Problem with my memory or something else?

[losimagic]

I started this thread over in the general technical help forum but now that it's looking like the memory I thought I'd come straight to the manufacturer

System:
Asus p5q-e
Intel E8500
Corsair TwinX 4GB Twin2x4096-6400C5
Gigabyte 1GB HD4850
Samsung 500GB Spinpoint F1
Vista Home Premium

Within the BIOS the frequency was set to DDR2-800 and voltage at 1.9v.

Problems first arose after I installed Vista. I first tried to install drivers for the 4850, however, the second I ran the installer and told Vista I was sure I wanted to run it, I got a message saying:

"This program might not have installed correctly"
I could either 'reinstall using recommended settings' or say 'this program installed correctly'

Neither option did anything, the box just closed.

I turned of UAC and tried again - this time nothing happened when I ran the installer.

I ran memtest on each stick. 1st stick completed 5 passes, no errors. 2nd stick gave me errors straight away.

Whenever I tried to restart with just the 1 good stick in I would either get Blue Screens of Death or blank black screens.

Contacted Scan to begin the RMA procedure but as it would take up to 5 days to receive new ram, I also ordered another set.

Received that set yesterday, installed it, switched on the system, nothing, no POST, no motherboard beeps.

removed both sticks, installed 1 and ran memtest, it completed 1 pass with no errors. Replaced it with the other stick - no POST or beeps. A really dead stick?

I tried to install Vista with just the 1 good stick and at various times during many installations I either just got blank black screens for 5+ minutes (that I had to power off/on to get around) or Blue Screens of Death.

Looked on the Asus site to see that my new motherboards bios was very old and several revisions included memory compatibility updates so I updated it.

Used the 1 good stick from the NEW set.

The system ran and I began to install Vista. After the first black/grey screen with the 'windows is copying files' screen, it went to a blank black screen for 5+ minutes - I powered off/on and tried again, this time I got much further into the installation, Vista performed it's first installation reboot but after the vista startup progress bar i got the blank black screen again for 5+ minutes. On the reboot I got the 'windows error recovery screen' with the option to start normally, start in safe mode, etc etc. Restarted a few times and either got the error recovery screen or the blank black screen again, and occasionally, a BSOD.


Throughout the whole procedure I did try changing the voltage and frequency to auto but that often made things worse.

Apologies for the very long post, but I think I have a very long and bad problem

It's also entirely possible that I've left a few things out, but with the number of times I've installed/uninstalled ram and vista over the last few days, it's all become a bit of a blur, lol


Thanks for reading!

[Yellowbeard]

When you were running Memtest, did you disable Legacy USB Support?

[losimagic]

When you were running Memtest, did you disable Legacy USB Support?

No, what difference would that make?

[Yellowbeard]

Memtest has a conflict with this setting on ASUS MOBOs. To properly run Memtest, you need to disable it.

[losimagic]

OK thanks, I'll run it again. However, shouldn't it show errors on BOTH sticks and not just one from one set? (and fail to boot at all with the dodgy stick from the other set)

[Yellowbeard]

I have seen it go both ways. In general, the Memtest result is unreliable if Legacy USB was enabled.

Also, make sure you have the memory manually set to the testing timings and proper voltage. And, make sure your CPU is at stock speed also so that it is taken out of the equation.

[jem]

Ive got a asus mobo i cant say ive ever had any problems with Legacy.

[Yellowbeard]

Ive got a asus mobo i cant say ive ever had any problems with Legacy.

That's all well n good. However, I can assure that it is necessary.

[losimagic]

I have seen it go both ways. In general, the Memtest result is unreliable if Legacy USB was enabled.

Also, make sure you have the memory manually set to the testing timings and proper voltage. And, make sure your CPU is at stock speed also so that it is taken out of the equation.

Could you tell me the correct timings/voltage please?

I have the voltage set to 1.9v but I don't really understand or know about timings

Thanks

[Yellowbeard]

Corsair TwinX 4GB Twin2x4096-6400C5

Your manual details how and where in the BIOS to change these settings.

[losimagic]

woah, that doesn't look anything like my ram

This is what I have - http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=632574

[Yellowbeard]

Oooops, my mistake. Try this one: http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/T...096-6400C5.pdf

[losimagic]

Thanks, so the timings part is the 5-5-5-18 bit?

Will set that and memtest all my sticks again

I know ideally 5+ scans are usually best, but is 1 usually sufficient?

[Yellowbeard]

Thanks, so the timings part is the 5-5-5-18 bit?

Yes, please set these manually in the BIOS.

Since you are troubleshooting, I'd suggest 3-5 passes minimum.

[losimagic]

OK, I'm in the BIOS now and it's scaring me a bit.

I changed the DRAM Timing Control from Auto to Manual and that opened up a lot more options - these look relevant:

edit: just above these numbers it has:
1st information 5-5-5-18-3-42-6-3

CAS# Latency [5 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay [5 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# Precharge [5 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# Activate to Precha [15 DRAM Clocks]

Do I want to change that last one to 18?

Sorry for so many questions... my previous builds have 'just worked'

[Yellowbeard]

1st information 5-5-5-18-3-42-6-3

DRAM RAS# Activate to Precha [15 DRAM Clocks]

Do I want to change that last one to 18?

Yes, set this to 18.