G. SKILL RIPJAW X. DEAD RAM? Need advice!

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smoothoperative

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Nov 11, 2012
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Hi Tom's Hardware folk,

I've got a problem, and I think it's faulty RAM? My computer suddenly just started to become incredibly slow out of the blue, crashing programs at times or lagging while playing computer games. I did a test and I am trying to make sense of the results. The basic specifications for my computer are:

● Processor: AMD FX-8320 Vishera 3.5GHz
● RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB - DDR3 1600
● OS: Windows 7 64-bit
● Video Card: AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB DD Edition
● Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME3

This is what Speccy is telling me:

Memory slots
Total memory slots 4
Used memory slots 2
Free memory slots 2
Memory
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Channels # Single
DRAM Frequency 803.5 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 11 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 11 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 11 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 28 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 39 clocks
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 52 %
Total Physical 3.98 GB
Available Physical 1.88 GB
Total Virtual 7.96 GB
Available Virtual 5.46 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 2
Slot #1
Slot #2

---

I can't make sense of physical vs virtual memory. I just want a confirmation, is it dead? I've had these memory sticks for about a year and a half. Is that the normal lifespan? Not sure what else might've happened to cause a stick to just stop working. I also couldn't figure out which stick might be dead.

So here is another question: if I do need to replace this RAM, should I get more Ripjaws? I am thinking of upgrading to 16GB of RAM, but I'm not entirely sure what else would be a decent choice for RAM or what would be compatible.

Any advice on the subject would be great. This is the first computer I have built, so I'm definitely not an expert. Thanks!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
1-3 is good, next is setting them up, in your Speccy print they show at CL11 - will want to go into BIOS and manually set freq to 1600, base timings to 9-9-9-24, DRAM voltage to 1.55 and CPU/NB voltage to 1.2. and give that a try, if no joy and there might not be, try 1333, at 8-8-8-24, 1.55 and CPU/NB at 1.15
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CPU AMD FX-8320 20 °C
ASRock 970 Extreme3 (CPUSocket) 30 °C
2048MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series (XFX Pine Group) 42 °C

There's not really much dust.
 
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The model number is: F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL
www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

I've switched the sticks into each slot on the motherboard, but my computer will only turn on when they are in the 1st and 3rd slot. I think this is what my mobo manual suggested when I first built the PC; my screen won't appear when I switch them to the other slots.
 
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1-3 is good, next is setting them up, in your Speccy print they show at CL11 - will want to go into BIOS and manually set freq to 1600, base timings to 9-9-9-24, DRAM voltage to 1.55 and CPU/NB voltage to 1.2. and give that a try, if no joy and there might not be, try 1333, at 8-8-8-24, 1.55 and CPU/NB at 1.15
 
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Solution


These are the new results from Speccy:

RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots 4
Used memory slots 2
Free memory slots 2
Memory
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Channels # Single
DRAM Frequency 800.1 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 9 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 9 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 9 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 24 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 39 clocks
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 39 %
Total Physical 3.98 GB
Available Physical 2.40 GB
Total Virtual 7.96 GB
Available Virtual 6.09 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 2
Slot #1
Slot #2

 
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On those settings it was still only recognizing one stick of RAM. Tested my games and they weren't stable. I just changed BIOS to G Skill recommended settings on the linked thread and now I'm getting a black screen when I turn on the PC.
 
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It recognizes that there is 8GB of RAM, but still on the new settings I'm only getting 3.98GB usable.

In Speccy, it tells me:

Model 970 Extreme3 (CPUSocket)
Version To Be Filled By O.E.M.

I have no idea if this is the updated version of my BIOS.

I guess I thought maybe my RAM had died because everything has been working fine for over a year, then suddenly only 3.98Gs are usable. Seems weird.
 
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3 and 4? I thought RAM had to be divided a certain way. I tried 2 and 4, the system turns on, but still on 3.98Gs usable. Had a friend help me update the BIOS and check Boot Advanced Options, still nothing. I don't know what else I can really do. Reinstall windows? Is there a way to check for bad RAM without reinstalling windows?

In Resource Monitor, it's telling me that 4139MB is Hardware Reserved? I have no clue.
 
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1-2 is Channel A, 3-4 is channel B - this can help determine if you have a bad channel....or...it's possible if the sticks are fine in 3-4 the same channel, might even be that the CPU cooler is too tight at one or more of the mobo connections and you might want to loosen the CPU cooler a bit then snug it back up, not super tight but snug, if it's much tighter at one or two points it can create pressure on the CPU so that it doesn't sit evenly in the socket, a memory channel problem often comes from this
 
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Hey Tradesman,

I took out the CPU cooler, refitted it, put the RAM sticks in slots 3 and 4. Now I have 6.97Gs usable. This is great! The only thing I'm wondering... is it ok to just leave the sticks in 3 and 4? Does this mean something is wrong with slot 1 on my mobo? I think the problem could be because I have a bestial CPU cooler, and gravity puts pressure on one side of the CPU.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=35-103-099

I had to makeshift this thing to prop up the hanging side of the CPU cooler, but this is only a short term solution. It's heavy, what would you recommend I prop it up with? Or, maybe I should make some kind of suspension putting it through the top? Replace it all together? I'm not really sure about this one. Also, I was still considering making the upgrade to 16GB of RAM simply because I run a lot of programs and games at the same time. Now that I know the RAM is not the problem, do you think I should buy 8GB of the same type of RAM I currently own? Something else? I really appreciate all of your help so far!


 
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Have you tried it back in slots 1-3 now, or 2-4, as I mentioned, if the cooler was overly tight on a corner or a side, it may just not have had good contact for the MC and might be why the channel wasn't being 'seen'. The EVO should be fine unless unless it has a broken support or something, I've used well over a hundred of them and the earlier version the Plus
 
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Tried it back in slots 1 and 3, shows up as 3.96Gs usable again.
Same for slots 2 and 4, 3.96Gs usable.

So something is wrong with Channel A?

Tried both sticks in 1 and 2 just to be sure, no screen. :\
It's back in 3 and 4, no prop on the CPU cooler and is at 6.97Gs usable.
 
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Why do you think a software install would fix a hardware problem?

Might as well install WoW and expect that to fix problems.

Whats the system diagnostic scan? If its microsofts, it sux.

Anyway, since RAM seems to work better in 3+4, I would try to get an RMA on your motherboard. It seems it is broken.
 
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