Mushkin RAM problem

[EvilDead]

Hello all,

 

My machine was running rock solid for 6 months. 2 weeks ago some of my applications started crashing so I ran Memtest 86+ v 1.60. I found that one of my sticks was getting errors while the other one would run 10+ hours no problem. I sent both the sticks in and received a replacement set only to have the same problem occur. I tested each stick individually in slots 1 & 2.

 

The RAM settings are set to the defaults in the BIOS. Should I try adjusting these? Is it likely that they sent me back another bad stick?

[Sharp]

Hello,

 

Are all 4 power connectors plugged into the board?

 

Place the memory in the orange slots.

Set the memory voltage to 2.8v.

 

(model/part number for the memory?)

[EvilDead]

Hello,

 

Are all 4 power connectors plugged into the board?

 

Place the memory in the orange slots.

Set the memory voltage to 2.8v.

 

(model/part number for the memory?)

 

At work right now but I will try upping the voltage to 2.8 when I get home. All the power connectors are plugged in. I have tried the RAM individually in each slot.

 

Memory: mushkin SP3200 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory (Cheap stuff)

 

* Model #: 991093

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820146219

 

Thanks for your suggestions. I will reply with my results on the voltage this evening.

[EvilDead]

I didnt have much time to work on the computer over the weekend but I upped the voltage to 2.7 and it lowered the number of errors on Memtest. I am currently trying with 2.8.

[EvilDead]

Are there any other suggestions in case the 2.8v does not solve the problem? My memory timings are 3-3-3-8 1T. Should I play around with any of these? If I have to loosen these timings to solve the problem does that mean that my RAM is defective?

[Sharp]

Hello,

 

No, If the Default BIOS settings are to low (tight) it means you need to adjust the settings as tight timings can cauase errors in memtest.

 

All slow memory modules require loose timings.

Try these settings.

GENIE BIOS Setting

>DRAM Configuration..................Press Enter = New Menu

FSB BUS Frequency....................200

DRAM Voltage Control.................2.8v

 

GENIE BIOS Setting >DRAM Configuration

DRAM Frequency Set (MHZ).............200 (DRAM/FSB:1/01)

Command per clock (CPC)..............Disabled

Cas latency (tCL)....................3

RAS to CAS delay (tRCD)..............3

Min RAS active time (tRAS)...........8

Row precharge time (tRP).............3

Row cycle time (tRC).................11

Row refresh cycle time(tRFC).........14

Row to Row delay (tRRD)..............3

Write recovery time (tWR)............3

Write to read delay (tWTR)...........2

Read to write delay (tRWT)...........2

Refresh period (tREF)................AUTO

Write CAS latency (tWCL).............1

DRAM Bank Interleave.................Enabled

 

DQS Skew Control.....................Decrease Skew

DQS Skew Value.......................0

DRAM Drive Strength..................AUTO

DRAM Data Drive Strength.............AUTO

Max Async Latency....................6ns

Dram Response........................Normal

Read Preamble Time...................5ns

Idle Cycle Limit.....................AUTO

Dynamic Counter......................Disabled

R/W Queue Bypass.....................AUTO

Bypass Max...........................AUTO

32 Byte Granularity..................Disable (8 Bursts)

[DeathTouchWIlly]

Ditto on the 2T change for the CPC. I had oodles of crashing/freezing with my OCZ memory but then I relaxed my CPC to disabled and I could pwn on BF2 for hours.

 

Ok maybe I got bombed to pieces by 12 year olds in jets but at least I didn't BSOD while it happened.

[EvilDead]

Your input is very much appreciated. Can't wait to try these settings after work.

 

Thanks again.

[Guest nova]

Some more input for you,.... I have two of these Mushkin sticks in the kids' game machine. I tried them in my DFI rig with the 623-3 bios and everything in Auto,... to my suprize they outperformed (with no tweaking) all my other mem except my Mushkin Black. I also have some HyperX, OCZ Platinum, and Samsung that I have put in my DFI and played with. Might be worth a minute of your time to throw everything (memory wise) in auto and see what happens.

[EvilDead]

an update:

 

Tested "good" stick alone again and it went 13 hours optimized defaults no problems. (yesterday while I was at work)

 

Nova

 

I put the second stick back in. All settings on Auto caused Memtest to freeze after six minutes.

 

Sharp

 

I am running your settings today and will see what happens. It had passed 2x OK when I left the house this morning.

 

How much of a performance hit does the ram take by setting them to 2T?

[Sharp]

Hello,

 

With 2T, my memory performance in Everest

READ = decreased by ~200MB/s (5621MBs)

WRITE = decreased by ~200MB/s (2235MBs)

LATENCY = increased by 5ns (49.3ns)

 

With 1T, my memory performance in Everest

READ = 5869MB/s

WRITE = 2467MB/s

LATENCY = 44ns

 

And in Sisoft sandra unbuffered scores, 2T

ALU = Decreased by ~300MB/s

FPU = Decrease by ~200MB/s

 

So it does make a difference.

With a higher frequency CPU the impact would be bigger.

 

 

But with slow memory such as 3-3-3-8, the performance loss may be very small.

[Guest Tyler]

It doesnt make a difference in games though, just synthetic benches. At least for me.