ASUS P5K-VM potential problem

[pelle412]

Hi, I recently got a ASUS P5K-VM board for my Q6600 G0 CPU with 2 sticks of Crucial Ballistix PC-8500. Ever since I put it together I've had various problems. After I experienced a bad crash I ran memtest86 and it reported that 1 of my sticks was bad. Ok, I yanked that out, reran memtest86 and it showed no errors. I go back into WinXP and start a really gruesome job (x264 video encode) and after a few hours it crashes again. I reran memtest86 and now it shows that I have errors on my remaining stick also. I powered off the computer for an hour, and then reran memtest86 (a full pass ~30 min) and no errors showed. Starting the same windows job again and a crash after a few hours (with memtest86 errors again naturally).

I'm not sure it's the board that's acting up or the memory since memtest86 is giving me different results. I've tried BIOS settings of all Auto or setting the memory to factory setting (only 2.1V available max even though the memory is rated at 2.2V).

I should also add that I previously had a ASUS P5N-E board which started acting strangely so I returned it. Perhaps that was because of the memory.

I also have a OCZ GameXStream PSU 600W. My video card is a 8600 GT.

I'm kinda clueless on what to do. Should I consider the board bad or the RAM?

 

[Glenn]

Sounds pretty normal to me. As I understand your post, you are using ram requiring 2.2v and using a board that will only give you 2.1? If thats the case, then getting some ram requiring lower voltage should solve your problem.

 

[pelle412]

Hmm, I would imagine that they require 2.2V for 1066 MHz but at 800 MHz shouldn't they work fine at 2.1 or less?

 

[lopri]

What is your memory frequency/timings and what divider at what CPU frequency are you using?

 

[pelle412]

I replaced the RAM with some run-of-the-mill Kingston (1.8 V) and computer is now stable.

When I ran the memory at 1066 MHz I assume it used a 1:1 divider (dividers not selectable in BIOS but viewable in CPU-Z). When I ran the memory at 800 MHz I assume the divider was 3:4. Computer was just as unstable at 800 MHz. The CPU is running at 2.4 GHz (266x9).

Reading reviews at Newegg.com it appears that Crucial Ballistix PC-8500 sticks are notoriously bad quality, i.e. they go bad often and quickly. If I RMA them and get a replacement (passed the refund date) I should be able to use them at 800 MHz assuming they are in working order.

Thanks.