Problem Solving with recent build

elaineofshalott · 09-08-2012, 07:34 AM

I built a new computer about 8 weeks ago. Build will be listed at the end of my post. After about a month I started getting BSOD. I traced the problem to one of the two RAM sticks. I RMA'd it. I replaced the RAM and did the Memory Diagnostic everything seemed to check out but I soon had BSOD that indicated memory problems again. I ran one stick at a time and was able to trace it back to one of the two memory sticks. But it was the stick that had been in the same position, although it now gives me problems regardless of location. My question is should I be doing something else beyond a second RMA on the RAM? What are the chances that something else such as my MOBO is making the RAM in that slot go bad?

Case: Antec One
Processor: Intel Core i5-3570 Ivy Bridge
MOBO: ASRock B75 PRO3
SSD : Crucial M4 128 GB
RAM: Patriot 8 GB
OS: Windows 7
DVD Burner: ASUS 24X DVD Burner
Hard Drive 1: Hitachi 1TB
Hard Drive 2: 500 GB WD
Video Card: Sapphire 5770
Power Supply: Antec Earthwats 380

Big Roger · 09-08-2012, 08:14 AM

Are you making sure that the motherboard's BIOS is set correctly with regards to RAM spec/CPU spec etc? What voltage does your RAM require?

Are you running memtest86+ to check?

elaineofshalott · 09-08-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Roger

Are you making sure that the motherboard's BIOS is set correctly with regards to RAM spec/CPU spec etc? What voltage does your RAM require?

Are you running memtest86+ to check?

I have everything set on the auto settings in the bios. It says the voltage on the RAM is 1.585V.

I was using the windows 7 memory diagnostic. Where would I get memtest86+?

DSF · 09-08-2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elaineofshalott

I have everything set on the auto settings in the bios. It says the voltage on the RAM is 1.585V.

I was using the windows 7 memory diagnostic. Where would I get memtest86+?

You can download a CD image in lots of places, but a good thing to do is probably to download a disc image or USB bootable of something like the Ultimate Boot CD. It contains lots of utilities for maintenance/diagnostic purposes including memtest86+.

If you want to be thorough about the testing fire up memtest with only one stick of RAM and let it run for a long time, for example the entire time you're at work, or overnight. If you want to be reasonably sure whether the problem is the motherboard or RAM, test each stick by itself in more than one slot.

elaineofshalott · 09-08-2012, 09:41 AM

Thanks, this is my first build so I'm still learning.

Big Roger · 09-08-2012, 10:02 AM

Ask as much as you need to then if it's your first build. What I'd recommend would be to go to the BIOS and input exactly what the RAM voltage requirement is. After that I would also make sure your CPU has it's VCORE set by spec. Now it may be, particularly with the CPU, that you don't need the voltage set as high. I'd be intent on making absolutely sure that those two important components are running with their specifications.

The RAM will also have certain timings. It may well be wise to input these exact details. Normally the RAM specifications will be printed on a sticker on the actual modules.

For the CPU, well there is probably a setting that will be its stock frequency but the difficulty is that it may not be the stock frequency that works for your CPU or your board...

Setting everything to auto in BIOS is often the best thing for many, but in my experience and with a few PCs I've troubleshot, the RAM and CPU voltage, once set to a recommended spec or tested spec, resulted in no random blue screens or failures that had previously been an issue.

I would instantly run a memtest 86+ after this, which you can download as a USB installer version (much better than wasting a CD unless you have a rewritable CD) it will run and format a USB stick to be able to be booted from. Boot from this stick either by setting it as first boot device in BIOS or by pressing an F12 key or whatever your motherboard requires to allow you to choose custom boot device from a 'BBS' menu, as it's known.

Use this>:
http://www.memtest.org/download/4.20....installer.zip

elaineofshalott · 09-09-2012, 06:28 PM

OK. I was testing the stick that seems to be good in each slot. In the third slot memtest86+ was showing the latency settings as 6-6-6-20 even though the RAM is 11-11-11-20. I stopped the test since I didn't know if continuing could be damaging. Is this a problem? The BIOS settings are the same although I could have missed an auto setting somewhere.

bononos · 09-09-2012, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elaineofshalott

OK. I was testing the stick that seems to be good in each slot. In the third slot memtest86+ was showing the latency settings as 6-6-6-20 even though the RAM is 11-11-11-20. I stopped the test since I didn't know if continuing could be damaging. Is this a problem? The BIOS settings are the same although I could have missed an auto setting somewhere.

Change the mb bios settings(to the correct latency or set it at auto) and save the changes again. The mb bios settings may not be correct although it may seem to be so. Its happens when the mb quietly tries to correct an improper setting that caused it to crash, sort of an idiot-proof maneuver, usually the setting will be set back to stock and idk why the latency is bumped up even more aggressively in your case. I'm reaching a little here but its worth a try.

elaineofshalott · 09-10-2012, 06:55 PM

OK so new checks today. In all slots the BIOS settings are the same.

Slots 1 & 2 - Memtest86+ and CPU-Z both show correctly as 11-11-11-28
Slots 3 & 4 - CPU-Z shows as 11-11-11-28 but Memtest86+ shows as 6-6-6-20

The manual says that if you use 2 sticks it needs to be either 1 & 3 or 2 & 4.

What is my next step?

Big Roger · 09-10-2012, 07:22 PM

Yes, putting the pairs in motherboard recommended slots is correct so put them back for correct dual channel operation.
I've seen a few reports about the same issues with memtest displaying incorrect timings, so...

