Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Memtest errors. What do they mean?

  1. #1
    explorer.exe
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Crewe
    Posts
    360
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Memtest errors. What do they mean?

    I've just installed 2 512MB sticks of DDR RAM (Crucial Ballistix PC4000) to go with the 2 512MB sticks already in the machine. Games that ran fine before the upgrade now crash quite quickly, so obviously something has gone wrong with the RAM.

    I ran a copy of Memtest i had on a bootable CD (v3.2). After 1:14 the tests had ran twice, and I had 16 errors on test 5 (8 on the first test, 8 on the second), and 2 on test 7 (both of these on the first test).

    I wrote down some of the numbers in the error details, and I can provide them if needed, but I was hoping that someone could tell me what these errors actually mean, and if it can diagnose exactly where the fault lies.

    I intend to test each stick individually soon.

    (P.S. All sticks are running at 400)

  2. #2
    awm
    awm is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    US
    Posts
    920
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    7 times in 7 posts
    As I'm sure you've figured out it means that there is some sort of memory corruption, i.e., what you write to memory is not neccesarily what you get. This can make any program crash since a if a pointer to an address in memory is changed a program will try to access an illegal bit of memory with unknown contents, need I explain any more. To solve the issue a few questions:

    Any OCing?
    Any thermal issues you've had with the computer?
    Have you reseated the memory and visually inspected contacts?
    Can you RMA the stick?

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    12,113
    Thanks
    906
    Thanked
    580 times in 405 posts
    I've always binned ram that didnt work at its rated speed.
    If its new send it back.

  4. #4
    explorer.exe
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Crewe
    Posts
    360
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Never had any thermal issues with the PC. Temps are still fine now.
    No OCing. I tried OC a graphics card about 5 years ago. It went wrong. OCing is banned from my PC .

    As I said, I'll be pulling the sticks out and trialling them individually, but I was hoping that all these numbers from the errors (Failing Address, Good, Bad, Err-Bits) might yield some clues as to what exactly is to blame.

    What is slightly bizzare is before the new sticks went in, the mem was running fine at DDR400 speeds. When the new sticks went in, the BIOS automatically went to 333. These new sticks are rated at 500, which is confirmed by CPU-Z, so I can't figure that out. I manually set them to 400 in the BIOS.

  5. #5
    awm
    awm is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    US
    Posts
    920
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    7 times in 7 posts
    I'd do a few more quick test, but if it doesn't work you paid to buy them to have them work not to debug them, so....

    Quote Originally Posted by Trig
    If its new send it back.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    859
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    8 times in 8 posts
    The drop to 333 is normal when using 4 sticks on an S939 set-up. It's a limitation of the CPU.

    Also, if the 2 new sticks are different from the old 2, then it could be incompatability that's causing the problem.

    Only way to be sure is to test all 4 sticks individually. If all pass, try the 2 new ones in dual channel mode. If they are still OK, you could buy another 2 of these and sell the old 2.

    A lot of ifs there, though.

  7. #7
    Senior Member charleski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    1,586
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    52 times in 45 posts
    If you're setting the timings manually make sure the command rate is 2T.

  8. #8
    explorer.exe
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Crewe
    Posts
    360
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Well, I've tested the 2 new ones individually, and together as a pair in dual channel, and they work fine.

    All sticks work fine together at 333. I wasn't aware that there was a speed limit on 4 sticks. That kinda leaves me running at 333 if the errors show up when I force it to 400.

    Am I going to take much of a performance hit from dropping to 333 from 400?

  9. #9
    awm
    awm is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    US
    Posts
    920
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    7 times in 7 posts
    Didn't read careful enough. Yes 4 sticks can be a problem due to the unpleasant nature of capacitance and refelection of electrical signals (due to termination, or the lack thereof). Start by taking charlski's advice. If that doesn't work try things like swithching the positions of the pairs, you never know. As for the preformace hit you could benchmark you favorite games with 2X512 @400 and 4X512 @333 and see which works better. If the memory is not helping you return it while you still can.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. AB9 Pro Fail Memtest
    By Ronaldsoft in forum abit.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 09-09-2006, 10:19 PM
  2. memtest: single channel passes, dual channel fails?
    By Citizen K in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 26-06-2006, 01:37 AM
  3. Event 51 errors.
    By Goberpiles in forum SCAN.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 04-05-2006, 09:13 AM
  4. Memtest
    By ajbrun in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 17-07-2005, 11:42 PM
  5. Memtest Results
    By mike_w in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 07-04-2005, 02:00 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •