No RAM errors individually, but errors together

D

djskribbles

Legend
I just built this PC:
AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus (stock, including the fan)
Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H
Mushkin Silverline Stiletto 2x2GB DDR3 1333Mhz
Antec EA650 EarthWatts 650W PSU
WD 1TB Black
Win 7 x64

I was getting errors in memtest86 unless I bumped the DDR3 voltage by 0.05v. I set the DDR3 voltage back to stock and tested each stick individually and one of the sticks had errors so I'm RMA'ing the RAM.
My brother is building a very similar computer, so I thew in his Patriot 2x2GB running at stock voltage and I got errors within seconds of prime95 and within minutes of memtest86. I tested them individually and I didn't get any errors -- only when they're together.

I still haven't got my Mushkin RAM back from RMA, so I can't test the new kit yet. His motherboard (ASUS 880G) was DOA so we haven't tested his RAM in his computer either.
 
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Just a thought but have you updated your BIOS? Sometimes they expand mem compatibility as they go.

Edit: Actually, I guess that's not a good idea if you can't trust your RAM.
 
errors on my PC. His PC hasn't even posted yet because his mobo was DOA and is still waiting for his replacement.

I'm really hoping that my replacement Mushkin RAM will be problem free, and that the Patriot is just not fully compatible with my mobo. For my bro's sake, I hope his RAM works in his build.
 
No, not yet. The manual recommends the two blue slots (two closest to the CPU). I suppose I'll give it a shot tomorrow (I need sleep).
 
Worth trying Ganged/UnGanged modes.
Also AMD IMC doesn't like too much ELPIDA Hyper's for some reason. They work, but depending on mobo BIOS they might be unstable or not clock at all.
I had to return my 'faulty' G.Skill's RIPJAWS 2000MHz CL9 to retailer because of constant system instabilities, but they refuse RMA on a ground it passed their memtest procedure several times on P55 mobo.

I still don't trust them sticks because one of them worked for me and not the other, but I'm now happy user of OCZ Reaper memory kit.
 
Nowadays its very important that you check your ram compatibility, both with the motherboard maker and with the ram maker. I've seen occasions where the motherboards manufacturer recommends some ram, but the ram manufacturer says that it's not compatible, but still gives settings where it is supposed to work (but doesn't always).

It's also the case that RAM nowadays will have a conservative SPD that allows it to auto-configure and boot safely on most systems, but then you are supposed to change speed or voltage settings for full operation. Check what voltage your RAM is specced to need to run at, not just what it will boot at.

You also need to check that the latest BIOS isn't causing people problems, and that it might have an expanded ram table - most initial BIOS updates usually list improved RAM compatibility.
 
That's a great post, BZB.

I truly didn't know modern PCs were so picky. You'd think DDR3 is DDR3, anything goes right? Well, within reason/specs of course... Then again I had my own Dell XPS clunker freak out over mixing different revisions of Corsair DDR2 sticks, so yeah. Maybe it's a true jungle out there.
 
I was a little surprised when researching my latest ASUS board--they have the list broken down by CPU speed and single channel and dual channel AND dual channel 4-stick AND single-sided AND double sided. Support varies based on all of those. Your best bet is to peruse the manufacturer boards and see what other people have working (and how their RMA experiences were ;))
 
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Grall said:
That's a great post, BZB.

I truly didn't know modern PCs were so picky. You'd think DDR3 is DDR3, anything goes right? Well, within reason/specs of course... Then again I had my own Dell XPS clunker freak out over mixing different revisions of Corsair DDR2 sticks, so yeah. Maybe it's a true jungle out there.
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I speak from bitter experience having had all the things I've posted about happen to me. Now I double check the recommended Qualified Vendor lists for the manufacturers of both the RAM and motherboard, and check their support forums too.

You even have to check that the RAM heatsinks are not too tall to go under any large CPU heatsinks where the RAM slots are too close. Heck, even my new 5950 will only fit if the unused RAM slots have their locking mechanisms in the closed position.

As the manufacturers of all these components try to differentiate themselves with new tricks, you have to be more careful than ever that RAM A fits in Slot B with Heatsink C and graphics card D inside Case E.
 
Thanks guys.

I've never had ram compatibility problems before, it really sucks that compatibility is more of an issue nowadays.

Once again, I really hope my Mushkin RAM works out okay for me, and for my brother's sake, his Patriot kit works on his ASUS board.

Btw, I tried the other ram slots, and the same thing happens.
 
