Memory problems

[Aastii]

I am having system crashes and i know for a fact that it is to do with my memory. It only started when i upgraded my RAM from 2GB corsair memory to 8GB OCZ memory.

I am on a 64 bit os so all should be used, i have ran memtest overnight several times and that finds nothing, i have flashed my bios to the most recent a couple months ago and that did nothing (it is still at the most recent), have run several stress tests with nothing found.

I know it is the memory not only because it only started after the upgrade, and i had more issues than i care to count getting it working, had a load of OCZ workers helping me to get it fixed, so now seems a good time to say, if you ever need OCZ support, they are excellent for it. It is because aswell as freezeing i have also had a couple of bsods with the messages MEMORY_MANAGEMENT and PAGE_ERROR_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA both of which i know are related to memory issues.

I am now lost for what to do and was wondering if any of you had any ideas.

I think i should also point out that when the OCZ people were helping me out they mentioned to change the NB and memory voltages. I changed them to what they said and it made the system more unstable than before, so could it be a voltage issue?

==EDIT==

Also i am wondering, because i am on 64 bit vista then not only should all 8GB used but the programs should allow all of that to be used on program shouldn't it? The programs like memtest and IBT i used for testing only used 2.7GB of RAM each, so i had to run multiple memtests at once rather than one at all unused memory like i would on my 2GB system. Is this supposed to happen or could it be i have managed to get a 32 bit verion of the software or does 64 bit still run under the max memory for each program rule as 32 bit?

 

[Dropkickmurphys]

That is a lot of RAM you are using. Have you stopped to think it might be a dodgy stick? over xmas I built my bro a PC, I bough 3GB of RAM for it. but when I tried to turn it on etc.. it would give me BSOD's with errors such as "PAGE_ERROR_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA". I ran a few tests and I found that the memory was dodgy...so I sent it back.

It might be worth checking each stick and see if it gives you an error. Either run memtest or try inserting 1 stick at a time or both.

 

[Damian Stormbow]

I am upgrading my current rigs on Tuesday. Both are AMD Quad 920' w/ ASUS MOBO's. Rig#1 will have OCZ Platinum 8GB(4x2GB) 1066MHz and the other, OCZ Gold 8GB(4x2GB) 800MHz. I don't know if I'll have any issues yet and if you have not resolved your problem by the following Wednesday, remind me and maybe we can work through it!:good:

 

[Aastii]

That is a lot of RAM you are using. Have you stopped to think it might be a dodgy stick? over xmas I built my bro a PC, I bough 3GB of RAM for it. but when I tried to turn it on etc.. it would give me BSOD's with errors such as "PAGE_ERROR_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA". I ran a few tests and I found that the memory was dodgy...so I sent it back.

It might be worth checking each stick and see if it gives you an error. Either run memtest or try inserting 1 stick at a time or both.

I have run memtest, said that, came up with nothing, however i think you are right because i ran it about an hour ago and got 1 error in a few hours, that should not be happening, so over the next 4 nights i'm going to put only 1 stick in and leave memtest over night, i will update the post then if it comes up with nothing. If it does come up with nothing though i will probably just repeat. Then if still nothing, i will be back to square one

 

[Dropkickmurphys]

I have run memtest, said that, came up with nothing, however i think you are right because i ran it about an hour ago and got 1 error in a few hours, that should not be happening, so over the next 4 nights i'm going to put only 1 stick in and leave memtest over night, i will update the post then if it comes up with nothing. If it does come up with nothing though i will probably just repeat. Then if still nothing, i will be back to square one

well at least it may be worth testing. If it comes back with nothing at least you can tick it off the list hehe

 

[fmw]

Start by returning your BIOS to default settings. If that doesn't clear it up you may well have a bad DIMM module. You can test that by using the different modules to install a smaller amount of RAM. By changing DIMMS on each iteration, you should be able to get to the one that is causing the problem. Now you just need to figure out what on earth you need 8GB of RAM for.

 

[Aastii]

Start by returning your BIOS to default settings. If that doesn't clear it up you may well have a bad DIMM module. You can test that by using the different modules to install a smaller amount of RAM. By changing DIMMS on each iteration, you should be able to get to the one that is causing the problem. Now you just need to figure out what on earth you need 8GB of RAM for.

