Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: swimstud on November 29, 2008, 03:20:25 PM
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Hello Computer Hope, Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
My new computer was having issues with freezing randomly (i.e. with no repeatability) and sometimes would come back from sleep with no video output. Anyway I decided to run memtest86 to check for problems.
Here is the Issue:
Running Memtest with both memory modules produces strange memtest errors in test 3,4 and 6. At 61% of test 3 the tests is halted and a report comes up detailing the found errors. It claims to find 32 bits in error, with max contiguous errors as 1. The strange part is, on the side under bits in error for test 3, the number keeps changing. It continuously cycles from 1 to 32766. (which is 2 less than 2^15 which makes me think it is continuously summing in a 16bit register, and then rolling over.)
This is not the main issue however. I decided to put the memory in different slots on the motherboard, so I moved the RAM to slot 2 and 4 and ran the test again. I got the same results, meaning it is probably the memory. So to figure out which module it is, I put only one stick in slot 1 and repeated the test. I got the same results. At this point I thought I had figured out the problem. However to be sure, I put the other stick in slot 1 and ran the test again. Again I got the same results.
So, Could both modules be bad In the exact same way? If the problem is the motherboard, why did I get the same errors in every different RAM slot? Could the problem be the CPU?
Than you again for reading this lengthy post.
Here are my system stats:
***CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 @ 1066MHz
MSI P43 Neo-F LGA ATX motherboard
GeForce 9800 GX2 PCI-X 2.0 GPU
RAIDMAX RX-630SS 630W PSU
Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16GHz
SAMSUNG 750GB @ 7200RPM
Vista Home Ultimate
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that board only supports DDR2-800 memory doesn't it???
anyway try lowering the FSB memory speed....see what happens
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I looked up the motherboard, MSI site says it supports DDR2 667/800/1066
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodmbspec&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=&prod_no=1483#menu (http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodmbspec&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=&prod_no=1483#menu)
I just tried a 800MHz clock, and got a very similar error, this time the test was halted at 15%.
I have another computer with DDR2, My next course of action is going to be trying the possibly bad RAM in my other system to see if it still produces errors.
If anyone has any insight into this sort of issue, feel free to offer advice.
Thank you again.
and Thanks for the response fgdn17 :)
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Did you consult the MBoard manual for instructions on running 1066 in there ? ?
On most boards it's not simply a matter of plugging the sticks in and firing it up.
For example for my ASUS board there are 4 pages of instructions illustrating the different combinations and settings to run 1066 natively...
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Here is an update:
I ran Memtest on my second system, and it produced no errors. So I switched the RAM from the two systems and ran Memtest on both. The MSI P43 Neo-F failed again in the exact same way with the good RAM modules from my second computer, and my second computer pass the Memtest with the supposedly bad ram.
Thus It must be either the motherboard or the CPU. I'm leaning toward Motherboard due to the nature of the problem. Are there any additional tests I can do to verify which it is?
Thank you for your response patio.
I downloaded the most recent Mboard Manual from the MSI site. There is no information given about special actions that need to be taken in order to support 1066.
here is all the information I could find relating to 1066 in the manual:
Supported FSB
- 1600*(OC)/ 1333/ 1066/ 800 MHz
Memory Support
- 4 DDR2 DIMMs support DDR2 1066**(OC)/ 800/ 667 SDRAM
(240pin / 1.8V / 16GB Max)
(**For more information on compatible components, please visit
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=testreport)
I looked at the supported memory list and my RAM is not on it, but no suppored moduals are listed @ PC2 8500. Here is the link to the supported memory: http://global.msi.com.tw/uploads/test_report/TR10_1483.pdf (http://global.msi.com.tw/uploads/test_report/TR10_1483.pdf)
Thanks again
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I looked up the motherboard, MSI site says it supports DDR2 667/800/1066
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodmbspec&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=&prod_no=1483#menu (http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodmbspec&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=170&cat3_no=&prod_no=1483#menu)
I just tried a 800MHz clock, and got a very similar error, this time the test was halted at 15%.
I have another computer with DDR2, My next course of action is going to be trying the possibly bad RAM in my other system to see if it still produces errors.
If anyone has any insight into this sort of issue, feel free to offer advice.
Thank you again.
and Thanks for the response fgdn17 :)
I must have looked in the wrong place...thought it said supported up to ddr2 800...my misread
sorry..
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no, seriously I appreciate your help. It was worth looking into to be sure.
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does anyone else have an idea as to what could be wrong?
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The link supplied gives no info...and i can't see your MBoard manual from here.
Your RAM is not supported...you may be out of luck. A few bucks more you could have picked one vendor from their list.
I spent extra to get OCZ RAM on my new build because it was an approved Vendor...no issues.
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I didn't link the manual directly, sorry.
