Hi all,

I'm having what I think is quite an unusual problem.

Basically, every three to four weeks one stick of RAM in my pc dies (i.e. goes faulty), and the computer will refuse to post. The only way to get the computer running again is to remove the dead stick of RAM, and then the pc will run fine.

So I put a new stick in, and 4 weeks later, boom, it blows again!

I'm running 1066Mhz RAM at 1066Mhz, which should be fine, and I've tried running it at its recommended voltage of 2.2V and 1.8V, but neither stops the RAM from dying.

I've replaced my motherboard twice, I was using a gigabyte GA-p35-ds3r before (tried version 1.0 and version 2.0 with different bioses but both were the same). Now I'm using an ASUS Maximus Formula (as you can see from my specs below), but the problem keeps happening!

So, my theory is, some component that hasn't changed is somehow damaging the RAM... The only components I can think of which could be causing damage are:

- Graphics Card (8800 GTX)
- Sound Card (X-fI)
- PSU (Corsair 620W)
- RAM (Crucial Ballistix)

It seems to me that it's always the new stick of RAM that dies, so my personal theory is maybe the other stick (that's never been changed) is somehow damaging the other stick? Is this even possible?

I'd really appreciate some opinions and advice about this.

Matteo

Asus Maximus Formula X38
Q6600
2 x 1 Gb Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 (BL12864AA1065)
XFX Geforce 8800 GTX
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
Corsair HW 620W Power Supply
2 x Seagate Barracuda ES 500 Gb
Vista Home Premium

overclocking anything else? how is your cooling situation? you have a surge protector or ups to rule out dirty power coming in? otherwise i'd point straight at the power supply.

^Agreed.

Also have you tried DDR2 800 RAM. I personally don't use native DDR2 1066, so can't really comment on that, but users have said that native DDR2 1066 RAM is quite unstable. Try running the Ballastix at DDR2 800. (I have OCed RAM to 1066 and higher though).

Have you tried testing all your RAM using memtest86+? Also, you might try running your RAM at DDR2-800 for a couple of months to see if that helps. Unless you are OCing the FSB above 1600MHz, DDR2-800 speed is plenty.

Hey, thanks for your quick replies.

I didn't mention overclocking because I've run my computer overclocked for 4 weeks, or not overclocked for 4 weeks, and the RAM still goes bad. When I do overclock I run at 333x9 which is fairly modest for a q6600 I think.

I have a surge protector on the main power lead, which makes me think it can't be the psu? Anyway, it's happened so many times surely another component apart from the RAM would blow?

I could try running at 800 Mhz, but I want to find the root of the problem. What do you guys think of my "other RAM stick" theory?

What if I bought some RAM faster than 1066 to run at 1066?

Thanks again
Matteo

p.s.
With the old gigabyte board the RAM used to just blow and the pc wouldn't post till you took it out. With the new asus board you just get tonnes of blue screens. If you run memtest with both sticks in you get loads of errors. When you put in one stick in at a time the memtest errors disappear, but if you overclock the RAM, you can see one of the sticks is generates errors at much lower mhz ... i.e. is damaged!

So presumably you'd get essentially the same performance running your RAM at DDR-667. Is there some special reason you need to run the RAM at DDR2-1066?

That's a good idea, but it has nothing to do with whether your PSU has a problem.

This supports the idea that you have a problem with your system (or haven't figured out the right settings for your RAM). This post may help explain RAM settings a bit: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] s#t1249881

In the past some MB bios did -not- correctly tell the MB the voltages to apply and that would be what I think is going on.

If your MB and/or bios is incorrectly adjusting voltages...it could be the bios rev or a regulator part batch that is the problem.

If you end up going to another MB maker take a close look at DFI.

EDIT: Just reread the post...either the outlet you have everything pluged into has a wireing problem or the PSU is off. Next time get a PC Power & Cooling.
Also when you replace the ram are you sending ALL the ram in?

for starters are you running memtest86+ for errors when you 1st buy them? my 1st pair of crucial had errors on them. just happens like that some times.

also ballistics run pretty damn hot. ever felt those heat spreaders? you can go to bestbuy and get a possitional fan (that bolts to the mobo) and put it over the ram to keep that heat down.

Hey guys,

Thanks for your replies.