My bios is already back to normal. In the original post i said that it made it more unstable with the settings they said so i put back to auto. Once i figure out which stick is causeing the problems (if it is a corrupt stick) then i can get OCZ to repair/replace it.

As for what 8GB would be for, damn quick load speeds. I managed to shutdown and start up in just under a minute when i had 2GB in and only windows installed, no other programs. When i had all programs it would take about 4/5minutes. Now on this setup, it takes less than a minute with 2 hard drives over 3/4 full of stuff. The same is said for all the program open/close speeds aswell as frame rates on games, which when i finally shift these 2 cards and get funds for a 9800GT, will be higher still.

I should also point out here that i didn't gete 8GB of RAM just to show off or to get silly load up speeds, i managed to get 8GB of RAM for the same price as 4 because of the week long deals that www.overclockers.co.uk put on each week, because it was such good value i decided to get 8GB instead of the 4 that was the same price

 

[Zatharus]

==EDIT==

Also i am wondering, because i am on 64 bit vista then not only should all 8GB used but the programs should allow all of that to be used on program shouldn't it? The programs like memtest and IBT i used for testing only used 2.7GB of RAM each, so i had to run multiple memtests at once rather than one at all unused memory like i would on my 2GB system. Is this supposed to happen or could it be i have managed to get a 32 bit verion of the software or does 64 bit still run under the max memory for each program rule as 32 bit?

Vista64 allows programs to use more than 2GB of memory, that doesn't mean that they will. Memtest by its design will test all of your memory, not just the portion that it shows as "in use" in the Task Manager. This is assuming that you are using memtest86+, not memtest86.

 

[Aastii]

Vista64 allows programs to use more than 2GB of memory, that doesn't mean that they will. Memtest by its design will test all of your memory, not just the portion that it shows as "in use" in the Task Manager. This is assuming that you are using memtest86+, not memtest86.

I am not going off what it says on task manager or anything, when i start memtest usually i would put test all unused memory, but when i tried doing it a couple days ago it said about can't allocate that much memory, open several at 2047. It probably is as you said and i don't have memtest 86+, i will check after this test of 2GB if it is 86b or 86+ and redownload, thanks for the fix

 

[Aastii]

Alright i have just finished testing all of the RAM and unfortunately it came out with nothing at all

However something interesting did come up, between testing i put in the RAM that i knew was ok so i could use my system without it being really slow. Up to 4GB of RAM it was fine however when i went to 6 CoD started kicking me from servers for PB saying i had corrupt file/memory. I didn't have time to start doing a full test because it was late at that point and i had to get round to getting the testing for the last stick ready.

I think i should now mention something which may be relevant and that is could it be the OS because i am not on vista SP1, i am still on Vista ultimate 64 initial release with all updates and everything, but not SP1. Could it be that there is a bug somewhere in there which makes the system unhappy at more than 4GB, or am i just trying to find the easy opton other than changeing clocks and voltages and stuff to get it stable?

 

[Zatharus]

It may be an issue between your motherboard and those modules. Have you looked at the supported memory list specific to that board? It sounds like this may be the case because of what you mentioned with the 4-6GB switch issues in CoD (or that could just be a software problem with CoD and Vista64).

Is there a reason you haven't updated to SP1?

 

[Aastii]

It may be an issue between your motherboard and those modules. Have you looked at the supported memory list specific to that board? It sounds like this may be the case because of what you mentioned with the 4-6GB switch issues in CoD (or that could just be a software problem with CoD and Vista64).

Is there a reason you haven't updated to SP1?

It isn't a problm with CoD and any 64 bit os, CoD is fine on all 64 bit operating systems.

As for why i haven't upgraded, mostly because i have gone to do it, trying to go though the microsoft website and getting so pissed off that it never comes up with the right page or any page at all ebcause the site is so badly made and managed that i give up, and i am not going to download an illegal copy of ultimate sp1 when i have a working copy of a legit version.

For the mobo thing though i got to agree with, was my first thought but it isn't a matter of it not being compatable, according to the manual and site only kingston or corsair works but i know this isn't true because otherwise the 4GB OCZ wouldn't work, neither would the cheap 2GB backup samsung stuff i got. The RAM is compatable, it is more a matter of voltages i think through the memory and nb

 

[Zatharus]

It isn't a problm with CoD and any 64 bit os, CoD is fine on all 64 bit operating systems.

