Memory problem - Please Help!!!

zachig · Oct 31, 2005, 10:22 AM

Hi guys!

I need you advice regarding some memory errors I get in Memtest.

I've recently upgraded my memory to 2x512 OCZ Gold (not VX) PC3200 5-2-2-2. Before that, I had 2x256 Mushkin PC4000.

I'm running the memory on EPOX 8RDA3+ NForce2 mobo (rev 1.1).

The OCZ Gold uses BH-5 Chips and I know that those are not recommended to use on NForce2 mobos.

Anyway, I took the risk and installed them in my rig.

Now, when I run memtest I get errors, no matter what timings I use for the memories (8-3-3-2.5, 7-3-3-2.5, 7-3-3-2, 5-2-3-2, 6-2-2-2, 5-2-2-2, 11-2-2-2 and many many more).

Finally, I've set the timings on 11-2-2-2 and with these timings I get the minimum amount of errors (something like 30-50, in test #5).

I'm pretty sure that the memories are not the problem, as I'm running my Barton 2500+ at 200x11, and when I'm running it with 166x11, I get NO ERRORS at all.

So...do you have any suggestions, what should I do? I want to keep my overclocking of 200x11 but without getting any errors.

Will a BIOS update do the trick???

I must mention that currently (with the errors) I'm not having any crashes nor freezings nor any other instability issues and I can play all games without a problem. So...should I keep the memories in that configuration although I'm having errors in memtest???

Thanks in advance,
zachig

CDsDontBurn · Oct 31, 2005, 11:21 AM

check out this thread. either ryder or andy from OCZ can help you out a bit better than i probably would

. but as far as your memory goes, it might even be the MoBo. i had that same model MoBo back when i had my xp2400 back in the day. would not keep a stable OC at 200Mhz or higher. i could run it at 199 at 1.7v no problem, but anything higher than 200Mhz it would just not be stable. i would run w/voltages at like 2.8v on the memory, and like 2.2v on the CPU. and nothing.

DDR3200 is 400Mhz, so if it's not stable, then it might be the memory as well. but like i said, i owned that board before, and it gave me problems at 200Mhz as well. i checked out the ePox forums back then to see if i could fix that, and nothing they told me to try helped

.

zachig · Oct 31, 2005, 11:29 AM

Thanks a lot for you help!!!

CDsDontBurn · Oct 31, 2005, 11:30 AM

yea, np dude

.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Oct 31, 2005, 02:27 PM

THat's probly why they said don't use it on nForce boards.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 31, 2005, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

THat's probly why they said don't use it on nForce boards.

IMO, i think it's actually a problem w/the MoBo, not the memory.

zachig · Oct 31, 2005, 08:01 PM

Using my previous memory (2x256MB Mushkin PC4000) I ran my Barton 2500+ at 200x11 (=3200+) with memory timings of 6-2-2-2 and I got no errors at all at memtest. Other voltages were: VCORE: 1.63V, VDIMM=2.6V and Chipset Voltage was: 1.6V.

With my current OCZ memory (2x512MB OCZ Gold, BH-5 chips) I managed to get the MINIMUM number of errors in memtest, while using memory timings of 11-2-2-2 and with te following voltages: VCORE: 1.775V, VDIMM: 2.77V and Chipset Voltage of: 1.8V.

The strange thing is that when I try loosening the timings to let's say: 8-3-3-2.5, I get MORE errors. The same thing happens when I raise the VDIMM voltage to 2.9V, which is the maximum voltage I can give to my RAMS.

Anyway, I getting suspicious that my motherboard doesn't like these OCZ RAMS, especially after lowering the FSB to 166 and getting NO ERRORS, and also after seeing in OCZ website that these OCZ GOLD modules are NOT recommended for use in NForce2 mobos.

Anyway, thanks for your advice guys. I'm thinking of doing a BIOS Update, maybe this will help and I've got nothing to lose. The problem is that I've never done any BIOS update and I'm really afraid to do it and mess things up. I know that BIOS update is quiet safe, but my wife will just KILL me

if I can't make my PC work after the update, as she works on it most of the day.

Thanks again and I'll keep updating you.

Regards,
zachig.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Oct 31, 2005, 09:05 PM

Did you try something like 3-3-3-11 or 3-3-3-5 or something? Even 3-4-4-11?

zachig · Oct 31, 2005, 09:36 PM

Yeah, I tried 8-4-4-3 and 6-3-3-3, but they were even worse. I couldn't even post.
I think this is because I've set the CAS to 3 and this RAM is intended to run on CAS2 or CAS 2.5 if SPD setting is used.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 31, 2005, 11:25 PM

hmmm.....on second thought, after reading your posts, from what you've said, it might as well be the memory. might even be the memory is bad. have you tried those sticks in a different machine? like a friend's machine or something if you don't have an extra machine to play around with?

