Is it the mobo or the ram?

[feix]

So I picked up the corei7 860 + Biostar T5XE combo at Fry's during black friday, and just got around to putting it together over this past weekend. I have some DDR3-1333 OCZ Platinum 4gb (2 x 2gb) to go with that as well.

So first off, I tested my ram using Biostar's built in Memtest86+. I seem to have an error with one (or both?) of the sticks:

Further testing showed:
At 3 hours
After leaving it on all day while I was at work

Seeing as how the failure occurred at 2101.8mb, does that mean the error is from my second stick, or is this something hard to tell? I suppose this is something I should get taken care of? This is the first time I've run memtest and I've read that just one error is bad. Am I to count this as 1 error or 263 errors? Guess it doesn't matter since I've got an error anyway... I need to contact the store I bought it from or OCZ...


So secondly, I can't seem to get Dual Channel mode to work with my mobo/ram. The mobo has 4 slots, and the manual says for dual channel the sticks need to go in slots 0 and 2. When I placed the sticks as the manual showed, the computer would boot, but wouldn't get past the screen right after the initial POST. I am currently running the sticks in slots 0 and 1, running all 4gb single channel. Here are some more results from my ram placements which I just tested out today (I'm assuming the one that came up with errors in memtest is the second stick in my current placement which is in
in slot 1):

(Current placement) Slot 0, Stick 1 + Slot 1, Stick 2: Boot up OK but in single channel mode

Slot 0, Stick 1 only: No boot/no post

Slot 0, Stick 2 only: Powered on for a few seconds, shutdown by itself, then started up again and did not Post.

By this I guess it means the system itself cannot run on just 2gb by itself in one slot alone...

(First attempt at Dual Channel) Slot 0, Stick 1 + Slot 2, Stick 2: The first time I tried this, It would post, but then it wouldn't get past the screen past the post. The second time I tried this, it just didn't post at all.

Slot 0, Stick 2 + Slot 1, Stick 1: Boot up OK

Slot 0, Stick 2 + Slot 2, Stick 1: Shutdown/No boot

Slot 2, Stick 1 + Slot 3, Stick 2: Boot up OK

Slot 2, Stick 2 + Slot 3, Stick 1: Boot up OK



I hope that wasn't too confusing typed out...
So from these different RAM configurations, I'm still not quite sure whether my inability to run Dual Channel is due to the error in the RAM, or just that the Motherboard that I got is being stubborn...

I hope somebody can help me out... :\

 

[RebateMonger]

At this point, you'd be best taking it to Frys and having them straighten it out for you. They have other memory and other motherboards they can use for testing.

 

[feix]

i actually got the RAM from another store, but I have been considering exchanging the mobo at Fry's again just to eliminate (hopefully) that variable if that is indeed the problem. I just thought I'd ask other users' opinions first before I rip it out of my system since it's kind of a hassle...

If I exchange the mobo first I still can't get the dual channel working, I guess that'd be for sure the moment I decide to see if I can get a replacement set of RAM from the store or OCZ themselves... I just hope the rebate will still be valid though since I haven't sent any of them out yet...

 

[mpilchfamily]

To find out if one of the DIMMs is the probelm run Memtest with one DIMM in the system at a time. Either one or both DIMMs will error out on you again and you'll know where the problem lies and why it won't run in Dual chennel mode. But then again does DDR3 run in dual chennel. Thought it was tripple chennel or nothing. Then again that doens't sound right. Must do some research.

EDIT: Ok so DDR3 can do dual chennel. So its likly the error thats preventing it from running dual as it seams you've tried all the slot combinations. and enabled dual chennel mode in the BIOS.

What video card, if any, and PSU are you running in this setup?

