Problems with DDR memory

[esbo]

Bit of a long story so I will try to summarise.
PC came with 256m ram. DDR400 PC3200
I bought and exta gig and added into next slot to make 1.25 gig
All running well for many years.
Then upgraded to a X2 AMD 3800 processor.
I think I had reboot with that processor, anyway a month later
I got another gig of DDR400 PC3200

I had problems adding that, beeps etc.
However eventually I got running with the two 1 gig stick in the first two (of 4) slots.
However I was getting reboots, about 1 every 4 hours on average (variable)

So I went to just the new 1 gig stick i slot 1.
That gave a reboot after 1.5 hours

So I tried just the old 1 gig stick in slot one - results -beeps!!!
I shifted it to slot 2 on a 'hunch' and it booted up correctly.

It has not rebbooted on that yet but I have only been running a couple of hours
so not long enough to be conclusive.

Something I have noticed is that the first 1 gig stick I got appears to be high
density, looking with the Everst utility (below) the module name 128M64K-40C
suggests it is arranged as high density.


However having said that it had been running fine along side what is a 256m low
density module as a (rather badly) 'matched pair'

This is the Everest info for the old suspected high density stick.


Memory Module Properties:
Module Name 128M64K-40C
Serial Number 040413C3h
Module Size 1024 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported



Anyway it is all rather confusing.

Some questions which occur are

1) Why does the above stick beep in slot one yet run fine (so far) in slot 2?
I though I put it in slot one OK, however it is possible slot 1 is 'dirty'.

I posted a long rambling thread about it here
https://www.techspot.com/vb/topic149949.html

Not getting any replies now, not surprising is it is so long and complicated and involved
so I though I would try again here and try to summarise it a bit more concisely.

I guess I will have to keep investigating and adding info until I can narrow the problem
down more, even I am getting confused, I have 3 lots of memoryy from different manufacturers - lol. I don't think it should matter who makes it, however it seems a complex issue.

 

[captaincranky]

https://www.techspot.com/vb/topic65114.html

 

[EXCellR8]

just use a pair of identical 1GB sticks... very important if you want a stable machine.

different modules run at different voltages, timings, etc... so even if you use the same timings/volts across different sticks there are going to be issues.

 

[raybay]

You may want to put those modules in slot 1 and 3 rather than 1 and 2... look it up on your motherboard.

 

[esbo]

You may want to put those modules in slot 1 and 3 rather than 1 and 2... look it up on your motherboard.

Yes, I have considered trying that but I have not tried it yet.

Mind you I was running fine with 256 meg in slot one and 1028 meg in slot 2 for years, which
I think is supposed to be a matched pair - lol they are hardly matched. However it ran fine lke that. Furthermore I think the 1 gig was high density memory, I am fairly sure of that.
So I had different densities, different, sizes, and different manufacturers all running in slots which were matched.

(I have four slots two blue and two black).

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00399477

http://www.skyline-eng.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=6512


Anyway thanks for saying "look it up on your mother board" because that is just what I did!!


"DIMM Module Combination

Install at least one DIMM module on the slots. Each DIMM slot supports up to a
maximum size of 1GB. Users can install either single- or double-sided modules to
meet their own needs. Users may install memory modules of different type and
density on different-channel DDR DIMMs. However, memory modules of the same
type and density are required while using dual-channel DDR, or instability may
happen.



So that seems to indicate that,

1. I can use high or low density modules as long as they are not mixed on a channel.

2. It is beginning to look by now that the new memory is bad because it caused reboots by itself.

So there really is no point in putting it in a different 'channel' because it screws up the machine all by it self!!

So I think I will be contacting the seller for a refund.

I will however to be sure try, his stick in this slot, to rule out the slot 1 being an issue.

 

[captaincranky]

Sorry guys, but I think esbo just feels compelled to do things his way, for better or worse.

 

[esbo]

Sorry guys, but I think esbo just feels compelled to do things his way, for better or worse.

Oh so you are just the disruptive troll with nothing to contribute other than trolling.

Please leave me alone and find someone else to piss off.

Thanks in advance.

 

[captaincranky]

Oh so you are just the disruptive troll with nothing to contribute other than trolling.

Please leave me alone and find someone else to piss off.

Thanks in advance.

Hey, maybe the thermal coefficient of the thermal paste is off. I hope that helps. 'jus tryin' to contribute.

Oh and if all else fails, read the directions.

 

[hellokitty[hk]]

Oh so you are just the disruptive troll with nothing to contribute other than trolling.

No no he's really good at it, imo.
And he's likely right.

1. I can use high or low density modules as long as they are not mixed on a channel.

Thats technically true, but i've never seen it work out.
As mentioned, having the same RAM is quite important.

At this point, you should run a stability test on each stick individually.

 

[esbo]

No no he's really good at it, imo.
And he's likely right.


Thats technically true, but i've never seen it work out.
As mentioned, having the same RAM is quite important.

At this point, you should run a stability test on each stick individually.

Well whether he is right or no somewhat goes out the window because of his attitude.


Anyway, regarding stability tests, I have been running on this one gig module for 9 hours now, i've had no problems whatsoever, very smooth running.

My other 1 gig module would cause reboots about every 4 hours. The length of time between reboots means it can take time to be able to say you are sure a module if fine, but certainly this one looks in great shape.

There is a complication though, this stick gave beeps in slot 1 so I put it in slot 2 where it runs fine.
The other stick however had been running in slot 1, however with occasional reboots.

So I will first try the 'reboot module' in slot 2 to see if it reboots in there, if it does then that stick is looking to be at fault.

I also need to try this stick in slot 1 again, maybe it was not inserted properly last time but I was sure it was.



So I have that issue to resolve.

I just hope I get consistent results, then I will know what to do.

I need to return it in a few days if I am to return it so I need to know for definite if the module is bad. The good news my PC is running as smoothly as it ever has done at the moment.

The problem is with a stability test is it will take ages if I the problem is very sporadic, and I want to be able to use my PC, so I think just running is the best test as all the memory is in use.

 

[esbo]

According to this my PC should not boot up with just one module in slot 2, however it is working fine!!
http://217.110.237.70/Manuals/7184-engl v1.x.pdf
(page 18)

I am not complaining though!