You can find it by following the motherboard link I posted, and clicking "Manual" in the upper left hand corner of the page, or by following this link: http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloadfile&dno=6789&type=manual (http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloadfile&dno=6789&type=manual)
I realize my RAM is not directly tested, and guaranteed by the motherboard manufacturer, but according to the supporded RAM page I linked (http://global.msi.com.tw/uploads/test_report/TR10_1483.pdf (http://global.msi.com.tw/uploads/test_report/TR10_1483.pdf)) no RAM at 1066 has been tested, even though the motherboard explicitly states that it supports DDR II at that frequency.
I guess what I am saying is, the RAM produced no errors in a much older system which does not even support DDR II 1066, and different RAM placed in the MSI motherboard produced the exact same errors as the supposedly unsupported RAM. Thus I am lead to believe that there is an issue with either the motherboard or CPU.
Does anyone have any insight as to which it is more likely to be, so I can get a new part, or if I am missing something, let me know. :)
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Check MemTest's site and see if the test supports 1066...i haven't needed to run it on mine yet.
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I read the majority of the memtest86 site, and can find no reference to memory supported.
There is some information about CPU in the change log, but that's about it.
I am going to download Memtest86+ and see if it produces a similar error.
Thanks for your continued support patio, I'll get back to you with the results tomorrow.
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I'm suprised MSI did no testing...they are really cutting back there i guess.
ASUS stated all 1066's on their APV were tested.
Keep in mind it's still fairly new...although they've had plenty of time to test up til now.
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Quick update:
Memtest86+ has more information filled in for the processor than Memtest86
It was able to determine the L2 and L3 cache sizes, the processor chipset, and the ram configuration with timings, all of which were missing with Memtest86.
Just as I was typing this, test 4 froze @ 48% and has been there for at least 4 min. I think that is a bad sign. The screen is still updating, because I can see the "Memtest" logo still blinking in the corner of the screen, but everything else is stuck.
I am going to let it run overnight to get the full results.
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Let us know.
In the AM you will have to run one stik at a time to see which one is bad.
Corsair has been decent to me in the past on RMA's but try from the vendor first.
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Well, the test finished significantly faster than I had anticipated.
The results came back with no errors.
Perhaps Memtest86 from: http://www.memtest86.com/ (http://www.memtest86.com/) is not compatible with duel core processors, or at least not my specific processor.
Here is a quote from the homepage:
Listed below are a few of the planned projects.
* Support for memory testing using multiple CPUs. Code is needed to detect, select, park and start CPUs. In addition new methods need to be created for effective memory testing using multiple CPUs.
Anyway, the test from: http://www.memtest.org/ was able to ascertain more information about the processor and memory, and came back with zero errors.
I was sort of hopping the problem was Hardware related so that I could just replace a part, and have the system work properly, but now I think I am back to the drawing board.
Perhaps the power supply is not large enough? Is 630W sufficient?
The computer was freezing at random times, with no discoverable cause. Sometimes the computer would boot up with no video output, but seam to go through the rest of start up just fine.(with no output detected by the monitor). Also, arbitrarily the computer would return from sleep with no video output, which could sometimes be fixed by a forced shutdown and restart, and other times not.
Could it be the graphics card? When the computer is working, it will run games like Crysis 2 and Spore just fine, so I was banking on a memory issue.
I suppose the next course of action would be to reinstall the operating system, and see if that fixes the problem. I wish I could replicate the problem, or get some error code to look up.
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A few other avenues to explore...since we beat the snot outta the RAM. ;D
Temps:
DLoad and install SpeedFan and post some #'s
HDD Health:
DLoad and run the diagnostics from the drive manuf. site...run the long test.
As to the PSU 630W should be enough but it also depends on how steady that power is supplied...who makes the PSU ? ?
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It is a:
RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-630SS 630W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Modular LED Power Supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152035 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152035))
and I purchased it on 8/30/08
Dloading Speedfan and HDD diagnostic now.
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Here are the numbers:
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll204/fitch_025/untitled2.jpg)
I am fairly certain that "Temp" is a GPU temperature, because It responds to changes in the GPU fan speed.
I will run the HDD diagnostic now.
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Your CPU temps are well within range...Speedfan panics reporting GPU temps...everything's on fire !
DLoad the GForce diagnostics for correct GPU readings.
But it looks like right now heat is not the issue...
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The HDD scan finished. It did everything, including a full disc surface scan, It came back with no errors.
Also I installed ATItool. Even though it says my video card is supported, and ATItool can determine which card I have when I go to settings, It has no information about the card (such as clock speed, or # of stream processors) And when I try to open anything, I says that the graphics card I have chosen is not currently producing video output, and that I should enable it. This might be nothing, or just a problem with ATItool, but I thought I would mention it.
Any thing else I should try?
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Last night I ran a 3dMark test, here are the results:
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll204/fitch_025/untitled4.jpg)
(I have the most recent drivers installed.)
The GPU score seams a little low, but not low enough to be a major problem.
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Is 3DMark actually a 580MG DLoad ? ?
Seems a bit heavy for what it does...
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ya, its rather large. There are multiple 3D scenes which it renders to attempt to generate the "score."
I imagine a 3D engine has to come with 3dMark so it can generate those scenes.
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Gotcha...Thanx.