Question About Dual Channel Memory

[mwalt2]

I have 1 gig of Kingston HyperX PC3500 (running stock - 2.6V 2-3-3-7) memory running with a p4c 3.0 and Abit IC7. I have been getting random blue screens and STOP errors when shutting windows down lately. I am beginning to think that they may be caused by memory errors because they are always different STOP erros and do not list a driver or file ever (this is on a clean install of XP Pro). I have been testing the ram using memtest86+. Each stick individually can go for 100 passes (longest I've gone) with only 1 error on one of the sticks. When I test the memory in dual channel, I get many errors in tests 4 and 5 by pass 10 or 11. These sticks were purchased separately since I read pretty much everywhere that the dual channel kits seem to be more a marketing ploy....but now I'm starting to wonder. If I increase the voltage to the ram in dual channel, the errors decrease in frequency, but they still occur. Are there any steps I can take to run these sticks in dual channel without getting the memory errors? Also, does anyone have any experiences with RMA'ing memory to Kingston (since I did get an error in one of the sticks)? Im testing both sticks together not in dual channel mode now. Thanks.

 

[mechBgon]

Try kicking the timings up to 2.5-3-3-7 if you want to try a little more. Low latencies are an issue for your motherboard's chipset, meaning that it may not be the fault of the RAM, or the RAM alone anyway. And FWIW, if it were mine I'd be running 2.7 volts on the RAM right out of the box.

Also, is your power supply a pretty decent one? Welcome to the Forums

 

[mwalt2]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome. I'll increase the CAS to 2.5. I've been looking around some, and it seems that 2.5 may actually be the default speed. The package says CAS 2, but both the SPD and online manual say 2.5. Oh well... I'll up the voltage also. My power supply is a Fortron 350W.