Memory Freezing Computer

Computer Forum CPU, Motherboards and Memory
1

I am having problems with my ram. When i have my 2 modules in there games freeze and crash, the screen goes black and i have to restart. I have two sticks of 512mb ram PC3200, both from different manufactuars. One is CL3 and the other is CL2.5 I ran a bootable memory test on the ram sticks. I ran it with each stick indivdualy by itself and then with them both in singal channel mode (i need identical ram to run in dual channel mode properly dont I?). I got no errors in any of those tests although i only ran it for one cycle. The funny thing is the computer freezes in the bios (i did get it to run memtest once and it came back with thousands of errors) when i have the two positioned around the other way in the first two DIMM slots. Does this have anything to do with one module being a CL3 and the other a CL2.5. One of the modules only works in the first slot. I know its not something wrong with the slot because the other DIMM works in there. When i run the two in the slots that let them work it comes back with 0 errors, i ran it overnight with memtest but the computer still randomly crashes. I think its a ram compatibility issue.

I have bought some corsair 512MBx2 modules off ebay but am going to sell my current modules on ebay. If they came back with no errors does this mean they are alright. Does the ram that only works in the first slot have something wrong with it? The main reason i posted this thread was to make sure that the ram i currenty own and am going to sell works fine for the people who get it. As i said when i run memtest on each stick it comes back with 0 errors except for the one with only works in the first slot. When its not in that slot the computer doesnt even show the bios.

PC Specs:
Ati Radeon GeCube 9600xt VIVO
AMD Athlon XP 2800+
2x 512mb PC3200
160gb segate barracuda
400w power supply

Any Ideas?
I cant play my games!!!

2

I’d check that your BIOS isn’t trying to run both sticks at CL2.5. I’m not sure of this but if it is then make sure that its running at 3CL as thats the latency of your slower stick, otherwise your PC might be trying to run your CL3 stick at 2.5.

3

Also possible but unlikely is that each stick uses different voltages!
eg - Stick one is 2.5V and stick 2 is 2.6V

4

hello
actualy i think that it might be trying to run both in 2.5 becuase i have cpu-z and when i have both modules in cpu-z says CL2.5

Also i now one stick runs at 2.6v, dont know about the other. Do you know why one stick only works in the first slot?

Thanks for you help

5

Could you tell us the RAM and Motherboard model/manufacturer?

6

Yeah i have a Gigabyte 7N400 Pro2. My ram modules are manufactured by TEAM and ELIXIR. I bought these from computer fairs

TEAM (TG 512M 32x8-400-5) - http://www.teamgroup.com.tw/product-module-1.htm

ELIXIR (M2U51264DS88B1G-5T) - http://www.elixir-memory.com/product_list.asp?pd=elixir&pc=DDR%20SDRAM&tg=Unbuffered%20DIMM&DG=512MB

7

both of the modules run at 2.6v

Im thinking its to do with the bios trying to run them both in CL2.5

8

To add something to mull over, the idea should work, but if you happen to be running an nForce 1/2 motherboard, then you should know that the chipset has a known problem running memory at CAS 3, particularly in dual-channel mode. That might also be what’s happening here.

9

yeah i tried runnign both sticks in cl3, it made no difference

10

yeah the new ram i bought is CL2.5 so that should fix amy problems there if there are any