Is it my RAM or my CPU? PROBLEM

[|V|ez]

My old mobo fried its chipset so I upgraded my mobo, ram, and cpu. Now my new build is unstable despite my fresh windows install. I at first thought it was incompatible components (though I checked my RAM on the mobo list before I bought), but now I think it is faulty hardware.

I ran Rightmark Ramtester (from windows) and after 5 hours it came up with 2 errors. I then ran x86 memtest from a boot disk and it came back with 0 errors after 2.5 hours of testing, but it had stopped running for some reason. I also briefly ran MS memtest from a boot disk for 10 mins and it came back with 0 errors. I plan on using MS memtest's advanced test all night.

I am having random lock ups, crashes, and unpacking download files sometimes show as corrupted. I can give a detailed list of the various issues if needed.

Is it possible to have a faulty CPU (or even mobo) that can show up as faulty RAM?

ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX Mobo
AMD Athlon II X2 240 (open box item from Newegg-I am worried it might be compromised)
Patriot 2 GB 240-pin ddr3 sdram 1333 PSD32G13332
Samsung 250 gb sata II HDD w/ 8mb buffer
WD 1 tb green w/ 32mb buffer
8800gt evga nvidia video card 512mb
windows xp x64 OS

 

[DivideBYZero]

What PSU are you using to power all of this?

 

[|V|ez]

I am using a Sunbeam(?) 450w power supply that came with my case. It has been pretty good for a generic, 4 years old and still pumping.

It actually was my cpu! I ran Hot Cpu Tester Pro 4 and it came back with incorrect check sum values with my cpu. I RMA'd my open box cpu to newegg, they even gave me a prepaid shipping tag. Newegg is the best.

I ordered a cpu from ewiz.com on thursday morning before work and it was in my UPS truck (I am the UPS driver for my house) Friday morning. They are as good as newegg. I ordered my new cpu before I found out Newegg was going to waive restocking fee and give me free shipping. Ewiz was one day to my house and Newegg is 2.

Wasn't the problem . I guess I am back to square one.

 

[|V|ez]

Nope not solved.

Before problems:
foxconn nforce4 mobo
2x1 gb PQI sbl 400mhz DDR
Athlon 64 x2 3800+
8800gt evga 512 mb
3 HDD :
40 gb IBM ide
80 gb Maxtor Sata
250 gb Samsung Sata 3.0gb/s
win xp (32bit)
3 80mm fans and the CPU 120mm HSF

Mobo chipset died cuz video card was sitting right in front of it. Chipset heat sink fan died and it fried.

Upgrade to:
ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX Mobo
AMD Athlon II X2 240 65w
Patriot 2 GB 240-pin ddr3 sdram 1333 PSD32G13332
Samsung 250 gb sata II HDD w/ 8mb buffer
WD 1 tb green w/ 32mb buffer
8800gt evga nvidia video card 512mb
windows xp x64 OS
2x120mm fans, CPU HSF 92 mm fan, 1x80mm fan

Same 450w generic power supply with both set ups

Then I disconnected the TB HDD, 2x120 mm fans, and the 80mm fan just to see if I wasn't getting enough power to everything but I am still getting errors with just the essentials. So it must be my new mobo or memory.

How can I diagnose this problem. The obvious answer is that it is the RAM, but how can I rule out the mobo.