RAM issues - how to trouble shoot

[JimKiler]

I have the following

• AMD Phenom II X4 810 Deneb 2.6GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor HDX810WFGIBOX
• GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
• Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS34G1333ELK
• OCZ Agility 2 OCZSSD2-2AGTE120G 2.5" 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
• Asus 4850 HD ATI video card

That was all running fine for 2 years. Then I added:

• G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL

Now when I added this RAM i forgot to shutdown my PC so I added it in sleep mode, would that potentially break anything?

And while I do not get any crashes now when i put my PC to sleep 80% of the time when i turn it back on it goes thru the BIOS and startup. The weird part is it still resumes in windows but goes through the BIOS POST and all that.

I did memtest with all 4 sticks in it and no errors. I did another round of testing with only the two G.Skill and no errors. If I move the sticks around still have the same issue. If only use the 2 G.skill I still get the same issue no matter what slots i use. But if I move the Patriot RAM to the other slots I am noticing it also causes the same issue. So is this a RAM issue or a mobo issue?

 

[Brainonska511]

There is a problem with C2 stepping Phenom II and Athlon II processors when you have 4 sticks of DDR3 1333 (2 per channel). The solution, according to AMD's errata sheet, is to downclock the four sticks to DDR3 1066.

As for how you added it: you were working inside the machine without unplugging it? In sleep mode, the RAM is still receiving power, so you could cause big problems.

I'd suggest:
Find out what stepping of processor you have (use CPU-Z). Then, shut down the computer (Start->Shutdown). Open the machine up, clear the CMOS by removing the battery or using the onboard reset jumper (confer with your manual). Restart and enter the BIOS - reinput your BIOS settings. If you have the C2 stepping, also downclock your RAM.

I also suggest downloading memtest and running it overnight - test each stick individually (try for at least 7 passes). Then test each kit: first in Slots A1/B1, then Slots A2/B2, then put in all 4 and run memtest. Again, if you have the C2 stepping, be sure to downclock the RAM before running all 4 sticks - the memory controller in that stepping can cause system instability with 2 sticks per channel (I had memtest fail with 4 sticks @ 1333, while passing just fine @ 1066).

Edit:
According to CPU SKU you posted: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AMD-Phenom%20II%20X4%20810%20-%20HDX810WFK4FGI%20%28HDX810WFGIBOX%29.html you have a C2 stepped Phenom II. See: http://support.amd.com/us/Embedded_TechDocs/41322.pdf (page 102)

 

[JimKiler]

There is a problem with C2 stepping Phenom II and Athlon II processors when you have 4 sticks of DDR3 1333 (2 per channel). The solution, according to AMD's errata sheet, is to downclock the four sticks to DDR3 1066.

As for how you added it: you were working inside the machine without unplugging it? In sleep mode, the RAM is still receiving power, so you could cause big problems.

I'd suggest:
Find out what stepping of processor you have (use CPU-Z). Then, shut down the computer (Start->Shutdown). Open the machine up, clear the CMOS by removing the battery or using the onboard reset jumper (confer with your manual). Restart and enter the BIOS - reinput your BIOS settings. If you have the C2 stepping, also downclock your RAM.

I also suggest downloading memtest and running it overnight - test each stick individually (try for at least 7 passes). Then test each kit: first in Slots A1/B1, then Slots A2/B2, then put in all 4 and run memtest. Again, if you have the C2 stepping, be sure to downclock the RAM before running all 4 sticks - the memory controller in that stepping can cause system instability with 2 sticks per channel (I had memtest fail with 4 sticks @ 1333, while passing just fine @ 1066).

Edit:
According to CPU SKU you posted: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AMD-Phenom%20II%20X4%20810%20-%20HDX810WFK4FGI%20%28HDX810WFGIBOX%29.html you have a C2 stepped Phenom II. See: http://support.amd.com/us/Embedded_TechDocs/41322.pdf (page 102)

Thank you, that makes sense that I have the C2 bug except even using just the G.skill causes issues. But like you said I should test each stick individually which I will do.

Maybe the answer is to upgrade my mobo in case i broke it when i first added the additional RAM.

 

[Brainonska511]

Thank you, that makes sense that I have the C2 bug except even using just the G.skill causes issues. But like you said I should test each stick individually which I will do.

Maybe the answer is to upgrade my mobo in case i broke it when i first added the additional RAM.

I would do the following:

Test each stick individually
Test each kit
Test each pair of slots - first A1/B1, then A2/B2
Test entire set (at DDR3 1066)

You could also try clearing the CMOS. If the G.Skill set causes problems, you may have damaged it during the install or they may just be a bad kit. Get a replacement from G.Skill if that's the case before you try a new motherboard.

 

[JimKiler]

I would do the following:

Test each stick individually
Test each kit
Test each pair of slots - first A1/B1, then A2/B2
Test entire set (at DDR3 1066)

You could also try clearing the CMOS. If the G.Skill set causes problems, you may have damaged it during the install or they may just be a bad kit. Get a replacement from G.Skill if that's the case before you try a new motherboard.

Thanks, I have an error in one of my G.skill sticks which happened on the 4th pass.

 

[Brainonska511]

Thanks, I have an error in one of my G.skill sticks which happened on the 4th pass.

You should just have to RMA the kit and you should be good to go.