Memtest errors with all 4 dimms, but not with 2 each time

Hi, plz someone help me with this because its driving me crazy!!!

I have a 4GB kit by OCZ, 800mhz, 5-5-5-18@1,8v and its running perfectly.
All memtest86+ run i did on this were clean.

Now i bought the exact same kit. Put them all on motherboard, booted windows, all fine.
Then i though i should check the rams for errors.

Running with all 4 dimms on, overnight i got 228 errors on memtest. So i though that the new ram modules must be defective.
I run a test with those 2 only, no problem. :S Moved them to the other 2 slots, still no error. I scanned each one alone, no error.

So i said maybe the ones i already had got corrupted. I run again with my original dimms, and memtest was again clean!!!

So why when i have up to 4gb the memtest comes with no errors, and when i add the other 2 to run full 8gb i get error?

I used both auto settings in bios, and manual settings, to adjust voltage to 1,8v, and timing to 5-5-5-18, because auto was identifying them as 6-6-6-18. But both cases i get errors when using all 4 sticks.

What can i do more? Try changing voltage of rams? Plz help me with that because i am gona go crazy!!!

My motherboard is Asus P5Q, using latest bios, and although all these errors in memtest, i dont get any errors in Windows. Maybe i havent used all the ram to the point it gives errors in memtest in windows.
Is there any other programm to check stability of the PC, and ignore memtest? I mean if my pc is stable and i can test it with lets say prime95, should i worry about the errors in memtest?

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Increase RAM voltage to 1.9V to see if it resolves the issue.

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

Increase RAM voltage to 1.9V to see if it resolves the issue.

Tried this now, and although it seemed going better than before, errors didnt pop up too early, they did pop up eventually.

Maybe something else i need to take care in bios?

Reply to miketirakis

Driving 4 modules always is more difficult. I don't have issues on my P5Q Deluxe and GA-EP45-UD3P, but I use G.Skill memory.

Try a bit more RAM voltage, but if 2.0V doesn't make them stable, you might have to change other settings. Read http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/ [...] hp?t=43636 and http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/ [...] hp?t=43342 where RyderOCZ recommended these setting for a similar motherboard:

Set the ram voltage to 2.0V
Set the ram timings to 5-4-4-18
Set the Trfc to 54-60

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

Driving 4 modules always is more difficult. I don't have issues on my P5Q Deluxe and GA-EP45-UD3P, but I use G.Skill memory.

Try a bit more RAM voltage, but if 2.0V doesn't make them stable, you might have to change other settings. Read http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/ [...] hp?t=43636 and http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/ [...] hp?t=43342 where RyderOCZ recommended these setting for a similar motherboard:

Set the ram voltage to 2.0V
Set the ram timings to 5-4-4-18
Set the Trfc to 54-60

I came across that forum right after i posted here and continued searching.
I tried the settings described there, but still memtest fails always at the first 2mins, and always at 4120-4125mb. I tried different combinations, and always it fails at that point!

I am kinda dissapointed, didnt know that adding 4gb of ram was going to be so much trouble

Reply to miketirakis

Did you flash the latest BIOS? I would contact OCZ support to get settings recommendations.

It seems to be much easier to get G.Skill DDR2 800 MHz to run properly. I have 3 systems with 8 GB and no problems whatsoever.

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

Did you flash the latest BIOS? I would contact OCZ support to get settings recommendations.

It seems to be much easier to get G.Skill DDR2 800 MHz to run properly. I have 3 systems with 8 GB and no problems whatsoever.

Yes i have the latest bios for my motherboard, but the motherboard doesnt seem to be causing the problem, must be the memories and the settings they have as default. I am looking at OCZ forum to find the correct manual settings, but i dont see no matter what i change to getting any better.

Reply to miketirakis

Weird thing is that i run prime95 blend test all night, no errors, Run orthos blend test this morning again no errors, i run windows memory diagnostics, no errors, and another memtest that runs inside windows, and no errors.

Is it possible that memtest86+ gives false alarms?

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Reply to miketirakis

on ocz's ddr2 low voltage memory chips, exceeding 1.9volts won't do anything but heat so find the bad chips by puting 1 ram stick in at a time and see which one causes a error

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Reply to ubernoobie

miketirakis wrote :

Weird thing is that i run prime95 blend test all night, no errors, Run orthos blend test this morning again no errors, i run windows memory diagnostics, no errors, and another memtest that runs inside windows, and no errors.

Is it possible that memtest86+ gives false alarms?

It could be possible, but then it should also fail with 2 modules. If the system is stable at 1.9V, then leave it that way.

Reply to GhislainG

ubernoobie wrote :

on ocz's ddr2 low voltage memory chips, exceeding 1.9volts won't do anything but heat so find the bad chips by puting 1 ram stick in at a time and see which one causes a error

Since memtest fails only when installing 4 modules, that test can't be done.

