bad memory? help! =[

curtisbouvier · Mar 4, 2009

Ive been getting this error in world of warcraft for the last year and i just put it off and put it off (because a simple reboot fixed it)... now i'm investigating the issue.

i always get this failed to read file error, the game crashes, and rebooting was the only way to fix it, (or not playing the game for 4-6 hours).

some one said its due to bad memory or hard drive!

so i downloaded this program called memtest.exe

and supposedly it checks for errors in your memory.

i made it through 14% of the memory and I already had 20 errors on one run...

as seen here

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7019/memtest1a.png

i didn't even bother letting it finish if i was getting that much off the start.

does anyone have any experience with this? can i double check this another way just to be sure? windows and appz run Fine, system is stable as a rock, other games never crash.... just WoW does..

i have an Athlon 64 3700 san diego single core, with 2gb DDR crucial ballistix 3200

let me know what you guys think, thanks!

UglyChild · Mar 4, 2009

Use Memetest86+ 2.11 instead. Burn it on to a CD and boot from it. If you get errors then you do have bad RAM.

And what redduc said as well.

redduc900 · Mar 4, 2009

When Memtest fails it doesn't necessarily mean you have bad RAM. Any number of things can cause Memtest to fail, including incorrectly set Vdimm, RAM timings (including sub-timings), Vcore (Vcc), vNB (vMCH or vSPP), tRD (Performance Level), etc. Post your system spec's in detail, including make and model of MB, a direct link to you specific RAM, current RAM timings and Vdimm, whether your system is overclocked, etc. And instead of running the Windows version of Memtest, download Memtest86+ and run it from a floppy, thumb drive or burnt ISO...

http://www.memtest.org/

curtisbouvier · Mar 4, 2009

Here is my board: ASRock Dual SATA2 s939
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=939Dual-SATA2

my ram:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/crucial_ballistix_ddr_memory/

Module Size: 512MB <----- (4 sticks @ 2048mb of memory)
Package: Ballistix 184-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR PC3200
Configuration: 64Meg x 64
DIMM Type:
Error Checking: Non-parity
Speed: DDR400
Voltage: 2.8V
Memory Timings: CL=2 (2-2-2-8)

I feel so embarrased to show you guys this, as I selected this ram Myself and built this computer myself. I thought this ram was great, so the reviews said.

I did 1 round of tests with MemTest86 via bootable CD,,

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6441/dsc0022w.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4829/dsc0024.jpg

by the end of test 8 we were getting close to 200 errors, each test was presenting many many errors.

everything is running stock /auto in the bios, i didnt touch the voltages / timings / settings. I am not overclocking my machine...

other details

I'm running an ATI X1900XT, SB Audigy2 External, everything is running cool as everything is water cooled (cpu / videocard) the ram is NOT water cooled, but ive touched the ram and it appears to be Very Very hot, almost burns your fingers... but I was told this was normal for ram..

I have 4 dimm slots, they are all in use, a stick of 512 in each.

RollingThunder · Mar 4, 2009

curtisbouvier said:
Here is my board: ASRock Dual SATA2 s939
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=939Dual-SATA2

my ram:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/crucial_ballistix_ddr_memory/

Module Size: 512MB <----- (4 sticks @ 2048mb of memory)
Package: Ballistix 184-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR PC3200
Configuration: 64Meg x 64
DIMM Type:
Error Checking: Non-parity
Speed: DDR400
Voltage: 2.8V
Memory Timings: CL=2 (2-2-2-8)

I feel so embarrased to show you guys this, as I selected this ram Myself and built this computer myself. I thought this ram was great, so the reviews said.

I did 1 round of tests with MemTest86 via bootable CD,,

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6441/dsc0022w.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4829/dsc0024.jpg

by the end of test 8 we were getting close to 200 errors, each test was presenting many many errors.

everything is running stock /auto in the bios, i didnt touch the voltages / timings / settings. I am not overclocking my machine...

other details

I'm running an ATI X1900XT, SB Audigy2 External, everything is running cool as everything is water cooled (cpu / videocard) the ram is NOT water cooled, but ive touched the ram and it appears to be Very Very hot, almost burns your fingers... but I was told this was normal for ram..

I have 4 dimm slots, they are all in use, a stick of 512 in each.

Curtis,

You're problem is that board can't supply enough vdimm (voltage) for those Ballistix. The Board can only supply 2.6 volts even if you go into your BIOS and set vdimm to "High" it's about 2.66v max and your Ballistix need 2.8v at least. As you can see, they run very hot by default. Without volt mods, the Ballistix won't work for long if at all.

