Vista - PC stable with 2GB, Unstable with 4GB?

I'd like to start off by saying I am not overclocking anything (yet ) It's all stock speeds. But this seemed to be the most relevant place to ask.

I just built a new rig this week and with only 2GB installed, it's completely stable. But as soon as I add the second 2GB stick, the PC starts to intermittently freeze. Especially when running memory intensive progs like games. (Far Cry 2, Stalker CS) Yet I have no freezing with only 2GB in and out of games. (Stalker still crashes, but that's just a buggy game) I don't beleive it's OS specific as this happens in both Vista x64 and W7 6801 x86.

Sometimes it will run for hours problem free when just doing 'desktop' tasks, but as soon as I try to run a game, the PC freezes completely, requiring a hard reset. Sometimes it happens after after a few minutes, other times straight away.

Specs:

ASUS P5Q PRO mobo
Jetram JM4GDDR2-8K Dual Channel Kit
Welcome to Transcend Website

(rest of the details are in My Specs)


The BIOS memory timing is set to auto. For the DRAM voltage I have tried using auto, 1.8 and 1.82 and it still freezes. (I think auto is 1.8 anyway)

I have run memtest on both sticks individually, one with 20 passes and the other about 8. Both sticks showed no errors. However when I tried memtest with both sticks installed, it froze completely at just 28% on the first pass.

I have now googled my self silly reading up on this, to the point that nothing is sinking in atm The problem for me is that I'm still not familiar enough with which BIOS settings to alter / test without risking damage. Since a lot of you have a shedload more h'ware OC'ing experience, I'm hoping you can help point me in the right direction

Damn. I think the boards FOOBAR

I just tried running memtest on the second dual slot and I encountered 310 errors in 2 passes. This the same stick that had 20 passes on the first dual slot with zero errors. To double check, I put the other stick in and it wouldn't even POST, let alone let me try memetest.

So I think it's fair to assume the board was faulty to begin with?

Try adding some notch on your NB voltage.

I thought about that, but it's currently set to auto and i don't know what the default auto setting is

I realise each board is different, but what are NB voltages usually set at when in auto? I'm just trying to avoid setting it at a number that is WAY too much begin with

Hi Patrick,

I'm sorry, but I am inclined to agree with you as regards your motherboard.

This would seem to indicate that the second slot is faulty or that the memory controller for that slot is not working correctly. Either way, this is not repairable. I suggest that you try to RMA the board.

That's my gut instinct. I'm just trying to double/triple check that I haven't missed a simple setting before taking it back. I just checked Everest Ultimate and it's reporting that the NorthBridge core voltage is at 1.1v . Would bumping that up to 1.12 or 1.14v have any negative impact? I'm hoping that since the board is only a week old, they'll just let me swap it for a new one (and not have to go through sending it to ASUS etc) and when they ask me if I've adjusted anything I can honestly say 'nothing dangerous'.

I'm also hoping that since I installed the board myself, they won't try and say 'you installed it, you broke it' (even though I'm 98% sure I didn't). On the plus side, if the board does have to come out, it's a perfect excuse to replace the stock intel cooler with a better one.

Hi Patrick,

I wouldn't have thought that bumping the core voltage up by that tiny amount would have any negative impact. If it had, then why weren't both memory slots affected? Go ahead, and RMA the board.

I haven't adjusted the NB volts yet (I haven't moved it from auto), that was my last trick to try before RMA'ing it. (I haven't really played with the PC for a couple of days:bad a** electrical storms +it was giving me the sh*ts It's only tonight I've started fiddling with it again

I'm just about to try upping the NB volts and that fails, then I'm definitely calling it a dud and will take it back tmw.

Hi Patrick,

Forget about upping the NB voltage. If the board doesn't work correctly on automatic settings, then it is extremely unlikely to do so on modified ones.

Yep. The boards a dud. I was just being stubborn and not accepting the obvious

Thanks mate