I would ignore it, memtest isn't over-clocking your RAM or over volting it. It is simply a tool to stress test and as long as your memory timings and voltage are set correctly in BIOS and subsequently are displayed as correct in CPU-Z then I wouldn't worry.

Have you run a memtest or have you been worried to do so? If the latter, run it anyway and see if you get errors.

If you do get errors...? Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. It may well be that memtest needs an update, there is a beta on the way which may well solve incompatibility issues with modern memory and chipsets.

If you don't get errors and you've run at least 2 passes great. If you do, report back.

Have you got anyone you know who uses a DDR3 motherboard and would mind you swapping their RAM for yours to do a test?

Just for some information about seating the memory. When you are placing the sticks in the slots you really need to apply an equal force so that the stick sinks into the slotin one go . Be careful, for obvious reasons and you also don't want to find yourself pressing one end in and then moving to the opposite end. What should happen is you should find the latches or clips at either end lock into place pretty much simultaneously. You may, and often you don't need to, want to check these clips are firmly locked by applying a small amount of force downwards at each end of the memory module and pressing the clips into the stick manually.

bononos · 09-11-2012, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elaineofshalott

OK so new checks today. In all slots the BIOS settings are the same.

Slots 1 & 2 - Memtest86+ and CPU-Z both show correctly as 11-11-11-28
Slots 3 & 4 - CPU-Z shows as 11-11-11-28 but Memtest86+ shows as 6-6-6-20

The manual says that if you use 2 sticks it needs to be either 1 & 3 or 2 & 4.

What is my next step?

The manual is correct. What speed is the memory running at in the bios/cpu-z? A latency of 11 suggests that the memory is probably ddr3-1600/pc12800.

elaineofshalott · 09-11-2012, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bononos

The manual is correct. What speed is the memory running at in the bios/cpu-z? A latency of 11 suggests that the memory is probably ddr3-1600/pc12800.

Yes. I only have one stick in right now while I'm testing so the bios says 800Mhz & Memtest86+ has been showing @ 798.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Roger

Yes, putting the pairs in motherboard recommended slots is correct so put them back for correct dual channel operation.
I've seen a few reports about the same issues with memtest displaying incorrect timings, so...

I would ignore it, memtest isn't over-clocking your RAM or over volting it. It is simply a tool to stress test and as long as your memory timings and voltage are set correctly in BIOS and subsequently are displayed as correct in CPU-Z then I wouldn't worry.

Have you run a memtest or have you been worried to do so? If the latter, run it anyway and see if you get errors.

OK. I have been running one stick in all the slots and then I was going to move on to the other sticks. I ran it overnight without errors in the first two slots but had been afraid to run it on the last two. I have to work more than nine hours today so I'll probably post again tomorrow on my day off.

DSF · 09-11-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elaineofshalott

Yes. I only have one stick in right now while I'm testing so the bios says 800Mhz & Memtest86+ has been showing @ 798.

OK. I have been running one stick in all the slots and then I was going to move on to the other sticks. I ran it overnight without errors in the first two slots but had been afraid to run it on the last two. I have to work more than nine hours today so I'll probably post again tomorrow on my day off.

No sense being afraid. Whether you get errors or not you're one step closer to solving the problem.

You could speed up the process by running one test overnight and one test while you're at work though.

bononos · 09-11-2012, 08:16 AM

Can you run cpu-z (its a small free utility) and take a look the info under the memory and spd tab to see if it all matches with what you have. There are sample screen images at the website.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

mfenn · 09-12-2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elaineofshalott

OK. I have been running one stick in all the slots and then I was going to move on to the other sticks. I ran it overnight without errors in the first two slots but had been afraid to run it on the last two. I have to work more than nine hours today so I'll probably post again tomorrow on my day off.

The memory isn't going to become more or less faulty due to memtest, so there's no reason to be afraid to use some slots.

elaineofshalott · 09-12-2012, 01:42 PM

OK. I finished the memtest. I ran one stick in all slots and had no errors. The stick I thought might be bad didn't show any errors but I re-ran windows 7's memory diagnostic this time on the extended mode. It showed a hardware problem but hung up at 31% complete.

So does it just sound like the second stick is bad and there is no problem with the MOBO. Should I just RMA the RAM or do something else? This is the second batch of RAM from Patriot. Would it be worth it to buy an alternate brand that might be more stable?

ETA: Immediately after posting this I had another PFN_LIST_CORRUPT BSOD. I switched back to the other memory stick.

Big Roger · 09-12-2012, 03:32 PM

Have you put all the sticks in their slots and ran a memtest yet? This will tell you that all sticks are working OK in the slots at the correctly set voltage and timings.

I would possibly try different brand RAM however it may be that your BIOS needs updating for you motherboard. It may add compatibility for certain memory, so it's worth a try if you haven't done so already.

Before doing that just install all the relevant drivers for your hardware. Go to your mobo's page and download all updates. Run a windows update. Install latest GPU driver etc.

If memtest is testing your RAM and it passes after a few rounds then you should be OK. Best to test with all sticks, though.

If your system is fine with one stick and not a mix of the other or both together. Looks like the RAM is definitely the cause of your issues. Maybe go for another brand.

mfenn · 09-12-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Roger

Have you put all the sticks in their slots and ran a memtest yet? This will tell you that all sticks are working OK in the slots at the correctly set voltage and timings.

This. You can use memtest on one stick at a time to try to narrow down the problem, but the real test is running it with your normal configuration.