Ballistix Performance Memory

[Parmenion]

OK, to start with the label on the RAM reads: BL12864aa804.8fe5 and here's my system specs:

Antec P182
Corsair TX 650W ATX2.2 SLi Compliant PSU
Asus P5K Premium/WiFi-AP Intel P35 LGA 775 Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Zalman CNPS 9700 LED
MSI GeForce 8800GT 512MB PCI-E2.0 With Zalman Fan
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C4 800MHz Dual Channel Kit
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer - Fatal1ty Professional Series

I built the computer last year in April and had it running at the rated timings 4-4-4-12 1T 2.2V for several months before I started getting BSODs and memtest showed errors so I changed it to run at 2T and it fixed that problem for a bit. My problems started getting worse and I had to change it all to 5-5-5-18 2T 1.8V to get it stable at all. Just recently it has started flaking out on me again and I can't get it running stable. I've tried increasing the voltage and it just doesn't fix anything, although it shows less errors. I ran it earlier at 2.0V and it found errors on test 2 and 3 on the first pass but found no errors after that for another 5 passes. I find that odd!

The weird thing is that when I get the BSODs, restart and run memtest straight away it finds 100s of errors BUT if I shut down for 10 seconds and run memtest on boot up it will find no errors.

I don't no what to do next really. Does anyone have any advice what settings I can try and why on earth do I get the errors randomly? I thought if RAM was faulty it would always presents errors no matter what?

Thanks in advance

[lordgllynn]

It sounds like your memory controller is starting to fail and that it's probably going to mean replacing your motherboard to fix. Memory is not really dynamic enough to cause random errors intermittently to the point you describe. It should either fail all the time on the test or pass all the time. The dynamic parts are the parts like the controller. They can fail over time from being faulty from the beginning, over volting, heat stress and structural instability due to pressure and or movement. Try using one stick of memory at a time and test. If you get a pass, use that stick to test all four slots. Repeat with the remaining sticks. Let us know your results.

[Parmenion]

I really hope the motherboard isn't faulty. How can I tell if it's the motherboard without sending it back?

A few things in the BIOS were changed yesterday and I set MemTest running for 6 hours and didn't have one single error.

One thing I would say is the RAM gets VERY hot. The BSODs don't start happening for many hours of use in a day. I'm wondering if the RAM gets so hot that it's causing the BSODs.

Today I tested with just one stick in for 2 hours and no errors. I'll try each slot to see if I get errors.

Thanks for the reply.

I remember on my last PC I started getting errors so added a cooling fan next to the RAM and it solved it.

[lordgllynn]

Oh yeah, hot components are always a bad thing. There are several companies out there that make RAM coolers. They are not just for over clockers. Sometimes, due to air flow constraints from PC layout, some parts do not get adequately cooled and so they start failing. I love my OCZ memory cooler. I have a ton of air moving through my system, 36.8 cubic ft/min. But due to the position of the memory inside the case, it wasn't getting enough to keep it as cool as I like. So I purchased the cooler for about $20 US and have never had a need to worry since.

[Parmenion]

Both sticks run fine separately and together with no errors according to memtest; it's just after many hours use I start to get errors occuring.

I've actually been running some other RAM for a couple of weeks now and they haven't had any issues at all. It's my suspicion the Crucial RAM gets too hot and starts to produce errors. If I had a case with poor ventilation I could understand that but I haven't.

Would Crucial accept the RAM back in exchange for the newer revision that runs at a lower voltage as I don't feel it's my fault the RAM is getting so hot?

It's obviously not other hardware that's the problem as I've already proved that.

[adrift]

Hello Parmenion, I don't know what lordgllyn was talking about with board memory controllers, but you're hardly the only person having this issue with Ballistix memory. I'm having the exact same issue on an MSI board. My issues mirrors yours perfectly. Random crashes. Memtest shows errors right after crash. Boot down and boot up shows no errors in Memtest and everything appears to be working okay for a few hours or sometimes a day or two and then bam! all over again. I've already had one stick RMA'd, and it looks like the new stick I just got is bad as well as my system crashed the day after installing it. Other memory is completely stable. No crashes. No problems. And we're not alone. If you look at Newegg's reviews for Ballistix memory you'll find comment after comment with exactly the same issue. I still have to collect my 45 dollars by returning my old stick of bad RAM that I swapped for bad RAM and then... I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I guess I'll either have to call Crucial back up again and see if they can do another RMA or take my loss and go with another company...

[lordgllynn]

What I'm talking about is the part of the motherboard that controls all memory functions. And it usually means checking your BIOS. Which usually means updating it. Try updating your BIOS to the latest version. Then make sure your system has the correct voltage for your memory.

[adrift]

I hope its as easy as that for Parmenion, lordgllynn, and I realize you're just trying to help. Personally, your recommendations haven't worked for me. I have the latest version of my board's BIOS and voltage is set correctly. But this isn't my thread, and I don't want to hijack Parmenion's. I just wanted to let Parmenion know that he wasn't crazy, that this is not necassarily an issue with hardware other than memory, and that a fairly large number of others appear to be experiencing the same or similar issues.

[Parmenion]

As I said it's not my memory controller as I've been running some Corsair PC2-8500 Dominator Xtreme Memory for a while now and the problems have gone away.

Believe me I've tried different voltages and set the timings Crucial recommends. I'm not new to computers and know how to set them up properly. This is the first time RAM has given me such strange problems.

I posted a topic on the PC Stats forum and there was also someone else that had the same problems as me. They said it's the new single sided dimms that fail and that's the ones I have.

Thanks for posting your story adrift. Are you a member on the MSI forum as they can be quite helpful sometimes? I've been a member on there for years but since I bought a new Asus motherboard I couldn't post my RAM problem.

I think I posted to be sure Crucial would accept the RAM back as they produce intermittent errors. The last thing I want is to be charged if they test it and say it's fine when it's not.

Is there a way I can contact Crucial to discuss the problem before sending the RAM back?

[lordgllynn]

Yes, you can contact them here:

http://www.forum.crucial.com/t5/Warranty-Information/How-to-Contact-Customer-Service/td-p/498