H3X4D3C1M4L · Nov 1, 2005, 02:39 PM

IF you don't want the modules I'll take 'em

Oct 31, 2005, 10:22 AM	#1
zachig HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 285 Rep Power: 0	Memory problem - Please Help!!! Hi guys! I need you advice regarding some memory errors I get in Memtest. I've recently upgraded my memory to 2x512 OCZ Gold (not VX) PC3200 5-2-2-2. Before that, I had 2x256 Mushkin PC4000. I'm running the memory on EPOX 8RDA3+ NForce2 mobo (rev 1.1). The OCZ Gold uses BH-5 Chips and I know that those are not recommended to use on NForce2 mobos. Anyway, I took the risk and installed them in my rig. Now, when I run memtest I get errors, no matter what timings I use for the memories (8-3-3-2.5, 7-3-3-2.5, 7-3-3-2, 5-2-3-2, 6-2-2-2, 5-2-2-2, 11-2-2-2 and many many more). Finally, I've set the timings on 11-2-2-2 and with these timings I get the minimum amount of errors (something like 30-50, in test #5). I'm pretty sure that the memories are not the problem, as I'm running my Barton 2500+ at 200x11, and when I'm running it with 166x11, I get NO ERRORS at all. So...do you have any suggestions, what should I do? I want to keep my overclocking of 200x11 but without getting any errors. Will a BIOS update do the trick??? I must mention that currently (with the errors) I'm not having any crashes nor freezings nor any other instability issues and I can play all games without a problem. So...should I keep the memories in that configuration although I'm having errors in memtest??? Thanks in advance, zachig

Oct 31, 2005, 11:21 AM	#2
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	check out this thread. either ryder or andy from OCZ can help you out a bit better than i probably would . but as far as your memory goes, it might even be the MoBo. i had that same model MoBo back when i had my xp2400 back in the day. would not keep a stable OC at 200Mhz or higher. i could run it at 199 at 1.7v no problem, but anything higher than 200Mhz it would just not be stable. i would run w/voltages at like 2.8v on the memory, and like 2.2v on the CPU. and nothing. DDR3200 is 400Mhz, so if it's not stable, then it might be the memory as well. but like i said, i owned that board before, and it gave me problems at 200Mhz as well. i checked out the ePox forums back then to see if i could fix that, and nothing they told me to try helped . __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 31, 2005, 11:30 AM	#4
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	yea, np dude . __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 31, 2005, 11:25 PM	#10
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	hmmm.....on second thought, after reading your posts, from what you've said, it might as well be the memory. might even be the memory is bad. have you tried those sticks in a different machine? like a friend's machine or something if you don't have an extra machine to play around with? __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Oct 31, 2005, 11:29 AM	Thread Starter #3
zachig HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 285 Rep Power: 0	Thanks a lot for you help!!!

Oct 31, 2005, 02:27 PM	#5
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	THat's probly why they said don't use it on nForce boards.

Oct 31, 2005, 08:01 PM	Thread Starter #7
zachig HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 285 Rep Power: 0	Using my previous memory (2x256MB Mushkin PC4000) I ran my Barton 2500+ at 200x11 (=3200+) with memory timings of 6-2-2-2 and I got no errors at all at memtest. Other voltages were: VCORE: 1.63V, VDIMM=2.6V and Chipset Voltage was: 1.6V. With my current OCZ memory (2x512MB OCZ Gold, BH-5 chips) I managed to get the MINIMUM number of errors in memtest, while using memory timings of 11-2-2-2 and with te following voltages: VCORE: 1.775V, VDIMM: 2.77V and Chipset Voltage of: 1.8V. The strange thing is that when I try loosening the timings to let's say: 8-3-3-2.5, I get MORE errors. The same thing happens when I raise the VDIMM voltage to 2.9V, which is the maximum voltage I can give to my RAMS. Anyway, I getting suspicious that my motherboard doesn't like these OCZ RAMS, especially after lowering the FSB to 166 and getting NO ERRORS, and also after seeing in OCZ website that these OCZ GOLD modules are NOT recommended for use in NForce2 mobos. Anyway, thanks for your advice guys. I'm thinking of doing a BIOS Update, maybe this will help and I've got nothing to lose. The problem is that I've never done any BIOS update and I'm really afraid to do it and mess things up. I know that BIOS update is quiet safe, but my wife will just KILL me if I can't make my PC work after the update, as she works on it most of the day. Thanks again and I'll keep updating you. Regards, zachig.

Oct 31, 2005, 09:05 PM	#8
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	Did you try something like 3-3-3-11 or 3-3-3-5 or something? Even 3-4-4-11?

Oct 31, 2005, 09:36 PM	Thread Starter #9
zachig HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 285 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I tried 8-4-4-3 and 6-3-3-3, but they were even worse. I couldn't even post. I think this is because I've set the CAS to 3 and this RAM is intended to run on CAS2 or CAS 2.5 if SPD setting is used.

Nov 1, 2005, 02:39 PM	#11
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	IF you don't want the modules I'll take 'em