Failing Ram Coincidence?

Hi Guys

Had a problem with an installation so tested the Ram sticks individually with Memtest+ and they both failed on test 3. Very strange I thought, so I tried some more ram but whatever stick I use they always fail at the same address on test 3. I have now used 6 different sticks in each slot - all different manufacturers too.

I cannot believe that all of the sticks have exactly the same fault, but it seems too coincidental that all three ports have failed too so what else is it likely to be?

 

bad ram slot?

 

perform a "memory dance". try each stick in each slot and try to boot your pc. if you can boot to windows, check to see that the right amount of RAM is being recognized. if not, then you have a bad slot.

 

Memory can fail when improper timming and or voltages are used.

Auto settings dont always work...

Different memory sticks even of same brand can support different timings and voltages

Check your PSU and mobo it may not be providing the proper voltages to run your memory

 

That's a pretty rare case when a MB can't read the ram correctly. The only time I ever have to play with ram timings is when I need to enable the XMP for the ram in the bios. Never had to play with voltages.

 

Just to thow this in as I'm stumped also. Depending on what motherboard and bios for it you have.
I saw a common of the keyboard. -> http://www.kb.indiana.edu/data/afzy.html

Have another keyboard you can use? Re-test. Check to see the keyboard is plugged in ok.

 

This machine has been running sweet for ages until this error.

I can't boot into windows as I am trying a fresh install.

I have tried every stick of Ram in every slot, all with the identical result, so either every slot OR every stick is faulty.

Not getting any error beeps either.

Tried a different PSU with no change.

How do I test the MOBO power?

 

Without operating system you should still be able to POST to BIOS and look at the memory amount in there. Is that possible and stable?

Which motherboard and what RAM is this we're dealing with? For all we know, you might not even have compatible parts...

 

Memory showing in Bios is correct.

Motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP Ultra and all of the RAM sticks are 512MB or 1GB sticks of PC2700, the same that has been in the board since the box was first built

 

Obviously compatible then, if they used to work.

Are you able to install the OS on just one of the memory sticks? If you are, you can just add the other one back in after the installation. If not, consider getting a second opinion from a different memory tester, just to make sure. Having all your memory go bad in exactly the same way, at the exact same time, is extremely unlikely... meaning you might be looking at a situation with a bad motherboard.

 

Just my humble opion. Do you have an original disk for the M/B bios? Or be able to download a bios on the M/B you have? Reason I posted this. I have a bios disk with my Asus M/B. It likes the disk bios. I try to up-date the bios on newer versions. My computer isn't happy on finding things. Tryed it a few times on newer versions an had to stick with the original.

 

Failing MOBO is my personal view, just wondered if anyone had alternative ideas lol.

I must admit I haven't looked at the BIOS as I wouldn't have expected that to make a difference.

 

Hi,

Looks like Abekl and Bubble have the right answer. I had one with the same symptom. No matter what mem I put in the mem test failed. Don't remember which test. That's about the only way you could have the symptom you have. MB has a defective mem address line.

Good Luck, Jim

 

Unfortunately not.

Nothing to lose from looking at the BIOS though, and if it fixes things, great. If not, you know for sure what's going on.