ASUS P7P55 LX New RAM -> Boot cycle or BSOD

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saltbringer

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Aug 30, 2015
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Hi everyone. Sorry if this has been answered, but I have spent the better part of today scouring old posts for an answer, but couldnt find one. This thread is born of desperation.

I recently bought two more sticks of RAM (G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)); the exact same kind that I currently have in there. Putting the new sticks in there with my old sticks puts me into a boot cycle and in some cases, BSOD. Have gotten two types of BSOD, the latest being BAD_POOL_HEADER when i try 1x new stick only. Have updated BIOS to latest, cleared CMOS. I can get to BIOS settings with all four sticks in, and BIOS reads the correct amt of RAM available, 16GB. But after that, loop or BSOD.

I have tried a variety of different combinations to isolate the problem, here are my results:
*1x new stick = boot cycle or BSOD
*2x new stick = boot cycle
*2x new stick in alternate channel config = boot cycle

To see if the new RAM sticks might be bad, I tested them with 1 stick of the old RAM:
*1x new, 1x old = OK, boots normally
*other 1x new, 1x old = OK

After suspecting an issue with the new (previously empty) channel, I decided to test my old RAM in it to verify:
*2x old stick in alternate channel = OK

Those are the main points atm, will update with more details on request. Welcome any guidance or insight folks might have, thanks.
 
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jimmysmitty

jimmysmitty

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Oct 5, 2007
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Have you tried loading up a memory test like Memtest 86+ on a USB and running the tests on the RAM in the different configurations? It seems to me that the new RAM is bad since when only it its present it causes a boot cycle but with the old good RAM it doesn't, which I have seen before.

http://www.memtest.org/

You can create a bootable USB using the tool they have there. I highly suggest just running it on the new RAM first then the old RAM.

As I said, it looks like the new RAM is bad. I would suggest, personally, getting a 16GB kit to replace the old RAM with for better compatibility.

 
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saltbringer

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Aug 30, 2015
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Things ran fine on new RAM. Apparently others have had some issues with this RAM, and manufacturer replied to a critical review with this:

"The latest RAM chip configurations may be different than a previous stick even if they are the same exact model. RAM is produced in batches so the current modules may be slightly different from the past. Specifications such as frequency and timings are identical, but there are other factors that may alter compatibility especially with older platforms. "

Initiated RMA and reached out to manufacturer for tech support in case there's some mysterious "other settings" that they can advise on.
 
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jimmysmitty

jimmysmitty

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Oct 5, 2007
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The settings are not mysterious. This is why it is always best to buy all RAM in a single set.

Lets go over a few things.

The timings that we see, the CAS timings, are not the only timings:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/understanding-ram-timings/

There are other timings that are normally not payed as much attention to. These can change even in the same models.

When RAM is made by G.Skill or Corsair they buy the DRAM chips from a specific vendor that meets their requiremtns, such as Micron, Samsung or a handful of other DRAM producers. That can change. So while you buy one kit that uses Samsung, the next might be using Hynic which means the timings and other features might change such as packaging size and others.

Again the best way to do memory is to buy in sets. These sets are from the same batch, use the same specs and are tested at the factory to run at the timings and frequency listed.

I wish you luck in the RMA but it might not help in the end.
 
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