8GB + Vista 64bit = Blue Screen?

[EntryLevelPcBuilder]

4GB: 2x2GB IPSG (Microcenter) DDR2 800/667MHz
4GB: 2x2GB OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Vista Perf Gold 800 MHz
ASUS M3A78-EM motherboard with Integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 GPU
uATX
AMD Athlon X2 64 5600, 2.9 GHz
350W power supply

I have to build a new, small PC for .NET software development. With all 8GB in there, the comp freezes every 10min or I get the blue screen. Then I just grabbed all the latest updates on chipset and display drivers. That didn't work.

After I restart, Vista shows the error message with Problem Signature and where to find the .dmp files. I put them in a folder.

In BIOS, min. voltage is 1.83V, max. is 2.24V.

At first I thought the problem was the display adapter, but I'm thinking it might also be because of mismatched-brand RAM? I'm running on 4GB now and haven't had an issue so far.

Has anyone had the OS freeze on them when using different-brand DDR2 on Vista, or more than 4GB with Vista?

Or is the problem something else?
Thanks for any help.

 

[Blain]

What voltages are the different DIMMs rated for?
What voltage is being supplied to the DIMMs?

 

[EntryLevelPcBuilder]

Not listed anywhere on the box (IPSG is Microcenter generic brand). According to JEDEC[1] the maximum recommended voltage is 1.9 volts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR2_SDRAM
For OCZ, product specs list min and max V
http://www.ocztechnology.com/p...mance_gold_2gb_edition

I'm almost dead-certain now it's the RAM because now I've gone several hrs straight on 4GB (not 8)without this blue screen/freeze mess. So looks like I'll go to Microcenter tomorrow and exchange these IPSGs for some OCZs

wtf I don't like the forum hyperlink system...

 

[Billb2]

Likely what's happening is that the BIOS is reading the latencies from the SPD table on one set and using those latencies on both sets. And, as stated, the voltages may be set wrong. Even getting all matched memory may not work, as the "stock" voltages and timings likely won't work with 4 sticks installed. Save yourself a lot of grief and just set all the BIOS memory setting manually, and up the NB voltage a bit too.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: Billb2
Save yourself a lot of grief and just set all the BIOS memory setting manually, and up the NB voltage a bit too.

Yes. Start with ram @ 2.1v to see if that works, then lower it for power savings/less heat/etc.

NB voltage may be listed as MCH. Increase it one tic.

-z

 

[taltamir]

1. it is potentially a bios bug (compatibility issue)
2. The DESIRED voltages on the rams banks might be too different, all the ram sticks get the SAME voltage, ALWAYS... so if they desire different amounts it would crash.
3. uATX can rarely provide more than the default 1.8v to ram.
4. You have a tiny system (uATX), how is the temperature? the ram produces more heat and causes the northbridge to ALSO run hotter... in a cramped under ventilated case that can cause crashing.

I had a few other suggestions but i forgot, start with those...

 

[EntryLevelPcBuilder]

4. You have a tiny system (uATX), how is the temperature?

according to PC Probe II, the CPU: 36 C, MB: 39 C

Solution (?)
I've taken everyone else's comments into consideration, but first, I went ahead with the simplest approach. I went back and replaced the IPSG-brand DDR2 with OCZ brand. So far, the system has not froze on me all day. I've done all sorts of stuff, like running virtual machines with multiple apps and installations open. Maybe that did it. I haven't touched the voltage auto settings, but maybe I'll have to, who knows.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Blain]

It's best not to mix & match DIMMs if you can help it.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Blain
It's best not to mix & match DIMMs if you can help it.

especially if their specs are not EXACTLY the same...