HTPC unstable with dual channel memory - SOLVED

[WhiteKnight]

After many months of seemingly random BSODs, I've narrowed down the problems with my HTPC to either the RAM, mobo, or some combination thereof. The PC is on 24/7 and after a few days, it starts developing memory errors. These typically cause BSODs or file corruption. If I do a warm restart and run Memtest, I get several dozen errors. If I do a cold start, or I remove either one of the memory sticks, everything seems to be fine in memtest. I'm currently testing both sticks of memory in single channel mode and I will report the results if it crashes again. I previously thought that one of the memory sticks was bad because it would sometimes report memtest errors even when run alone, but I have since RMA'd and replaced that stick. Does anyone have any thoughts about what could be causing this problem?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ BE
GIGABYTE GA-M61P-S3
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800
WinXP Pro

Edit: I solved the problem by replacing the RAM with some Corsair memory. There still doesn't seem to be any particular problem with the Crucial sticks for general use, but there must be a compatibility issue with my mobo. The PC has been running stably 24/7 for about two or three weeks now.

 

[Blain]

I've had Ballistix go bad on me before.
Now when I'm shopping for memory, I pass up...
Kingston (shafted out of a rebate),
OCZ (snappy looking, but too flaky),
Crucial (tey had their chance)

My old reliables are...
Corsair XMS,
Mushkin,
G.Skill,
and even A-Data

 

[SpeedEng66]

voltage to ram?
I had a problem kinda like that I found out voltage was @ 1.9 (set by mb)
the mem wanted 2.0
after I set the mem voltage bye bye bsod

 

[Blain]

Yep, you'll want to ==make sure the Ballistix is getting 2.0v.
2.0v vs. the standard of 1.8v... :roll:

 

[WhiteKnight]

Thanks SpeedEng66 and Blain, that could very well be the problem. I can't believe I missed that... I'll try it tonight and see how it goes.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The regular Crucial RAM has been extremely reliable since the PC66 SDRAM days.

The high-voltage Ballistix "gamer" RAM, not as much.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
The high-voltage Ballistix "gamer" RAM, not as much.

True, but you'd think Crucial could pull it off.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Crap, upping the voltage to 2.0V didn't seem to cut it, I didn't get a BSOD but I did get some other symptoms so I did a warm reboot and ran memtest... lots of errors. I'm trying 2.25V now, which strangely is being reported as 2.0V by Speedfan. Maybe that will work. Any other ideas?

 

[SpeedEng66]

are you oced?

is there dividers on the mem
what speed is the mem being runned @?

you wouldnt happen to have another system or mem you can test on?

 

[WhiteKnight]

I left the memory in single channel mode and it still crapped out (0x000000C2) after a few days. I am not OCed, the mem is DDR2 800 and is being run at stock speed with default timings.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Have you tried loosening the timings? Are you using the IGP or do you have a discreet card?

I've also run into problems with EPP ram not playing well will certain older chipsets ....