Can memory controller problems kill RAM?

[robertk2012]

Did you try it with just one stick?

 

[Big Lar]

Are you running any Sata drives? If so which ports are they connected to?

 

[Zap]

No SATA. I was running just one optical drive on the EIDE ports booting to UBCD and running Mersenne Prime from there.

Haven't tried with only one stick of RAM, but if that's what it takes, then I'm going back to socket 754. :| Cheaper and I seem to get decent overclocks plus those new Venice 754 chips are clocking really high for $120.

I'm tempted to try fate again. Monarch is selling these CPUs separately for $145 shipped, may get another one to play with to see how much of a difference I'll see.

I'm so lame.

 

[Zap]

Well, in my quest to throw good money after bad, I ordered two more Opteron 144 chips from Monarch. They are going for $129 and change, plus about $8+ to ship two of them. If I get terrible results from these two, then I'm gonna start doubting my overclocking methods. Anyways, just ordered this evening so it won't ship until Monday, and should get it by end of next week.

Please wish me luck.

 

[robertk2012]

Originally posted by: furballi
Sounds like Monarch sold you a refurbished CPU. Had an OEM board from them with about a dozen resoldered joints on the back of the board.

My cpu was an oem from monarch.

 

[robertk2012]

Originally posted by: Zap
Well, in my quest to throw good money after bad, I ordered two more Opteron 144 chips from Monarch. They are going for $129 and change, plus about $8+ to ship two of them. If I get terrible results from these two, then I'm gonna start doubting my overclocking methods. Anyways, just ordered this evening so it won't ship until Monday, and should get it by end of next week.

Please wish me luck.

Good luck. If you want to get rid of one let me know. I might even take the slow one if the price is right

 

[chris21adan]

I have my Opteron 144 running at 3 Ghz. I guess you were not as lucky. =(

 

[EXman]

Originally posted by: chris21adan
I have my Opteron 144 running at 3 Ghz. I guess you were not as lucky. =(

BAN THAT n00b!



j/k I have my 144 CAB2E 0546 to just under 2.6 285*9 = 2565 that is with BH5 2226 1T 166 divider. Still working on the kinks I got my combo about the same day taking me almost a month to get all the details/parts/time together. Puter screams already in comparison to my old 2.8Ghz Northwood with single channel DDR

 

[n7]

Maybe AMD is binning these now :evil:

 

[furballi]

Hmmm...hope you have buyers lined up for those 144s cause I'm not sure if you'll be able to achieve those lofty +2.8GHz numbers. Hope I'm wrong n good luck!

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: Zap
Well, in my quest to throw good money after bad, I ordered two more Opteron 144 chips from Monarch. They are going for $129 and change, plus about $8+ to ship two of them. If I get terrible results from these two, then I'm gonna start doubting my overclocking methods. Anyways, just ordered this evening so it won't ship until Monday, and should get it by end of next week.

Please wish me luck.

Good luck!

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: furballi
Hmmm...hope you have buyers lined up for those 144s cause I'm not sure if you'll be able to achieve those lofty +2.8GHz numbers. Hope I'm wrong n good luck!

Thanks everyone! :beer:

Sure, 2.8+GHz would be nice, but I just want something higher than 2.3GHz. Well, the two extra CPUs should tell me something... such as "get a new hobby!" J/K, LOL. Seriously if I get the same exact results, then I'll have to re-check everything to make sure I'm not doing something wrong (though I doubt it). Just for my peace of mind, I want to see different results. I do have some thoughts on how I'm gonna use these CPUs... I'm thinking the worst overclocker may make for a nice undervolted default-clocked HTPC chip. The best one can go in my gaming rig, etc. If I decide to sell any of them I'll PM robertk2012.

 

[Zap]

Got my two "new" Opteron 144 chips in today, but one of them looks used and even lapped!!! Please read the updated opening post. TIA.

 

[Zap]

Another bump. My original terrible Opteron also looks lapped. Updated the OP. People, please look at the pics linked in the OP and comment.

 

[richardrds]

I never lapped a HSF or cpu myself, so i am no expert, but from your pictures it sure looks like sombody took sand paper to the first two cpu's. You may be right, these don't look new to me, the cornors definetely look like they were sanded down, possibly from someone trying to lap the surface for better HSF contact.

 

[furballi]

Told ya to avoid Monarch! 1st one is definitely a used CPU. Too bad you cannot inspect it at 20x magnification. The last picture appears to be factory fresh.

Had the same refurbished issue with an AX8 board, labeled as NEW OEM.

 

[BlueWeasel]

The 1st CPU (the second picture in the list) definately looks lapped. The last picture looks brand new, while the original one seems to be lapped as well, but not as severe as the 2nd picture.

 

[Zap]

Yes, furballi, I know you mentioned that you received what looked like a re-soldered board. Monarch is now on my MAJOR ****** LIST because...

