Motherboard killing ram?

Hi guys, i built a pc for a friend based on a p5k-e 2gb ddr corsair 8600gts etc. Before i gave it to him i ran memtest and prime96 for 12 hours with no problems. Just over a month later his pc wont get into windows due to a bsod, safe mode is the same too. I whipped the ram out - after trying different hdd etc (errors during install) and put the ram in mine = i was getting errors with memtest but prime95 was ok.

I then put my ram in his pc and it ran fine - installed xp without a hitch and my ram in his rig is currently running memtest and prime95 without a problem.

What are the chances of the mobo causing this and me getting a phone call in a month? I thought that if the mobo was going to kill the ram or do anything like that it would be instant... Any ideas?

Im just going to try his ram in his pc to see if it gets errors too - now that fresh xp is installed.

Chances of the motherboard killing a single-set of RAM? Very slim. Cheap PSU delivering unstable power would be more likely.

It was probably just too close to it's ratings when it was speed-binned and it's failed, unless you've over-volted it?

Just RMA it and the chances are the replacement stuff would be fine.

Power supply did come to mind, Its a 650w ez-cool, not the best make in the world but its all default and i dont think he uses the system for much, well its his g/f's. What do you mean by speed-binned?

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Originally Posted by this_is_gav

Chances of the motherboard killing a single-set of RAM? Very slim. Cheap PSU delivering unstable power would be more likely.

It was probably just too close to it's ratings when it was speed-binned and it's failed, unless you've over-volted it?

Just RMA it and the chances are the replacement stuff would be fine.

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I dunno.
Clunk had a Asus Commando IIRC and it kept killing his Crucial memory......im sure he went through 3 or 4 sets.

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Originally Posted by Totem

Power supply did come to mind, Its a 650w ez-cool, not the best make in the world but its all default and i dont think he uses the system for much, well its his g/f's. What do you mean by speed-binned?

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That PSU is one of the poorest on the market and it needs changing asap even if its not the culprit.

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Originally Posted by Blitzen

I dunno.
Clunk had a Asus Commando IIRC and it kept killing his Crucial memory......im sure he went through 3 or 4 sets.

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The Ballistix brand that that tends to go through phases of death? Yeah, OK, so I'm talking DDR1 more than 2, just pulling legs. ;)

I said slim. Of course it can happen, but it's hardly the most likely culprit. ;)

Completely agree on the PSU. It needs replaced irrespective of whether it caused the problem or not.

I changed the ezcool for an aerocool 550w so hopefully if that was the problem it wont happen again.

Generally would a motherboard destry ram instantly if it was the cause?

Got a text off him this morning saying it wont even turn on :( green light is on the mobo. It was working at mine but when it got to his it wasn't. Cant be the psu as it powered my pc ok (it was my psu i gave him).
my sepcs are: p5k premium e6850 5 hdd's and 2 dvd drives with a 7800gtx.

He says that everything is plugged in ok and i walked him through checking the 4pin 12v connector and the power supply to the mobo but nothing happens when pressing the power button. Any ideas?

His specs are: pk5-e 2gb corsair ddr2 800mhz, e6750, 8600gts, 250gb WD sata.

Do the fans spin up?

Not a thing, the cpu fan jerks a tiny bit but thats all. He checked the switch pins are connected to the board. He's tried a different power cable, took the board battery out and put it back in. Even tried a different power socket.

What im thinking is either: Motherboard shorting out somewhere or the motherboard is dead. But why would it just die from a car trip. The ram was fresh out of my system and again was working before he left. Even if the ram was faulty the board would still boot up.

Once I accidentally plugged a 4pin molex the wrong way around (12v to 5v and vice versa) on a DVD-ROM drive, god knows how it fit but it did somehow and I got the exact same problem, destroyed the DVD-ROM drive but the PSU was OK.

In case something like that happened you should test if the PSU is ok alone by shorting the PS-ON (Green) wire with a ground (Black) wire on the 20/24pin plug, if the PSU fans spins up fine then you can rule out the PSU.

Ill give that a go, hes brining it back to me on saturday from brighton - ill be able to double check theything that he has tried.

Here's some stuff for no Power:

• Microswitch (does it click/check plugged into header/lights on?)
• Power cable? (check fuse/test with monitor cable)
• Power supply?
• Damaged USB port?
• Wrong connector on IEEE1394 header?
• Rocker switch on PSU?
• Voltage switch on PSU?

And some tips for no posting (power but nothing happening):

• Attached devices, internally or externally (disconnect)
• Damaged USB port (check rear ports/disconnect front port header)
• Could it be dust? Cooked CPU or GFX card?
• Motherboard (remove everything connected to the MB except power, any beeps?)
• Memory (remove check for beeps/try 1 stick at a time)
• If you have a card-reader or any internal USB devices (disconnect)

I know a lot of these are generic and may not apply but I hope something might work. Good luck :confused: