Replacement RAM Compatibility Help

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Wolf Rawrrr

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Mar 26, 2015
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Hi.

Recently I've been having severe problems with my PC crashing, restarting or trying to restart endlessly without success, BSODs, you name it. A few memtests tracked the problem down to one of my memory modules having become defective. No idea how this happened but it returns millions of errors in memtest while the other module works perfectly (tested in the same slot). As final confirmation, I have been using the PC with only the one working module and there wasn't a single problem. No doubt, it's the defective module's fault.

So now I have to get replacement RAM, and since these models are not being made anymore apparently, I have to buy a new set of two. The problem is even after Googling quite a bit and checking the motherboard manufacturer's website, I am still not sure.

My motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3LR (specs here). Previously I had installed x2 this: Corsair xms2 1066 MHz, 2048 MB, 5-6-6-18, 2.10 V, ver 1.2 (CM2X2048-8500C5C). Currently I am running with only the one working module.

The motherboard's specs on the page in the link say the board supports 4x 1.8 V DDR2, up to 16 GB total. It's dual channel. As for frequencies it says 1366+ and then 1066/800/667. My current modules are 1066 so this checks out, but how come the modules say 2.10 V on them while the board says it supports 1.8 V? This part is making me unsure.

I am looking to buy a new pair of 2 GB memories to once again have 4 GB of RAM. Is any frequency fine as long as it does not exceed 1366? And can I pick the same voltage again? What's with the difference in voltages? I'm not brave enough to buy online if I can't be 99% sure it's going to work, and buying from a local store is often expensive with less options.

Thank you in advance.
 
Solution
Ironsounds
Hello... 1) it is typical for DDR2 memory to have a voltage range of 1.8-2.2 volts.
2) Your Mb has a Max of 2gb sticks per slot... or a total of 8GB on board. ( it is hard to find a non-ECC DDR2 stick larger than 2GB )
3) When using 4 sticks of Ram it is typical to have to raise your voltage in the BIO's for them to 2.0-2.2 volts, for them to all work together good.
4) typical DDR800 ram was common place in design at 1.8v... DDR2 1066 is Overclocked DDR2 800 Chips and will require more voltage to achieve this.

Do you have the option in your MB Bio's to raise the voltage? if so this will be your best bet to get them all working together, and/or lowering them to DDR2 800 freq settings.
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Jul 31, 2011
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Hello... 1) it is typical for DDR2 memory to have a voltage range of 1.8-2.2 volts.
2) Your Mb has a Max of 2gb sticks per slot... or a total of 8GB on board. ( it is hard to find a non-ECC DDR2 stick larger than 2GB )
3) When using 4 sticks of Ram it is typical to have to raise your voltage in the BIO's for them to 2.0-2.2 volts, for them to all work together good.
4) typical DDR800 ram was common place in design at 1.8v... DDR2 1066 is Overclocked DDR2 800 Chips and will require more voltage to achieve this.

Do you have the option in your MB Bio's to raise the voltage? if so this will be your best bet to get them all working together, and/or lowering them to DDR2 800 freq settings.
 
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Wolf Rawrrr

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Mar 26, 2015
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I have never attempted overclocking or tempering with voltage settings before, but I think I did see the options once.

However I am not planning to have 4 RAM modules running. Of the two I have now, one is defective and I am tossing it, the second works but I'm not sure if that one can run solo as the third wheel with the two new RAMs I am planning to get - dual channel means I need to have an even number I think. So all I want is to have 2 new RAMs in the PC, everything else aside.

Thank you for the clarifications on the voltage, Ironsounds, it makes sense to me now. However I'm still unsure about the frequency. A casual search on Amazon returns mostly the same thing; 2GB DDR2 modules of 800 MHz (sold in pairs). However as I previously had 1066 MHz I do not want a downgrade. Is the 1366 MHz the max supported speed for memories on my motherboard? Meaning a 1600 MHz one would not work?
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Jul 31, 2011
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Hello... LOL... DDR3 came into manufacturing after/during DDR2 1066... no one is making DDR2 stricks any more... You Must Buy used or re-conditioned and Old stock.
I have bought and Sold alot of DDR2 on EBAY... The typical well priced/performing chips made were DDR2 800... like I said anything else is just Overclocked and re-packaging.
I had 8gb 1066 in one board and 8gb 800 in another Board... Q9550 Cpu's... there was no difference in performance... Quantity vs speed here is the most important thing... Windows on 8gb's of ram is a wondeful thing.

But the placebo effect is a constant... LOL... Used DDR2 is very inexpensive now.
DDR2 1066 4gb.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Memory-RAM-/170083/i.html?_from=R40%7CR40%7CR40&ghostText=&_nkw=ddr2+1066+4gb&_sop=1
DDR2 800 4gb.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Memory-RAM-/170083/i.html?_from=R40%7CR40%7CR40%7CR40&_dcat=170083&Form%2520Factor=DIMM&_nkw=ddr2+800+4gb&_sop=1
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Jul 31, 2011
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Hello... Yes... 240 pin... is the DDR2 desktop board standard.

By the way... your Cosair XMS2 sticks have a lifetime warranty... B ) Give them a call/email about this, If increasing the voltage to them didn't help... I have heard good results about this to this day.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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Not sure where you are at or where you have been, but DDR2 is still in production, Newegg has over 400 offering of DDR2 which is NEW sticks and they continue to restock it as there still is a large demand
 
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Wolf Rawrrr

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Mar 26, 2015
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I bought this PC with all the components from a friend 2 years ago, so I'm not sure if I have the paperwork needed to make use of the warranty assuming that it is lifetime warranty. But I will look into this. Sounds worth a shot. Otherwise I'll probably grab something like the amazon link in my previous post.

Tradesman what you say makes sense to me, because I did find seemingly new DDR2s so they have to be still producing them .

Thank you both for the help. I will come back here if I run into more trouble.
 
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