You need to find performance RAM that requires 2.6 volts and try to use only two memory slots (2 x 1GB sticks). Been there a few times with this board.

curtisbouvier · Mar 4, 2009

RollingThunder said:
Curtis,

You're problem is that board can't supply enough vdimm (voltage) for those Ballistix. The Board can only supply 2.6 volts even if you go into your BIOS and set vdimm to "High" it's about 2.66v max and your Ballistix need 2.8v at least. As you can see, they run very hot by default. Without volt mods, the Ballistix won't work for long if at all.

You need to find performance RAM that requires 2.6 volts and try to use only two memory slots (2 x 1GB sticks). Been there a few times with this board.

wow...

i was not aware of that when I purchased this setup.

I guess heres the million dollar question...do you think my ram is permanently damaged? or its simply not getting enough juice to run properly?

i could understand over volting might be damaging to the ram... but not under volting, what do you think? its been running like this for about 2 years, or since September of 2006

RollingThunder · Mar 4, 2009

curtisbouvier said:
wow...

i was not aware of that when I purchased this setup.

I guess heres the million dollar question...do you think my ram is permanently damaged? or its simply not getting enough juice to run properly?

i could understand over volting might be damaging to the ram... but not under volting, what do you think? its been running like this for about 2 years, or since September of 2006

Curtis,

You won't hurt your RAMs undervolting them, you'll just get errors.

curtisbouvier · Mar 4, 2009

could you recommend some replacement memory, as you said 2x1gb at 2.6v.

brand wise what would you say for standard DDR PC3200?

curtisbouvier · Mar 4, 2009

what are your thoughts on this memory here as replacement ram!

OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=14504&vpn=OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K&manufacture=OCZ Technology

appears to run stock at 2.6V,,, that should be OK with my board right?

i'm amazed that ASrock doesn't advertise the the ram voltage for this board anywhere on their website, and you have to dig like hell on Google to find anything about it... i guess who would have known when the board first came out... =[

i'm also amazed that my system has been stable, never crashes, games run fine, world of warcraft is the Only thing that does not run fine... hence the reason i'm here lol..

Zhut · Mar 4, 2009

I run 4x1gb of that ram in my secondary amd pc (for quite some time now) and I have been quite happy with it. I had no problem running it with 2-2-2-6 timings. Have had no issues with it at all. The ram sticks are heavy with the metal heat spreaders which I think look neat.

RollingThunder · Mar 4, 2009

curtisbouvier said:
what are your thoughts on this memory here as replacement ram!

OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 2GB 2X1GB DDR400 CL2-3-2-5

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=14504&vpn=OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K&manufacture=OCZ Technology

appears to run stock at 2.6V,,, that should be OK with my board right?

i'm amazed that ASrock doesn't advertise the the ram voltage for this board anywhere on their website, and you have to dig like hell on Google to find anything about it... i guess who would have known when the board first came out... =[

i'm also amazed that my system has been stable, never crashes, games run fine, world of warcraft is the Only thing that does not run fine... hence the reason i'm here lol..

Curtis,

As long as the memory voltage will run at 2.6v stock, any 2.6v pairs should work at that voltage. If you're not going to overclock or overclock very mildly because they will eventuaqlly need more vdimm, you should be ok. That Asrock board is known for not liking all four RAM slots being used at stock so that's why it's better to get 2 x 1GB RAMs.

When you install your new RAM's go into the BIOS and set your RAM vdimm to "High." You'll get another one tenth of a volt higher (~2.7v). The board defaults at ~ 2.5-2.6v. The "High" setting should cover you with RAM voltage.

RollingThunder · Mar 4, 2009

Guys,

Please forgive me butting in on this thread. As soon as I saw it was an Asrock Dual SATA 2 939, I knew what the problem was and is because I've run the board and still do for several years. I had it volt modded and went through all the same issues Curtis has.

UglyChild · Mar 4, 2009

Try dropping Memory Timings to 3-3-3-10.. that might solve your issue for now.

trents · Mar 4, 2009

Curtis, that system is getting pretty old. DDR ram is relatively expensive compared to DDR2. Do you think it might be time for more than just a ram replacement?

Cuiiey · Mar 5, 2009

Simple RAM and maybe Mobo upgrade and then you would hopefully not find this problem

bad memory? help! =[

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