Do you have ANY quality control?

[chrestomanci]

Two weeks ago, I brought parts to build a Core Duo system, including a 2Gb kit of Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 from scan When I came to build the system, I found that one on the sticks was so bad that the system would not POST with it installed, the other stick was fine.

I know that the fault is due to the motherboard or processor, because I tested the other module on it’s own by running memtest86+ overnight and no errors where reported.

Scan gave me an RMA, but insisted that I return both sticks, leaving me without a usable system. Thankfully they processed the RMA more quickly than usual, and the replacements arrived on Monday, however, when I tested those memtest found more errors. This time it was a dozen or so locations that came up faulty but even one fault is unacceptable.

These errors are occurring at stock speeds and voltages. The system is brand new and no part of it has ever been over clocked.

As you can probably tell, I am not a happy Corsair customer any more.

One batch of faulty RAM I could put down to bad luck, but twice in quick succession suggests something is going wrong. How much testing is done when the RAM sticks are assembled? Does every stick get tested or just a statistical sample? The first lot I got was so bad that it should have failed even a minimal test.

[dangel]

Have you tried the memory on a _different_ motherboard? When you've got both sticks in the memory is in DDR mode which has lower tolerences for error etc. I've had problems with motherboards in the past that would fail in DDR mode (two sticks) but would pass both sticks with only one fitting (at a time). Did you test the bad stick on it's own as well is the other module?

Just to be clear is all..

I've had a lot of corsair memory and never had a bad stick from the get-go, only had them fail after an extended period of time (which happens).

[chrestomanci]

Have you tried the memory on a _different_ motherboard? When you've got both sticks in the memory is in DDR mode which has lower tolerences for error etc. I've had problems with motherboards in the past that would fail in DDR mode (two sticks) but would pass both sticks with only one fitting (at a time). Did you test the bad stick on it's own as well is the other module?

I don't have any other DDR-2 systems.

As I say, this is new memory at stock timings. I don't think I am being unreasonable to I expect it to work.

You are right that running memory in dual channel mode places more stress on the memory, but that is stress that the memory is specified to support, so I would expect it to run without errors.

Just to be clear is all..

I've had a lot of corsair memory and never had a bad stick from the get-go, only had them fail after an extended period of time (which happens).

I guess you have been lucky. I have not.

[dangel]

I wasn't suggesting your wrong in expecting it to work, just drawing on my past experiences with memory not working in particular motherboards (but working fine in others). I've even had an ASUS board that would fail memtest constantly if USB legacy support was enabled in the bios!

Best of luck in sorting it - worth checking in the corsair forums for people with your motherboard

[chrestomanci]

I've even had an ASUS board that would fail memtest constantly if USB legacy support was enabled in the bios!

Mine is an ASUS board, so I will try turning off the USB support and testing again, but from the pattern of falures (a few wrong bytes at about 800Mb from the base of memory) I doubt that is the cause.

[Yellowbeard]

ASUS boards have a conflict with Memtest and you must disable Legacy USB Support in the bios for the test to run properly. And yes, we do have quality control. EVERY XMS module is hand tested by a human a total of 3 times before it leaves our factory. If you have a bad module, we will replace the set.

[wesleyaldred]

chrestomanci,

If after you try this you still encounter errors, please contact us (Scan) and we will arrange for a new RMA and get the replacements tested on our test benches here before shipping to yourself.

[chrestomanci]

ASUS boards have a conflict with Memtest and you must disable Legacy USB Support in the bios for the test to run properly.

OK, I have disabled Legacy USB Support in the bios, and I am running Memtest now, and sofar there are no errors. I should appoligise

However, it does imply that there is a bug in the ASUS bios, as it looks like when you have Legacy USB Support enabled, the BIOS is using some memory for it, but still allowing real mode programs such as memtest or opperating systems to access that memory. Do you know if that is the case, or is there something going on such as a bug in memtest?

And yes, we do have quality control. EVERY XMS module is hand tested by a human a total of 3 times before it leaves our factory. If you have a bad module, we will replace the set.

Thats good to hear, though how do you explain that first stick that was so bad my system would not POST?

If after you try this you still encounter errors, please contact us (Scan) and we will arrange for a new RMA and get the replacements tested on our test benches here before shipping to yourself.

Thanks, though it looks like I won't be needing an RMA.

[Yellowbeard]

Do you know if that is the case, or is there something going on such as a bug in memtest?


Thats good to hear, though how do you explain that first stick that was so bad my system would not POST?

Electronic parts fail sometimes. Even with our procedure, this is unavoidable.

As for Memtest, there is no bug with the bios or the test. There is simply a conflict between how ASUS implements a particular bios function (bios shadowing I think) and how Memtest runs.

[dangel]

OK, I have disabled Legacy USB Support in the bios, and I am running Memtest now, and sofar there are no errors. I should appoligise

Just live with the fact that if you want to use memtest you need to alter that setting - with it enabled there aren't actually any memory errors it's just that there's an incompatability with memtest. I have exactly the same issue with my board and hence why I suggested it.

[Yellowbeard]

Yes, and you can leave USB Legacy Support enabled for normal operation. There is no conflict otherwise, only with Memtest.