Mondoman, I agree I have no particular need to run at 1066Mhz, and if I swap the RAM again I'll try running at 800Mhz and see if that helps. However, I'm running 1066Mhz RAM at it's stock speed (1066Mhz) with the recommended voltage (2.2V), with all standard timings (5,5,5,15), so it shouldn't be dying on me right? I want to try to find out the reason this is happening.
I know a surge protector wouldn't stop the PSU having a problem, I was replying to rockbyter's question.

ZOldDude, I really don't think I'm looking at a MB problem here as I've tried three different motherboards and had exactly the same problem each time! If the PSU is bad, surely it would be causing more damage than killing one (looks like always the new) stick of RAM once a month? And the fact it's an expensive corsair one makes me doubt it could be the problem...
As for sending ALL the RAM in, no, I only send in the dead stick. Is this a problem? This is why I believe maybe the other stick is causing the damage?

Doubletake33, the RAM does run hot. I had a theory that it was overheating and changed my case to an Antec 900 with some serious airflow, but the RAM is still dying and just as quickly as before. =S

What do you guys think? Really appreciating all the ideas here!
Matteo

You've had a decent amount of replies and quality thoughts, Im no tech by far but I have to agree with just about every comment made here.... you've already ruled out a lot by changing your motherboard, case etc etc:
Personally I would consider changing the PSU, ensuring the bios is up to date so you know the board is running properly, if your running dual ram and only replacing 1 faulty stick at a time then I'd definately be replacing both the same time not just the one. Is everything else running up to date, ie graphics card and drivers, does your card run of PSU power or motherboard? Im wondering if a card uses motherboard memory at any time and might be causing them to blow somehow?

One final thought, How long you been running Vista......... bare with me on this: I read a little while back someone had trouble while running Vista, he swears blind Vista blew his system, now while I dont agree with this exactly the reports that came back were interesting as it was stated that Vista being more power hungry and its sharp bursts of power during powerup/powerdown sequences COULD have blown components, others argued faulty motherboard, however he was adamant that XP ran fine and as soon as Vista went on - pop! Take it with a pinch of salt by all means but its just a small input.

Replicant, thanks for your reply. The vista thing is an interesting point. With the gigabyte motherboard, it would always seem that the RAM would blow when the pc was loading windows. But as I don't want to go back to XP, looks like something I'll just have to live with!

All my drivers and bios are up to date, so I don't think it's any thing like that.

So the consensus is that there's two possible problems:
1) Not sending back both sticks of RAM; Or,
2) The PSU

I'm inclined to think it's the first one, as you'd expect a dodgy PSU to damage more than one stick of RAM?

Do you guys have any opinion about the soundcard? I've got a couple of static shocks off my speakers recently, and I'm a bit paranoid about them!

So, do you recommend I get both new RAM and a new PSU? (Could be pricey!) If I get new RAM, I was thinking maybe 2 x 2Gb OCZ PC2-8000 (platinum or reaperx)?

Thanks again =)
Matteo

Given that 2.2V is 22% above the 1.8V DDR2 standard that the chips were designed for, it doesn't seem unusual that the RAM is dying early (although it does sound like there is something else also going on in your case). The DDR2-1066 rating doesn't mean that the RAM won't die, it just means that the manufacturer bets that the high price they charge for such overclocked RAM (faster than DDR2-800) will more than make up for the cost of sending out replacements for those modules that die and are sent in for replacement.

Hey Mondoman,

Yeah, I'm beginning to realise this. I think I was a bit naive running them at 1066 all that time when I didn't get much of a speed increase for it.

So, one more quick question. =) I think I'm going to get the 2x2Gb Ocz Reaperx Pc2-8000. My cpu will be running at 333x9 again. So, do you recommend I run the reapers at 667mhz or 800mhz? Am I right in thinking I can run them at a 1T command rate at 667mhz (1:1 ratio)? Would tightening the timings at 667 give me more real world performance increase than running them at 800 with standard timings?

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they're specced to run at 2.1V. Shall I actively set them to 2.1V in the bios, or shall I set the voltage to auto and see how low they'll run?

Thanks again =)
Matteo

What is the point of running your ram on 800mhz if ur not going to use all the bandwidth? Having a 1:1 ratio with a lower latency and a CR-1 will give you a lot better performance..... 667mhz @1.8volt..... U practically know the answer to ur question, you just wanted to be told!!!