Stability Issues After Upgrade - UPDATE

[AsianriceX]

Update 1:
So I tested timings and whatnot, but it didn't resolve the issue. I swapped out my ram for the old 256MB stick I was using and it still crashed which really irked me. I took a look at my mobo and I see 2 failed (bulging) capacitors so I guess I have found the source of my instability. Fantastic.

Now I'm scrambling to save the data off of the RAID-0 array I was using.

Original Post:

I'm having some stability issues after upgrading my ram to 2GB (2x1GB) of Corsair Valueselect.

So currently I'm preparing to do a complete upgrade with a Socket 939 motherboard and an AMD X2. Since I usually do a complete rebuild once every 3-4 years with small upgrades inbetween, I figured that I might as well take the plunge and get 2GB of ram, and since it's still DDR, I could use it in my current rig until I gather the other parts for the upgrade.

Now I get stop, page fault in non-paged area, and irql not less than or equal BSODs like I used to with a bad 256MB stick I used to have. I ran memtest86+ on the new ram and found no errors. There also seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why it would fail, it happens with load, without load, lots of ram usage, little to no ram usage...What happened?! Rig in sig.

 

[Fern]

I bumped into a similar prob when playing HL2, so backed down the timings a bit and the problem went away. What vdimm (voltage to ram are you using) and what timings?

Fern

 

[AsianriceX]

Originally posted by: Fern
I bumped into a similar prob when playing HL2, so backed down the timings a bit and the problem went away. What vdimm (voltage to ram are you using) and what timings?

Fern

I'm using the defaults that the gigabyte motherboard decided to use, but I did notice that one of the timing values (the last one, I can't remember its name) was set to 7 instead of 8 (The value CPUID read in the ram's SPD).

The gigabyte manual states that the motherboard only supports 2.5 volt DDR so I assume that's what voltage its using. Was there a change in standards that the sticks I'm using use a different voltage?

If its unstable due to the suggested timing mismatch, that's great, I can fix that... I'll find out when I get home from work today.

 

[Fern]

I usually keep my vdimm @ 2.7v. If your's is at 2.5, boost it.

As far as the timings, it was my Cas (from 2.0 -> 2.5) that did the trick.

Just for the heck of it, you might wanna check your mobo manual for the max amount of ram and whether they need to be single-sided sticks etc for 2 gigs.

 

[bjc112]

How many passes of memtest have you run?

 

[AsianriceX]

Originally posted by: bjc112
How many passes of memtest have you run?

I only ran one pass because it took forever to test 2 gigs.

But anyway, I checked the auto timings and they were a bit off. Cas is rated at 3, but it was set to 2, and Tras was rated at 8 but set to 7. I tried loosening the timings to their rated settings, but my gigabyte motherboard only supports cas 2 or 2.5. I tried 2.5-3-3-8, but that still didn't work.

I also checked corsair's compatibility website and my gigabyte board isn't listed, so instead of pushing the voltage to 2.6, I'll just put in my old 256MB stick and admit defeat.