At least I think its a memory problem.

561 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Veilhalm, Mar 20, 2009

Veilhalm

Discussion Starter · Mar 17, 2009

Hey folks.

So I just added a bit of memory to my computer and now every once in a while it just turns off and restarts. It used to give a BSOD. The problems were MEMORY_MANAGEMENT and SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION. Now it just turns off at random but just before it does, it makes a disturbing static noise through the speakers.

My computer setup is:
Vista Ultimate 64-bit
Pentium D 3.00 GHz
4x 1GB Corsair Dominator 1066 MHz
nForce 4 SLI edition
2 x 8800 GTS in SLi

I did a little research and I'm thinking it might be the RAM and although there may be nothing wrong with it, I read that Vista and 4 sticks of 1GB don't work too well together. If that is the case, could I potentially go with 2 x 1GB sticks and 2 x 2GB sticks and not have a problem?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

waverider599

· #2 · Mar 17, 2009

Get a memtest and see if it crashes. If it does than take the stick you just added out and see if everything is stable. 4x1 sticks of ram is fine so that isnt the problem.

Ghostscript

· #3 · Mar 17, 2009

All the memory sticks should be of the same type and size.

It's most likely the RAM. Try running Memtest86 and see if it reports any errors. If it does, test each of the sticks by themselfs.

Could also be that you'll need to up the RAM voltage a bit, what settings are your RAM running on at the moment? Anyhow, if they'r not running at the recommendet stock settings, try chanching them to it if so.

Mygaffer

· #4 · Mar 17, 2009

Memory problems (Bad ram, bad slot, not seated properly) usually means random BSODs, with not pattern to them.

First, take out all but one stick and try to boot. See if you can isolate one bad stick.

Alternatively you could burn a copy of memtest and boot it, it will begin testing your memory.

Once you've ruled out memory come back and tell us what you've done.

t_russell

· #5 · Mar 17, 2009

Memtest will tell you right down to the chip which stick has a problem. Test with it and then pull out the offending module and test again. RMA the bad one.

Lunchbox21984

· #6 · Mar 17, 2009

Memtest each stick of ram and make sure that the newest ram is in the first set of dual channel slots and the older set is in the second set of dual channel slots

Infinitegrim

· #7 · Mar 17, 2009

Youre most likely having the same problem as i am. since you have 4x1gb, your memory isnt going to run at its rated speeds. Try 100Mhz, bump the NB and memory volts a little and see if that works. The memory you bought is guaranteed to run at 1066Mhz when you are running 2x1gb, not 4x1gb

t_russell

· #8 · Mar 17, 2009

All RAM should run its rated speed. If not RMA it. It is not as easy to OC 4 x 1GB sticks but they should all run their rated speed.

kaxel

· #9 · Mar 17, 2009

If I run memtest to 100% is it definitive that my memory settings are stable?

Infinitegrim

· #10 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by t_russell

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All RAM should run its rated speed. If not RMA it. It is not as easy to OC 4 x 1GB sticks but they should all run their rated speed.

yes, but its a greater stress on the NB so it requires more voltage. Without more voltage, it wont be stable. Therefore, it wont run at the speeds and voltage listed on the label.

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Veilhalm

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 17, 2009

All ram modules are new. I should have bought 2 x 2GB sticks rather than 4 x 1GB but I did and now I'm stuck with at least 2. The other 2 are still within the 15 day return policy. I bought them about a week apart from each other so there really isn't any newer stick. As for changing any of the RAM settings, I can't because I'm plagued with a Dell nForce 4 board which doesn't let me change any settings. My intentions were to get an evga 750i FTW board in the near future. I'll run the memtest and see what it comes out with.

t_russell

· #12 · Mar 17, 2009

The only other thing I have seen give totally random shutdowns is a PSU.

Veilhalm

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 17, 2009

Well. It wasnt doing any funny shutdown business till after I put in the second set of 1GB sticks of mem. I ran the Memtest but it got stuck at 7%. I tested it with all chips installed. Should I do it one stick at a time? Also, another strange thing. It said the memory was running at 199 MHz. Is that normal?

Mygaffer

· #14 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veilhalm

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Well. It wasnt doing any funny shutdown business till after I put in the second set of 1GB sticks of mem. I ran the Memtest but it got stuck at 7%. I tested it with all chips installed. Should I do it one stick at a time? Also, another strange thing. It said the memory was running at 199 MHz. Is that normal?

Well you have your answer then. You obviously have a set of bad ram. Isolate which exact stick is causing the failure. Then RMA them. It should be easy, just contact your ram's manufacturer and tell them your ram died, most have a lifetime warranty.

Also, to the guy who said that 4x1gb ram sticks wouldn't run at their rated speed, that is BS. Most chipsets have no problems doing this.

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Veilhalm

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 17, 2009

Tested each stick indivdually with Memtest86 v3.5. No errors...

Veilhalm

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 20, 2009

Ok, I think it went away. I probably had one incorrectly plugged in cause the crashes seemed to have stopped ever since I did the memtest on each individual chip. Thank you!!!

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