RAM voltage issues

Psynaut

Senior member
Jan 6, 2008
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So the power cord came out of the surge protector and 3 of my 4 sticks of RAM fried. While I wait for the RMA, I have a one 1GB stick of Crucial Ballistix Tracer rated at 2.2 volts. Having only 1GB of RAM makes it hard to do anything but surf the net, so I got 2GB stick of this PNY RAM to use for a few days so I can game.

My question is about voltages. I cannot find anywhere in the packaging, on Neweggs website, or even on the PNY website page devoted to this RAM, anything saying what voltage it is rated at. After playing F.E.A.R. for a couple hours the game started freezing up on me just a few seconds after loading (image freezes, sound does not). I am expect that the problem is with the RAM, but I am not sure how to fix it. After frying the RAM I reset the CMOS to default settings.

If RAM doesn't show a voltage does that mean it is automatically 1.8 volts? 2.2 volts? something else? How do I know what voltage to set it at?

If I put the voltage at 2.0 or 2.2 volts to make the Tracer happy, will that fry the PNY stick? Do I run the risk of damaging anything else on my rig by trying it?

In general, if you have a 2.2 volt DIMM and, say, a 1.8 volt DIMM, how would you set the voltage? High or low? (will 2.2 volts fry a 1.8 volt DIMM?) (Will 2.2 volt RAM work at 1.8 volts?)

How should I set this in my BIOS for the next few days until my RMA arrives in order to be able to play this weekend? Is the image freezing because the Tracer is getting too little voltage? Or because the PNY stick maybe isn't getting enough? Or does it have something to do with the timings? I let the RAM cool off for a little while and tried again, and it is still freezing up, so it doesn't seem like a heat problem (not sure why it worled for a couple hours and then stopped... maybe something to do with the game?).
 

nefariouscaine

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2006
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typically if you run the stuff at stock - default settings - meaning you didn't change nadda - its running at 1.8v - try 2.0v - you shouldn't fry the IC's on the PNY ram and if you run it all at CAS 5 DDR2-800 you should be ok - if not try adjusting the voltage in as small of settings as you can - also make sure that the other Crucial stick is error free by running it solo on Memtest for a few runs seeing as you claim to have fried one stick already - just cause memory boots doesn't mean its not error free (i'm a ram junkie and veteran at fried Crucial D9's)
 

Psynaut

Senior member
Jan 6, 2008
653
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Thanks for the response. I did run Memtest86 on the remaining Dimm for 1 hour in each of the 4 RAM slots, just to make sure all the slots worked, and everything passed. I also upped the voltage to 2.0 and everything is fine after one night of gaming.

After tinkering around with F.E.A.R. Extraction Point for several hours today, I finally determined it was a bug in the game, and not the RAM after all. Since it started right after installing the PYN DIMM that seemed like the llikely cuplrit, but it wasn't. I found and downloaded a saved game pack, and with the new saved game I was able to play right through the spot that kept crashing on me and all the way through to the finish. Seems the game just didn't like something about my profile at that particular location on the map, or something.
 

BlueAcolyte

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2007
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A good rule to remember is that all good DDR2-800 RAM is rated to run at 1.8v, DDR2-800. 5-5-5-18. I think it's a JEDEC standard.
 

katank

Senior member
Jul 18, 2008
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Check the SPD and EPP information using CPU-Z. Each RAM should come w/ a few different sets of rated timings/voltages/speeds. See which one makes most sense for all of the sticks.
 

Wuzup101

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2002
2,334
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Originally posted by: katank
Check the SPD and EPP information using CPU-Z. Each RAM should come w/ a few different sets of rated timings/voltages/speeds. See which one makes most sense for all of the sticks.

Exactly, you should be able to pull the needed info with cpu-z. Just use some common sense with the info that it provides and you are good to go!
 

Yellowbeard

Golden Member
Sep 9, 2003
1,542
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Originally posted by: Psynaut
After tinkering around with F.E.A.R. Extraction Point for several hours today, I finally determined it was a bug in the game, and not the RAM after all.
Good troubleshooting work. I was very curious how a simple power failure could have fried memory.
 

Psynaut

Senior member
Jan 6, 2008
653
1
0
Originally posted by: Wuzup101
Originally posted by: katank
Check the SPD and EPP information using CPU-Z. Each RAM should come w/ a few different sets of rated timings/voltages/speeds. See which one makes most sense for all of the sticks.

Exactly, you should be able to pull the needed info with cpu-z. Just use some common sense with the info that it provides and you are good to go!

Thanks, that is a great lead; I will try it. I wonder why there is no printed voltage info anywhere for this RAM? Even the products web page shows no info.