As for why i haven't upgraded, mostly because i have gone to do it, trying to go though the microsoft website and getting so pissed off that it never comes up with the right page or any page at all ebcause the site is so badly made and managed that i give up, and i am not going to download an illegal copy of ultimate sp1 when i have a working copy of a legit version.

Grab this. That should get you going. :good:

For the mobo thing though i got to agree with, was my first thought but it isn't a matter of it not being compatable, according to the manual and site only kingston or corsair works but i know this isn't true because otherwise the 4GB OCZ wouldn't work, neither would the cheap 2GB backup samsung stuff i got. The RAM is compatable, it is more a matter of voltages i think through the memory and nb

As for compatibility, I was wondering about the possibility of only certain configurations working properly, not just with the manufacturer. I should have been clearer earlier. Some motherboards will only allow certain size Dimms in each slot depending on speed/configuration. When you mentioned that the 4GB worked, but the 6GB started giving you troubles, I was thinking of this. Is this a 4x2GB set?

As for Voltages/Speed, what are the standard timings of the RAM? And, what does the motherboard read as the SPD? Also, I'm curious what OCZ had you change them to and from.

 

[Aastii]

Thankyou so so so much for posting the vista downloader, you will not believe how many times i have tried to find it just to give up after going around in circles.

Now for your questions, the RAM is as follows:

4x2GB
800MHz (stock)
6-6-6-18 latency

I swapped not from OCZ but from corsair. I was on 2x1GB corsair XMS2 5-5-5-18 800MHz.

I was on the same RAM but with 4-4-4-15 but it was corrupt so i got rma and sent it back to corsair and they returned the 5-5-5-18 stuff, going against their policy of "equal or better"" but i'm not complaining, not really that noticeable. Inbetween that i had 2x1GB Samsung 6-6-6-18 800MHz which is, as i mentioned before, now my backup RAM incase i need to test other stuff in my system or, if like my old corsair RAM, something happens to my RAM and i still need to use my system.

My bios and CPU-Z are both showing the correct speeds, voltages and latencies.

the voltage is 1.8V, that is what the bios set it to

 

[Zatharus]

Thankyou so so so much for posting the vista downloader, you will not believe how many times i have tried to find it just to give up after going around in circles.

My pleasure.

I like to keep those around for quick updates on fresh installs too.


Thank you for the further information on the RAM. Were these modules all purchased as one 4x2GB pack? Or two 2x2GB packs?

Also, in your testing, was your 6GB trial with three of the OCZ sticks? Or have you tried 4GB OCZ (2x2) and either the Samsung or Corsair 2GB (2x1)?

Edit: Do you know anyone else near by that has four 2GB DDR2 sticks that you could try?

 

[Aastii]

it was 2x2 stick packs, however i know that you are getting at maybe they are mismatched together, because i knew that could be an issue when i first got them i speceifically tested then in every possible order in 4GB set ups and all were fine so i know that all are compatable with each other.

I also tried 6GB with the other sticks of RAM but none are compatable with each other, so i have the option of 2, 4 or 8 GB, i can't mix and match between sets.

As for the do i know anyone else with 4x2GB RAM, possibly, i have a friend with lots of odds and sods and his system may have just that or spares with that, either way i will ask him and hope he does

 

[hlp]

i got i think same problem i got 4gb ram OCZ ddr2 fatal1ty pc8500 1066mhz but it only show 2.50gb i test both one at a time n they both work mb is EVGA nForce 780i SLI FTW Socket 775 i running windows xp pro 32bit i pretty sure

 

[Aastii]

i got i think same problem i got 4gb ram OCZ ddr2 fatal1ty pc8500 1066mhz but it only show 2.50gb i test both one at a time n they both work mb is EVGA nForce 780i SLI FTW Socket 775 i running windows xp pro 32bit i pretty sure

Your problem is simple, you are on a 32 bit operating system.

In order to use more than 3.5GB of RAM you must have a 64 bit operating system because 32 only supports up to 3.5.

 

[hlp]

is it possble to upgrade to 64bit from 32?

 

[Aastii]

is it possble to upgrade to 64bit from 32?

Yea, buy a copy of 64 bit windows.

But bear in mind that your processor may not be a 64 bit one. If it is pentium 4 upwards or amd 64 upwards, it will be.