Errors with Corsair Platinum RAM...

[EtheAv8r]

I have recently been getting sudden crashes and re-boots on one of my PCs.

As part of my investigations I have run MemTest86+ and it returned 96 errors in the first full pass.

The RAM is Corsair Platinum TwinX 1024 DDR XMS3200LL CAS2. It was expensive RAM, but as it carries a lifetime warranty I don't mind.

How do I go about getting this replaced please? I am in the UK. The RAM was purchased on 17 October 2003 from Tekheads. It has never been overvolted, just run at stock.

Thanks.


EDIT: I have taken a picture of the MemTest screen showing the errors with a digital camera.

[acrobat]

Someone will probably help you pretty fast. But in the meantime, I read somewhere that MemTest doesn't like it when your bios has "Legacy USB" support enabled. So you might like to try disabling that, and then see if you still get errors in MemTest.

Hope that helps.

[GoNz0]

you should also try it 1 stick at a time to see if one has gone bad.

they will still RMA both sticks, but if both throw fault, it could be something else, like the motherboard or PSU going bad.

[EtheAv8r]

OK I will check these ideas out... but a RAM problem developing would explain the sudden crop of sudden reboots in a system than has been rock solid for three years.

[Yellowbeard]

Check your Windows Event Viewer after the sudden reboot. This could also be a power supply issue. What are the specifications and model number of your PSU?

[b0redom]

I had a similar problem with the shuttle box I put together. Dropping an extra .1v on top of the 'automatic' memory voltage fixed the problem. You've not installed a new GFX card or anything else which could pull power recently have you?

Tom

[EtheAv8r]

As GoNzO suggested I remove one stick and run Memtest on the other stick - within 10 minutes had over 80 errors. Powered down swapped sticks, ran Memtest for over an hour - 0 errors. Reverted to the other stick and tried different slots - ERRORS. Reverted back to the other clean stick.... ZERO errors. I believe I have good reason to say I have a faulty RAM stick.

I do not believe it is a PSU problem, it is an Antec Sonata Case with an Antec TruePower 380W PSU which is more than adequate for this Athlon 3200+ Socket A system, which as I said had been rock solid stable for a little over 3 years, and has suddenly started crashing. Nothing has changed on this PC - no new hardware - it is as it has been for years. It is regularly cleaned and kept dust and fluff free with an appropriate air canister, so is not overheating and all fans are tip-top, temps are normal.

There is a System Error Category (102) Event 1003 in the event log that co-insides with each of the last three crashes.

So how do I get replacement RAM please - as this is a matched pair, both will need to be replaced?

I have 2GB Corsair Value RAM in another new PC I put together for my daughter a couple of weeks ago, and 2GB Corsair Dominator 8500 in my own new PC build put together last week - so I am a great supporter of Corsair and am prepared to pay premium prices for premium quality (product and support). One always hopes you won't actually need the support, but on the odd occassion you do, one hopes it lives up to expectations....

[Yellowbeard]

Corsair TSX Tech Support Express, RMA, and Warranty LinkI would suggest the TSX Express method and start your RMA with them.

[EtheAv8r]

OK Wilco.

Thanks.

[EtheAv8r]

OK, it has taken a little time, but really, what fantastic service from Corsair!!!

As advised I contacted Corsair tech Support and arranged an RMA. They confirmed one of the matched pairs was faulty, but said unfortunately they no longer manufactured that particular TwinX any more so offered me:

A comparable PC3200 DDL matched pair
A replacement matched pair of DDL2
My money back.

This is with RAM that is 3.5 years old. It cost £200 plus VAT. Replacement today is half that price – or less!

I accepted their kind offer – it allowed me to buy 2Gb RAM (2 * 1Gb) to replace the 1 Gb (2*512) originally in place. Corsair of course!! Got a cheque (US$) for the original cost (excluding the VAT), and my bank processed it in 3 days for an £8 fee. Result!

In future I will only buy Corsair RAM – with that kind of backup and support why buy anyone else’s?

I build quite a few ‘workhorse’ computers for people – generally nothing exotic, but they will all only ever get Corsair RAM.