mem test fine prime not so much?

M

metstalker

banned
alright guys ive ran mem test for 24 straight hours and no problems. but i cant run prime 95 for 2 min before it registers an error. i was just wondering if this could be a windows or hardware problem. if more info is needed let me know so i can get if for you... any help will be appreciated
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amd 3200+ 939
2 gig dual channel ocz memory
sata2 hardrive. i think hitachi
asus a8n sli motherboard
windows xp pro
6800gs nvidia 256

this computer was built to be a rendering computer so i need it to be as reliable as possible
 
If you ran memtest for 24hrs. and found no errors you wouldn't need anything else to test the memory there. Prime95 and others operate while Windows is up and running loading things into active ram where memtest runs it's series of tests with no operating system being loaded at all. That alone can make a big difference when stress testing your installed memory. The only time I saw memtest report errors where the memory was spotless was recently when the bios chipset was failing on an older Socket A board causing a number of unexplained problems to come up. Once the same memory was tested on a new board 0% errors were the test results.
 
Prime is quite CPU intensive..... If your CPU is overclocked or anything set it to default clocks and try it. I've also heard from various froums that prime can mess up with AMD CPUs sometimes. idk if thats true, ti works good on mine but I use Super Prime 2004 instead of the widely used Prime95 but rally they are they same. Try using a different program to test your comp. OCCT is pretty good for stressing your CPU. but if memtest showed no errors then im sure your RAM is fine.
 
A number of things could explain system problems that are surprisingly easy to fix once you know just what it or them is. A shaky supply will definitely be a problem with voltages all over. An overheating problems will also be a definite cause at times to see several problems come up. A simple bios update may see improvements right off. Generally that is a rec for those running dual cored model cpus. What was found on an older board that was just replaced when memtest flashed red on 573 failing memory addresses in test #5 wasn't the memory.

Memtest showed no errors later when memory timings there were reduced and now on the new board that replaced a failing chipset. But that was on a board that has been through the mill. You shouldn't be seeing errors for that reason unless you got the board with a defect which probably wouldnt even allow you to boot the system to the desktop. Having run memtest for a full day rules memory out there. Prime95 is a little outdated at this point for most newer systems. It could even have a conflict with a newer program you have running where it shows the error message. I could recommend SpeedFan to see if you noticed any voltage or temp problems pointing at hardware while suggesting the msconfig utility to reduce all startups to the basic Windows and try Prime95 again or an even newer benchmark program. SiSoftware's Sandra was one that got favored reviews often enough.
 
alright. i tried the prime cpu test and it ran fine for 10 hours so i guess my system is pretty stable. i guess my computer just dosent like the more memory intensive test. ill check my voltage but from what ive seen from Asus Probe everything checks out. and my cpu temperature is around 47C this is with around 10 hours of stressing. so im not sure if thats ok but nothing seems to be melting so it cant be too bad
 
If you are running a stock heat sink and fan that's great there for a full 10hrs. of stress testing. That's well within normal operating temp ranges while the gamers will insist that is way too high. While waiting for Artic Silver 5 to settle the 3500+ here actually climbed to 60C. The two versions of the Asus Probe II saw the system shutdown there quick however. The 40C seen now should drop a few more in a few days. But that's with a Zalman not stock hsf. With the cpu temps kept in the norm and seeing no errors with memtest it looks like you are good to go. If you see temps suddenly climb that's when to do some shopping around for a better cooling setup.
 
yep everything stock i have a server fan blowing heat out the back and another silent 120 in the front and a 120 on my powersupply its well ventlated
thanks again everyone.
 
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