 

[feix]

the thing is the system doesn't seem to want to post at all with just a single stick plugged in (I tried both), so I can't test each stick individually in Memtest...
And ya as far as I understand DDR3 ram runs in dual channel for the socket 1156 chips

I'm running a XFX Nvidia 8600gt for vid card, and Antec Neo HE 500w psu

I think what I'm gonna end up doing is just RMA'ing the ram and getting something that is more reliable, price be damned. Try that out in the system and see what happens. If dual channel still isn't working, I'll exchange the board at Frys too. Hopefully they'll let me exchange, but in the case that they don't have any of the motherboard left, does anybody know if they will just let you return the item, deny your return, or maybe even let you exchange for another brand?

 

[Croatians]

Id like to get an nVidia chipset motherboard because I like nVidia graphics cards and would like to be able to SLI. However Ive heard they dont overclock as well as he x38 boards for example. What is the best nvidia chipset mobo for overclocking?

 

[RebateMonger]

EDIT: Ok so DDR3 can do dual chennel.

It gets confusing. I7 860s do dual-channel, not triple-channel.

 

[Erik550c]

sounds like a ram issue or an improper bios setting(s). highly recommend adjusting the values in your bios. try reading about your mobo forums. sometimes you need to upgrade the firmware. if one stick won't post try running the other stick alone in memtest for a day. if you replace the broken? stick and have the same problem it is safe to say that a bios setting is wrong or your mobo is physically damaged. are you overclocking? even default bios settings are junk occasionally so check that out

 

[feix]

You know, the weird thing is I can't find any options at all in the BIOS for enabling or disabling or otherwise mentioning anything about setting Dual Channel. I looked in the manual and all it said was to place the two sticks in slots 0 and 2 (or all four). Maybe on the next page it says something about setting the BIOS but I didn't turn the page so I'll have to check that out when i get home tonight lol.

When I mention that the system won't post, I mean to say that nothing shows up on the screen at all, not even my GPU's initial start up which just shows model information and such. The GPU screen is the very first thing that will pop up upon turning on the pc. In fact, my monitor stays in power save mode, sooo....yea. That means I can't get into memtest or otherwise test each stick individually.

I'm running everything bone stock at the moment. I've checked for any updated firmware for my board, but I believe the f/w that came with the board is already the latest. I checked the memory support and I think the RAM I have for sure should be supported, though maybe it's sightly different (the model I have is OCZ3P1333LV4G, the RAM listed as supported is the OCZ3P13334GK).

 

[Erik550c]

there probably won't be a dual channel ram setting in the bios. if you put the same spec. sticks in slot 0 and 2 it will automatically dual channel them. if nothing shows up on the screen at all (even before it gets a chance to post) then you have some serious hardware issues. bad parts are most likely the culprit here

 

[Erik550c]

and to try and narrow down which bad parts i would say that i am not familiar with your specific board but it depends on how it handles faulty components or if it is the faulty component. if it does the one stick that works just fine but not both ram sticks then your ram is most likely to blame. take your ram back and say they were fried when you bought them. if you get replacement ram and the same problem exists you know it is a mobo problem. this is one of the nightmares that can exist if you have a faulty component. keep trying different combinations and by utilizing documentation you should be able to pinpoint the issue. i'd say to replace the ram first. when you built the system did u practice anti-static measures? wear a wired wrist strap to a grounded source and don't work on carpet! also fry's and other vendors sometimes sell faulty components.

 

[Erik550c]

research if your ram is even supported on your board. if it isn't you could expect problems like this

 

[feix]

thanks for all the advice

At my work they are very strict about being ESD compliant, but unfortunately I am all carpet at home lol...well except the kitchen I guess. When building this though I did what I can to discharge myself anytime I was going to reach into the case. That's not exactly the best way to prevent things from getting damaged but it's better than nothing.

I'm currently awaiting ram replacements, so I will try that out first. If the problems still persist, then I'm going to try to exchange the board (cutting it close as the deadline for returns and exchanges is this saturday lol).

 

[Erik550c]

crap ya, go ahead and replace both if you think it will help

 

[Tech_savy]

Take it to Frys to get it replaced...