HELP! bad ram or bad mobo?

[masterwoot]

I'm running memtest86 and getting errors:
With 2 sticks of Corsair DDR400 512MB in, I get errors in test #5 as follows:

400fsb = 7772 errors per test pass (on average)
380fsb = 91 errors per test pass (on average)
360fsb = 8 errors per test pass (on average)
333fsb = 0 errors per test pass (on average)

With only one stick in, either stick, any slot, I get 0 errors on all the tests running at 400fsb.

Is the mobo bad? or the ram?? Help please, please, please.


Specs:
athlon 3000+ (400fsb, w/ multiplier locked @ 10.5)
1GB (2x512) Corsair VS1GBKIT400 PC3200
DFI NFII UltraB mobo (current bios 11/27/03)
Thermalright SLK900U (operating CPU temp ~32C, case temp ~39C)
Saphire radeon 9800pro (omega drivers 2.5.22)
Enermax "noisetaker" 370W PSU

Settings for CPU: 1.65 V, 10.5 multiplier, 200mhz fsb
Settings for RAM: 2.5-3-3-8, 2.6 or 2.7 volts, 1:1 ratio

[dkdgbroyles]

I don't think u have bad mobo. Try two things in combo and aside from each other. Set timings to 3-3-3-8 and set vdimm to 2.8, 2.9 , or 3.0. Try vdimm changes first with no change on timings. If that don't work, change timings. Important: don't boot up into windows with unstable memory , u could get errors in the registery.

[masterwoot]

what do you mean errors in the registry? in the actual ram module? or windows registry? if the later, don't worry, i'm reinstalling windows as soon as i figure the memory errors out (i installed it w/ the 400fsb setting and i'm sure its messed up).

as for the voltage: shouldn't it be good though at 2.6 volts (that's the factory spec i believe).??

[dkdgbroyles]

yes 2.6V may be factory but some mobo's under volt some ,to make it more stable everyone needs to bump it up . trust me many people go as far as 3.2V .Setting of 2.7,2.8,2.9or3.0 is plenty safe. Don't worry about the registry ur probably ok.

[masterwoot]

bumped the voltage to 2.8, still errors.
bumped latencies to 10-5-5-5 @ 3.0, megamega errors (39000 in one testpass!)

[dkdgbroyles]

play with timings a little. look on new egg under customer reviews for your ram and see what other people r setting their ram to. It might point u to the right direction with voltage and timings. All brands of ram a different.

[dkdgbroyles]

try this read:reviews (http://secure.newegg.com/app/custratingreview.asp?item=20-145-025)

[masterwoot]

thanks.
i've bumped the voltage to 3.
it showed no errors for the first few passes. :)
but i'm a bit leary of making a 20% increase from factory recommendations.

i game tested it and it flew through typical hangup spots i've had. perhaps that's the fix. i'll run memtest for a longer period of time tonight and see what's up.

[masterwoot]

i found some beta bios "on the street" that look like they're gonna fix this whole issue. http://www.dfi-street.com/bios.html
i ran memtest once w/ a 400fsb and no errors!!!! (usually some 39,000 or so). that was w/ auto volt settings on the ram too!

[dkdgbroyles]

Glad it worked out for U Master W. I forgot about a bios update. Yes, that would be an easy fix. My bios updates fixed things I just so happened to not have any problems at the moment.

[masterwoot]

'tis all good now. the beta bios 1/21 were the answer.

http://www.dfi-street.com/bios.html

now that i can run the system @ auto settings, i can OC.

i'll let dfi know of my frustration: you gotta get beta bios form somewher other than dfi.com to run 400 speed ram w/ a 400fsb processor on your new 400fsb mobo from them.

[Sentential]

I have similar issues with the NF7. It comes with the territroy.:-/