QC or Compatibility TR3X6G1333C9 Dell Precision T3500

[jsteelm2]

I would think my frustrations are caused by QC issues, but it's getting infuriating, so I thought I should check on compatibility. I'm not thrilled with the compatibility tool offered by Corsair. It only shows two models as compatible with a Dell Precision T3500. Is that right? Should I expect any other memory will have issues?

 

This system was bought in June of 2011. I bought two kits of TR3X6G1333C9 at the same time, and swapped out the original memory that came with the Dell for the 6 sticks of Corsair memory. I had issues (can't remember now, it was a year and a half ago, but probably was showing memtest errors), so I RMA'ed one of the kits then.

 

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I'd been having issues whenever I got in the 8 - 10 GB range. Computer slowing and freezing up temporarily, sometimes crashing programs. I ran memtest and got loads of errors. Checked each of the sticks individually, and the system wouldn't even POST with one of the sticks. RMA'ed the kit with the offending stick.

 

I just recently got a replacement kit, put all the memory in the system, and let it run memtest overnight with the full 12 GB. I got one error in pass #2 out of a total of 5. I've gone back through all the sticks, and the last stick in the new kit has had one error, in the first pass out of a total of 6 completed at the time I'm writing this.

 

This seems like a small error, but I shouldn't have any errors, right?! I spent about half the cost of a new kit to buy packaging and ship the previous kit back, so even if I send this new kit back, I'll be spending the same as if I just bought new RAM, and considering that I'm sending back memory that was JUST SHIPPED to me to replace previous faulty memory, it seems like I don't have much hope of getting better results next time.

 

Is this a compatibility issue with the T3500? Is the memory very sensitive to timings? Memtest shows the frequency as 533 MHz (which I think means that it's actually running at 1067 MHz, instead of 1333 MHz as advertized), and CAS 8-8-8-20 instead of 9-9-9-24. I don't think I can control these, since this is a Dell system, and the BIOS only lets me see what is detected, but not change settings. Is there something else that I'm missing? Or, should I just learn my lesson and not buy any more Corsair memory?

[RAM GUY]

I would not suggest mixing memory especially with an OEM system as they do not give you BIOS options that you can set to help with mixing memory.

I would suggest contacting our customer service with your previous RMA# and ask them if they can replace both of your sets for one matched set.

And 533Mhz is the actual clock frequency so since its DDR it would be 533 X 2 = DDR1066 that is correct. And also the speed that your system supports.

[peanutz94]

This system was bought in June of 2011. I bought two kits of TR3X6G1333C9 at the same time, and swapped out the original memory that came with the Dell for the 6 sticks of Corsair memory. I had issues (can't remember now, it was a year and a half ago, but probably was showing memtest errors), so I RMA'ed one of the kits then.

This could be the whole of the problem. Corsair does not recomend or support the practice of mixing/combining memory because there is no way to guarantee correct operation when you use any two random kits even if they are the same exact part number. One matched 12 gig kit would have been a much better choice.

I just recently got a replacement kit, put all the memory in the system, and let it run memtest overnight with the full 12 GB. I got one error in pass #2 out of a total of 5. I've gone back through all the sticks, and the last stick in the new kit has had one error, in the first pass out of a total of 6 completed at the time I'm writing this.

Is your BIOS locked? This is enthusiast memory and may require slight voltage adjustments to run at the rated overclock of 1600mhz. Such a few number of errors would be a good indication of this. If memory fails, it usually fails miserably with thousands of errors.

 

Is this a compatibility issue with the T3500? Is the memory very sensitive to timings? Memtest shows the frequency as 533 MHz (which I think means that it's actually running at 1067 MHz, instead of 1333 MHz as advertized), and CAS 8-8-8-20 instead of 9-9-9-24. I don't think I can control these, since this is a Dell system, and the BIOS only lets me see what is detected, but not change settings. Is there something else that I'm missing? Or, should I just learn my lesson and not buy any more Corsair memory?

No, all memory will default to either 1067 or 1333mhz when first installed until it set otherwise. On an Intel based system it usually is as easy as enabling an XMP profile that sets the timings and other necessary system voltages needed to run at the rated speed.

 

However , with DELLS, the BIOS is usually locked and does not give youthe options to adjust those voltages.Most of the time DELLs need DELL branded memory because the sticks are programed with the necessary voltages and timings needed to run on their systems. Those settings are usually different from third [art memory .So, before you go to return another kit lets check some things out first...

 

Do you have the latest BIOS or F/W for your system?

 

Is the BIOS locked? If not ,is there a setting in there called XMP? If so enable it then run memtest.

 

If not maybey we can set them manually, but that depends on the BIOS....