Is it possible for RAM to pass memtest but still be causing instability (esp. Prime 95)?

ThatDumbGuy

Senior member
Jul 14, 2001
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Please advise, trying to decide whether to RMA the RAM or the mobo, as I can't get prime stable at default speeds and timings, regardless of voltage. I'm pretty frickin sure it aint the processor. Also, I'm getting great temps and have sufficient cooling, so its not heat.

Box is in my sig, however, the RAM is 2x512 sticks of GEIL PC3200 2.5 w/ blue heatspreaders from newegg, considering RMA'ing for Buffalo Winbond CH-5. The motherboard is a DFI NFII Ultra Infinity (like an updated version of the AL model pretty much), and the processor is a Barton 2500+, with a SLK900a.

Actually just had a thought, I guess it is possible that it is the power supply, which is a Fortron from newegg. Although, I don't see any out of the ordinary fluctuations when I begin prime 95, so I am assuming it is solid.
 

compudog

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2001
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Yes it is possible for RAM to pass memtest but still be unstable. It seems you tried all of the voltage tweaks for your RAM. Try running Prime with just one stick of RAM installed and see if it completes. Then try the other stick by itself. If it only gets screwy with the two sticks, then it is either RAM timings or the mobo. Just my .02.
 

Pardus

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2000
8,197
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just tried memtest myself, the floppy version works fine, but the cdrom image does not boot, i have my cdrom set to boot first and it didnt work, do i have to do something special with the .iso file before burning ?
 

GonzoDaGr8

Platinum Member
Apr 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: ActiveX
just tried memtest myself, the floppy version works fine, but the cdrom image does not boot, i have my cdrom set to boot first and it didnt work, do i have to do something special with the .iso file before burning ?
Did you burn the .ISO as an image file, or just burn the file straight to disk(Like drag and drop)?