#1 They sold me a used/modded CPU

#2 They sold me a second used/modded CPU

#3 They sold me a video card on Black Friday that had a "Monarch exclusive manufacturer's rebate" for that card purchased on that exact day (11/25/05) in the amount of $25. Wouldn't you know it, they put 11/30/05 on their emailed invoice. Seems like they date their invoices on the date the order ships. Connect3D denied my rebate and I had to call them twice. I think I finally have them convinced to go off the "Order Date" printed on my packing list.

#4 Currently still waiting on a 2GB Corsair RAM kit. Ordered it over the weekend and they shipped it today (Thursday). Guess what date the invoice will be dated? I predict 03/16/06. Guess what "purchase by" date the $40 rebate is good for? Wouldn't you know it, the PDF file says 03/15/06. And wouldn't ya know it, it's a manufacturer's rebate for Monarch purchases only.

UPDATE #3 3/16

The two CPUs I received today (one looking new, one looking lapped) will pass Prime (just a few minutes) at 2.7GHz. Re-tested my original CPU will not even boot off disc at 2.7GHz and will fail Prime immediately at 2.4GHz. Basically I set up the new looking CPU, let it run Prime for a while, came back and saw that it was still passing, shut off system, popped in second "lapped" CPU I received today, booted up at same settings and ran Prime for a while, came back and it was still running, shut off, swapped to my original "lapped" CPU, turned on and it won't boot onto disc. Dropped multiplier to 8X and it boots fine and runs Memtest fine, but Prime fails on very first test.

Basically I was right in my assessment of the original CPU, that it overclocked like crap.

Something else I noticed is that this board doesn't like my OCZ memory at certain memory multipliers.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: furballi
1st one is definitely a used CPU. Too bad you cannot inspect it at 20x magnification. The last picture appears to be factory fresh.

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
The 1st CPU (the second picture in the list) definately looks lapped. The last picture looks brand new, while the original one seems to be lapped as well, but not as severe as the 2nd picture.

Yes, third CPU looks unmodified. When you run your finger off the edge of the IHS you can feel the "sharpness." The other two CPUs feel like they have rounded edges. I've never seen/felt a "new" CPU with IHS like that. Also, the first two CPUs feel really smooth while the third one doesn't, and indeed my scanner picked up the slight texture of the surface of the IHS.

I've been re-testing the first CPU and it was passing Prime at default vcore at 2.24GHz... when it rebooted. *SIGH*

BTW as much as the DFI board doesn't like my OCZ memory, it's taken to my cheap Kingmax PC3200 just fine. The OCZ isn't any super expensive ultra-high voltage stuff, just the "value" series with heatspreaders.

 

[TecHNooB]

You should stick it to Monarch for this. I'd like to see that you recieve some compensation for this.. or a court case at the very least. Would be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Absolute0]

Wow, this thread is really disgusting to me.

OK, i have been through a LOT of Opterons. There are TWO kinds of IHSs. One kind where the IHS has edges that kind of slap upward, those are what i call "type 2" concave IHSs, they get bad contact, and they run hot.

And then there are what i call "type 1" IHSs, more common from what i've had, the edges look like they've been grated down; they are less sharp.

Let me get you some pictures

Look here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/...e035/Opty%20Single%20Core/94c3bc3a.jpg

I have many of my Opterons there. All of them are IHS type-II, concave upward in the corners, you can see them sticking upward.
All of them EXCEPT the one on the far right, the CABYE, which has a Type-I IHS. See how it looks grated down along the edges.

It should be EASY to see. Here we go
Look at the two on the left here http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/absolute035/Opty%20Dual/f3fa5f3c.jpg
The one on top left is a Type II Concave, the bottom left is a Type I normal.

As for the type I and II, i just made that up...

This is a lapped IHS, BTW
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/...5/Opty%20Single%20Core/lapped-IHS2.jpg


Accusing Monarch of selling you a used CPU is just low man. And saying its lapped just because the sides aren't concave? Come on man. Monarch has a lot of credibility. Not their fault the 144s you got don't clock well...

 

[Shimmishim]

lol absolute... no wonder you are the 0547gpmw pimp!

i agree. why would monarch, a pretty reputable reseller sell returned processors as new?

would you be complaining if your chip overclocked well? would you be saying the same things about monarch if one or both of those chips did 3 ghz?

i think not.

edit: the chip in my sig is a "new oem" chip from monarch. so... yeah...

 

[openwheelformula1]

to the original poster: you are over reacting a bit. Those are NOT lapped.

 

[furballi]

Just remember the cockroach theory. You buy enough stuffs from Monarch, and you will get burned!

 

[Zebo]

This is why I ALWAYS try and buy retail box. Even it it was'nt used like monarchs someone pawing it can ESD fry it. Not to mention 3 yrs warranty and nice HSF boxed gives you//

I cancelled my 165 order with them after it sat "in warehouse" for a week. But I also had the OEM thing in the back of my mind when doing so..

Funny... three orders I've made with monarch all miserable.