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Four new sticks of RAM. Three are defective?!?

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  • Memory
  • RAM
Last response: in Memory
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September 28, 2014 10:12:25 AM

I recently ordered 2x 4GB DDR3 RAM modules from one of the biggest names in the business. From what I gather, these are their entry level gaming modules. I installed them in a new machine and started getting BSOD sporadically. I start running Memtest and discover one of the two sticks is bad (10+ passes separately). I contact manufacturer for replacement. They oblige, and send one stick with 2nd day delivery. No harm no foul.

Replacement stick arrives. Memtest, memtest, memtest........ The replacement stick is bad. Can't believe this luck. I contact manufacturer for replacement. They oblige and send me a fourth stick with next day delivery. No harm no foul.

Replacement, replacement stick arrives. I just finished running Memtest on it for 14 passes. Replacement, replacement stick is bad. What would you do in this situation? Would I be silly to accept a fifth stick for testing? Should I ask them to upgrade me to a better module? I'm trying to run a business off of this machine, and this is costing me time and productivity.

I find it unlikely that I could get 4 sticks of RAM from this company and have 3 of them be bad, but I'm an experienced installer and I know I'm not damaging the sticks or installing them incorrectly. The failure characteristics of these sticks have each been unique, and persistent across both slots, and the one good stick tests good in both slots. All of the components in this machine are new. BIOS is up to date.

Help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'll be contacting the manufacturer again in the morning.

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a c 2285 } Memory
September 28, 2014 11:32:24 AM

What mobo and CPU? Also what model # of DRAM? Were these bought in individual packages i.e. two packages of 1 stick each? If so you may have sticks that just don't want to play together (yes even if same exact model)....I ask as most manufacturers, if this was a single 2 stick package want you to RMA the set rather than an individual stick as it appears you are doing. Also if this is AMD in particular it could be the sticks aren't set up right
September 28, 2014 1:31:30 PM

Tradesman1 said:
What mobo and CPU? Also what model # of DRAM? Were these bought in individual packages i.e. two packages of 1 stick each? If so you may have sticks that just don't want to play together (yes even if same exact model)....I ask as most manufacturers, if this was a single 2 stick package want you to RMA the set rather than an individual stick as it appears you are doing. Also if this is AMD in particular it could be the sticks aren't set up right


Thanks for your reply Tradesman1. I have an FX-8350 proc in an MSI 990FXA-GD65 V2 motherboard. The MPN on the RAM is HX318C10FR/4. These were purchased at the same time, but invoiced as Qty x2. I have been receiving individual replacements for the defective modules.

Kinda scary to think that modules with the same model number could be incompatible with each other. I'm not sure that's the case here, as the three modules that tested badly were tested individually.

This is an AMD proc, so what suggestions would you have for setting the RAM up right? The manufacturer asked me similar questions but made no mention of configuration required for use with AMD procs.
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a c 2285 } Memory
September 28, 2014 1:46:29 PM

OK, the Fury's aren't 'normal' sticks (by that I mean they don't utilize XMP profiles as do 99.9% of all DRAM), they depend on on the system sensing PnP, might want to start with a single stick, then go to BIOS and try manually setting to 1866 10-10-10-30, 1.575 (yes it's safe at 1.575, and we may try to set lower once we see what happens), also change CPU/NB voltage to 1.2, save, exit shutdown. Then add second stick and try
September 28, 2014 2:06:04 PM

After making the BIOS changes you specified, you want me to try what? Memtest both sticks together? Memtest the stick that tested bad already?
a c 2285 } Memory
September 28, 2014 2:12:04 PM

Can run memtest, or a couple BMs, or just use the rig and see if any problems ;) 
!