Completely OT, but I have a question about CnQ (cool n quiet).
When you enable this, does the specified vcore in the BIOS simply set the max the vcore will go at load? Or does it also set the minimum somehow?
For example, since I'm not overclocking, I like to undervolt my processors whenever possible. I found the lowest voltage for my X4 640 to be 1.225v with CnQ off. If I enable CnQ now, will the voltage fluctuate from X to 1.225v, and will it be stable like it was with CnQ off? Is there really any harm in enabling CnQ ever? I usually turned it off because I used to overclock and have been told that it's best to disable it when doing so, but if it works as it should, it doesn't seem like it should be a problem, even when overclocking.

Also, what's the difference between C1E and CnQ?
 
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Grall said:
That's a great post, BZB.

I truly didn't know modern PCs were so picky. You'd think DDR3 is DDR3, anything goes right? Well, within reason/specs of course... Then again I had my own Dell XPS clunker freak out over mixing different revisions of Corsair DDR2 sticks, so yeah. Maybe it's a true jungle out there.
Click to expand...

It's nothing new, and it's interesting to note that RAM compatability is WAY better now than it was 10+ years ago.

Back in the 90's (especially the early 90's) for instance, mixing different RAM modules from different manufacturer's could have quite unexpected and unpleasant results. :p And even better there wasn't an easily available mem tester like MemTest available to your average computer user back then.

Ah, building computers now days is such a breeze. No longer having to worry about DMA/IRQ conflicts. No longer having to worry (usually) about expansion slots sharing the same IRQ. Cross manufacturer hardware compatibility is so much better. :D

Regards,
SB
 
^Eh, I don't know about that. Since I've been building PCs (back in the Athlon XP days), I've never had RAM compatibility issues until now. I've even mixed brands without problems running in dual-channel. So either I have shitty luck right now, or compatibility issues are more of an issue these days.
 
djskribbles said:
^Eh, I don't know about that. Since I've been building PCs (back in the Athlon XP days), I've never had RAM compatibility issues until now. I've even mixed brands without problems running in dual-channel. So either I have shitty luck right now, or compatibility issues are more of an issue these days.
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Heh, yeah... ditto. I've not run into RAM compatibility issues ever (aside from fickle laptops)... :s
 
djskribbles said:
^Eh, I don't know about that. Since I've been building PCs (back in the Athlon XP days), I've never had RAM compatibility issues until now. I've even mixed brands without problems running in dual-channel. So either I have shitty luck right now, or compatibility issues are more of an issue these days.
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Heh, I'm going all the way back to 8088/86, 80286, 80386, 80486 days. :)

Things started to get better with the introduction of Win95 (virtual/software DMAs) and then Pentium series of CPUs and MBs. By the year 2000, things had greatly improved in the realms of hardware compatibility.

SDRAM from SDR and then DDR also greatly increased memory compatibility between differing manufacturers.

Regards,
SB
 
Ah the days where you could increase your SRAM cache on your motherboard or the VRAM on your video card by adding more memory chips. When DRAM had leg pins and holes on the motherboard, instead of the sockets you have nowadays, and you always managed to bend a bunch of them inserting/removing and eventually break some off.
 
Try upping the CPU/NB voltage slightly to help stabilise the memory controller.

Also could be that the memory controller in your chip sucks just like my 640 x4 did, try running RAM under rated speeds.
 
djskribbles said:
Completely OT, but I have a question about CnQ (cool n quiet).
When you enable this, does the specified vcore in the BIOS simply set the max the vcore will go at load? Or does it also set the minimum somehow?
For example, since I'm not overclocking, I like to undervolt my processors whenever possible. I found the lowest voltage for my X4 640 to be 1.225v with CnQ off. If I enable CnQ now, will the voltage fluctuate from X to 1.225v, and will it be stable like it was with CnQ off? Is there really any harm in enabling CnQ ever? I usually turned it off because I used to overclock and have been told that it's best to disable it when doing so, but if it works as it should, it doesn't seem like it should be a problem, even when overclocking.

Also, what's the difference between C1E and CnQ?
Click to expand...

Depends if your voltage option in BIOS is regulating Offset of CPU vid or vid itself.
If you can select Offset then your CPU voltage will be lower by certain amount from CPU default voltages. If your BIOS can set only CPU vid value, then after setting a value it either won't let you enable C'n'Q or simply after booting to Windows your voltages will be set back to stock.
Most mobos set Offset voltage.
 
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