility. The "auto" settings may or may not properly set the BIOS settings. If the memory modules individually test good with Memtest 86+ the issue is probably BIOS settings. 2T is the command rate RAM setting in the BIOS. It allows more time to access data. It can eliminate errors when using multi-channel memory modules. Most mobos require a 2T setting and have issues with 1T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terran Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 Perfect, I'll try out that utility this weekend to see what I get from the results then write back. I also went ahead this morning to set the voltage to 1.64 then reran memtest with 2 sticks with the same results--errors aplenty. Thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 It's worth noting that some Intel mobos do not like RAM voltages above 1.5V so more may not be better in that case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terran Posted October 17, 2010 Author Share Posted October 17, 2010 Hi trackrat, I downloaded CPU-Z and had a look at the tabs available but unsure as to which one I'm supposed to use. I'm assuming it's the "Memory" tab and it shows basically what you wrote: DRAM Frequency: 666.2 MHz FSB:DRAM: 2:10 CAS# Latency (CL) 9.0 clocks RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD): 9 clocks RAS# Precharge (tRP): 9 clocks Cycle Time 9tRAS): 24 clocks Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC): 74 clocks Command Rate (CR): 1T This is what it lists with 1 module in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Yes the memory tab is the one that will show existing memory settings. You could try installing the second DIMM in the proper slot and then re-boot and check the memory tab again for both slots to see if the memory shows the same modules and timings. You may need to manually set the BIOS to 2T with two modules in place if your system doesn't do this. 2t will often resolved random memory error issues with multiple installed DIMMs. FYI- the SPD tab shows other RAM frequencies and timings that you RAM should run at without issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terran Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Hi Trackrat, I finally got around to installing the 2nd DIMM again and compared the "auto" settings. The Command Rate(CMD) was indeed set to 1 with the auto so I have changed the setting to 2 manually for both dimms. The only difference between the 2 DIMMS in the BIOS setting was that the "Round Trip Latency" on the first dimm was 46 and for the second dimm was 47 (both auto). Does this matter? I just ran memtest and it wasn't erroring out till test #5 and now it has 18 errors so far. :( I got an email back from corsair support and they're saying this: "If the memory modules are passing http://www.memtest.org when run individually and you only have problems when running them together then the problem has to be either a slot on the motherboard or possibly the memory controller on the CPU. It is also possible that a BIOS update may resolve the problem." Do you think it's the motherboard or possibly the CPU after going through all these test? :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terran Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Ok, this is weird, I slotted the memory into the same channel so it's no longer dual channel, went and loaded "optimized defaults", then reran memtest and I'm getting errors immediately! The optimzed defaults were 2 for command rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 21, 2010 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 21, 2010 Have you tested the other memory slot individually? It sounds like you may have an issue with a memory slot or bent pin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terran Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 Yup, I've tried all combinations, single channel, dual channel all throw errors if there's more two sticks slotted in but error free with just one stick. I've exhausted all my options so I ended up trading the DIMMs with a friend who had 2 x CM3X2048-1333C9DHX and now memtest is error free! I ran memtest with 2 sticks in dual channel @ 9-9-9-24 1T and it was error free on 2 passes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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