Reply to GhislainG

ubernoobie wrote :

on ocz's ddr2 low voltage memory chips, exceeding 1.9volts won't do anything but heat so find the bad chips by puting 1 ram stick in at a time and see which one causes a error

I dont think i have a bad chip, as GhislainG said, i only get errors when using all 4 modules are installed together.
Using 2, or 1, in any combination of slots, gives no errors.

But btw, GhislainG, how can i ensure my system is stable if i get all these errors in memtest?

Running prime95 only uses about 35% of my total 8GB memory, so it may not test the faulty part.
And lets say i keep using the system, since i dont get any errors, or BSOD, or anything, and one day i happen to use the bad ram, and corrupted data pass to hard disk...

Anyways, thank for helping so far, maybe if you know any other way to test the system, let me know.

Reply to miketirakis

miketirakis wrote :

I used both auto settings in bios, and manual settings, to adjust voltage to 1,8v, and timing to 5-5-5-18, because auto was identifying them as 6-6-6-18. But both cases i get errors when using all 4 sticks.

What can i do more?

Use appropriate timings for the configuration. Advertised memory module operating parameters are only valid for the product as it is packaged and sold. IOW, if you purchased one kit of two modules, the parameters assume the use of TWO MODULES. If you purchase two kits of two modules, it did not magically transform itself into a four module kit. The advertised operating parameters are still valid for just TWO MODULES, not four, six, eight or ten.

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Reply to tcsenter

tcsenter wrote :

Use appropriate timings for the configuration. Advertised memory module operating parameters are only valid for the product as it is packaged and sold. IOW, if you purchased one kit of two modules, the parameters assume the use of TWO MODULES. If you purchase two kits of two modules, it did not magically transform itself into a four module kit. The advertised operating parameters are still valid for just TWO MODULES, not four, six, eight or ten.

I dont understand what you mean. 5-5-5-18 timings are the suggested by manufacturer for each stick, not for only 2 sticks together. And in bios you dont get to set the timing and choose if you have 1, 2, or 4 sticks. You just apply the settings for all slots, and you take care that the sticks on the slots are the same kind, so the same setting has the same effect on all.

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Reply to miketirakis

miketirakis wrote :

I dont understand what you mean. 5-5-5-18 timings are the suggested by manufacturer for each stick, not for only 2 sticks together.

Err...no. I just told you how advertised operating parameters are determined. Ask OCZ if you want confirmation.

Quote :

And in bios you dont get to set the timing and choose if you have 1, 2, or 4 sticks. You just apply the settings for all slots, and you take care that the sticks on the slots are the same kind, so the same setting has the same effect on all.

That's correct, which is why the BIOS is automatically adjusting the parameters for you. The parameters being set by the BIOS are more in-line with what is appropriate or suitable for four modules, based on the advertised parameters for the kit of two.

Each module adds electrical loading on the DRAM bus and memory controller. This loading influences what operating parameters can be safely used for any given configuration. Generally speaking, as electrical loading increases, timings and/or voltage must also increase to compensate for the effects of electrical loading.

In other words, the operating parameters for running four modules will not be the same as for two modules. It can't be due to the laws of physics. This is why we have things such as registered or buffered DIMMs.

Message edited by tcsenter on 09-11-2009 at 05:18:55 PM

Reply to tcsenter

miketirakis wrote :

I dont understand what you mean. 5-5-5-18 timings are the suggested by manufacturer for each stick, not for only 2 sticks together. And in bios you dont get to set the timing and choose if you have 1, 2, or 4 sticks. You just apply the settings for all slots, and you take care that the sticks on the slots are the same kind, so the same setting has the same effect on all.

This might sound really weird but did you check if the ICs on each ram was made by the same chip manufacturer(you know,the small chips that are lined together on one or two sides of the ram).I'm saying this because your ram might be OCZ for the 4 DIMMs but the IC manufacturer of the first two is different from the other two modules

If the ICs on all sticks are made by the same manufacturer then see if you have a friend that can lend you 4 DIMMs to test on your board.If you encounter problems then the memory controller on your board might be faulty(Naturally,they must be running fine on your friend's PC)

Message edited by youssef 2010 on 09-21-2009 at 08:17:21 PM

Reply to youssef 2010

its harder to run 4 chips than 2. So the settings need to be relaxed more. for
2chips per channel than 1 chip per channel.
etc.

and his memory controller isnt bad it just might not like 4 chips at those settings.

its not "bad" or 1 chip wouldnt work.

Reply to rand_79

I was just saying that the IC manufacturer might be different from the older sticks.As there are Kingston memory modules having its ICs made by Elpida or Qimonda and so on.Do you understand what I'm trying to say or is my description bad?

Reply to youssef 2010

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