Working on a new system, and I decided to test the memory for errors before I get into the overclocking of everything. Right now, everything is running at stock, and the BIOS is using the XMP 1.3 profile for the memory and correctly setting the timings as 9-10-9-27 at 1,866 frequency. These are NOT the timings and speed that get used if I leave the BIOS option set to 'Auto' instead of forcing it to use the profile.
Running Asrock Extreme11 board, 3960X, and 64gb of Corsair Dominator GT 1866
I first started with running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, and the memory would pass the standard tests, but would always fail on the extended tests. The message was simply that there was a hardware failure. So I tried it with memtest86 4.0a, and tested each stick individually. It showed errors in 6 of the 8 sticks. The frustrating part was that they seem intermittent. Some sticks would show good after only 1 pass, but would show errors in the next pass. Sometimes a stick wouldn't show any errors until pass 3. Sometimes the errors would come in the very first pass.
I switched over the memtest86+ 4.2. My results were similar.
I switched to the memtest86+ beta 5....and my results were similar.
My questions for forum members with more expertise in this area than I:
1) Why will a stick test good for a pass or two and then error? How many passes is enough to prove the ram is fine?
2) How significant is it if a stick only shows one error?
3) With 6 of the 8 sticks throwing errors in the first two passes....it makes me wonder if something else could be wrong instead of the memory? Are there other things I should try before going the RMA route? Voltage? Timings? etc.
These two kits are not cheap, so I don't want to accept faulty memory. But I'm not 100% confident that I shouldn't be looking at something else before RMA'ing.
Helpl! Advice, comments, ...questions would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
Few other thoughts...since I'm testing individual sticks...and 2 of the have tested good (at least through two passes), I don't think it will be the motherboard slot. Right? And this memory is on the supported list by Asrock. And yes...the memory is firmly seated in the slot and there is nothing foreign on the contact points.
Edited by cpachris - 9/20/12 at 12:17pm
Running Asrock Extreme11 board, 3960X, and 64gb of Corsair Dominator GT 1866
I first started with running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, and the memory would pass the standard tests, but would always fail on the extended tests. The message was simply that there was a hardware failure. So I tried it with memtest86 4.0a, and tested each stick individually. It showed errors in 6 of the 8 sticks. The frustrating part was that they seem intermittent. Some sticks would show good after only 1 pass, but would show errors in the next pass. Sometimes a stick wouldn't show any errors until pass 3. Sometimes the errors would come in the very first pass.
I switched over the memtest86+ 4.2. My results were similar.
I switched to the memtest86+ beta 5....and my results were similar.
My questions for forum members with more expertise in this area than I:
1) Why will a stick test good for a pass or two and then error? How many passes is enough to prove the ram is fine?
2) How significant is it if a stick only shows one error?
3) With 6 of the 8 sticks throwing errors in the first two passes....it makes me wonder if something else could be wrong instead of the memory? Are there other things I should try before going the RMA route? Voltage? Timings? etc.
These two kits are not cheap, so I don't want to accept faulty memory. But I'm not 100% confident that I shouldn't be looking at something else before RMA'ing.
Helpl! Advice, comments, ...questions would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
Few other thoughts...since I'm testing individual sticks...and 2 of the have tested good (at least through two passes), I don't think it will be the motherboard slot. Right? And this memory is on the supported list by Asrock. And yes...the memory is firmly seated in the slot and there is nothing foreign on the contact points.
Edited by cpachris - 9/20/12 at 12:17pm
lol that is epic man I hope you get it sorted out.
