"system failed memory test" after 10 days :(

i was hoping that a PC is not just for Christmas, but mine managed to last until Jan 02 :(

Built it just before Christmas. Everything has been ok until today, when I got 'system failed memory test' message repeatedly at start-up and the PC wouldn't boot. I re-seating everything, and still the same message. I got the board to work with 1 stick of memory, then the other, but not both at the same time. Other than the original bios setup, when 'cool & quiet' was turned off and the DDR voltage set to 2.70 as recommended for the memory, I've not changed anything else. PC has worked fine until now, all temps are low, and the only other changes I've made are to bloat the drive with more software.

I'm a bit perplexed as to why it worked fine for approx 10 days then failed. My past experience is that things fail right away or keep working for a long time :( Not sure what to do next :(

Build:-
CPU: Athlon: 3700+ retail
Motherboard: A8N-SLI Deluxe S939
Video: Asus 6600GT oem
Memory: 2GB Corsair VS2GBKIT400C3 (2x1gb) - currently only using 1gb :(
PSU: Tagan U22-580w
Drive: Samasung Spinpoint 250GB SATAII
DVD Writer: NEC 4550
Operating System: XP pro OEM
Case: Gigabyte Aurora 3D Silver
Floppy: Sony

whats teh default voltage for that ram - you could have fried it putting too many volts thru?

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Originally Posted by 5lab

whats teh default voltage for that ram - you could have fried it putting too many volts thru?

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the board default is 2.60. Checked some memory forums and setup guides, and they all recommended running at 2.7v Hope I haven't fried anything. Perhaps next time I'll buy not build.

try removing the RAM and reposition it again... clear ur CMOS, leave it there for like an hour or so.. Helped my last BSOD. Dun know if the 1 hr thingy is nec... but I remember putting it like 1 min or so; din work.

2.6V should be plenty.. let the system decide them voltage for u.. thats the safest during troubleshoot. Try to run ur memory on AUTO and check using CPU-Z wat timings are they running at.

No biggy, I had the same problems when I began running 4 sticks.. I would assume ur situation is roughly similar (other than 1 vs 4 sticks). Cant even pass the initial memory check. Keeps telling me the memory failed till I swapped DIMM 1 and 2 to 3 and 4 and vice versa.

Defintely try removing the battery, rather than just clear the CMOS. If you can try the memory in another computer, as it may be the mobo or even the CPU that's causing the problem.

Reset the Cmos ant that defaulted all the bios settings (although I couldn't find a way of removing the battery :/) but still get the same problem - ok with 1 stick - not working with 2.

Try using the other DIMM channel to run dual channel, i.e. if ur using DIMM 1 and 2 try 3 and 4.

Check if one of ur memory's duff, try both sticks running singular see if ones giving u errors and the other isnt. If both sticks aint duff, its either the CPU or mobo. My guess its most probably the chip, if its any biggy.. u cud always RMA it.

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Originally Posted by tonytol

Reset the Cmos ant that defaulted all the bios settings (although I couldn't find a way of removing the battery :/) but still get the same problem - ok with 1 stick - not working with 2.

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A very small screwdriver slipped down the side should give enough purchase to remove it. This cleared a problem for me on the board that resetting the CMOS didn't (but this may have been a problem with one of the early BIOSes).

In addition to what Sawyen suggests, you could also try running the RAM not in dual channel, also try totally loosening the timings of the RAM.

Been too busy to try anything until last night. I cleaered CMOS, updated the chipset * bios to latest version & tried various combos of memory. Single stick of either works fine, but not 2 together in the 'blue' slots. However, they work fine together in the 'black' slots. I'll see how that goes, but I'm obviously worried that they will fail again.

You should test each stick, one at a time with memtest, this wiill tell you if they are faulty or just incompatable

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Originally Posted by Max Tractor

You should test each stick, one at a time with memtest, this wiill tell you if they are faulty or just incompatable

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He said he already tried each individual sticks. Could be just a DUFF slot, thats enuf to justify RMA i think.. If u have a fren that has another matched pair, see if his work on the green slots.

The last time I RMAed my board but got sent back saying it was fine.. the board seemed DUFFed for my 3000+.. Then I stuck that 3000+ to my m8s Neo2 and it worked.. but this AV8 takes all other CPU OTHER than my 3000+, blinding questions... and that cost me £35 from Scan.

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Originally Posted by sawyen

He said he already tried each individual sticks.

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Could you point me to where in this thread, he has actually tested the memory?

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Originally Posted by tonytol

Been too busy to try anything until last night. I cleaered CMOS, updated the chipset * bios to latest version & tried various combos of memory. Single stick of either works fine, but not 2 together in the 'blue' slots. However, they work fine together in the 'black' slots. I'll see how that goes, but I'm obviously worried that they will fail again.

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You've got one of those annoying little glitches. When you tried single stick did you use the same blue slot, or did you try both? It's possible one of the blue slots is duff.

I ran memtest one stick at a time and it passed, however, I did try it in the same slot! Thanks Thorsson, I have something else to test now. I'll try each stick in the other blue slot. It's been working fine for a few days now with both sticks in the black slots. I'm still a bit confused as to why it worked fine for 10 days in the blue though.

I've asked a lot of people about the problem and been told by each one to RMA a different part each time!! (memory, board, graphics card, psu..)