Memtest Errors in My System

[AnorianDeson]

Not for diagnostic purposes unless the new RAM is supposed to be 4-4-4-11. When you install mixed RAM speeds, the system should set itself to only run as fast as the slowest module. This assumes that you haven't manually changed any timing settings in the BIOS (sounds like you haven't).

It would be amusing in a macabre sort of way if the problem was a failing mainboard.

If the problem is the new RAM, return it, if the problem is one of the original components you bought from Dell, read your warranty info and see if you can get it replaced.

 

[billdcat4]

my dell warranty is 6mos over.

I hope it isnt a failing mainboard. That would be very unfunny.

 

[billdcat4]

test 7 on the last new dimm
cruch time

 

[billdcat4]

ok dimm 4 tested ok on 1st pass

doing second pass on it to make sure

may just be a socket problem as someone suggested b4
it would be socket 3 or 4 then
1/2/3/4

help please

 

[billdcat4]

If memtest detects no issues from any dimm, what should I do?

im quite po'd about this whole thing

 

[AdamBomb42]

That's what happens when you buy from Dell.

 

[Mondoman]

Since the 7900 graphics card you installed is a big power hog, and you installed more memory and a sound card at the same time, it may just be that your power supply can't fully handle the load. Dell's power supplies are not known to be high powered.

 

[billdcat4]

I had a whole long thread about that

my PSU has 460watts w dual 12v rails w 17amps each

7900gs needs 20 amps

should be fine
Fear went great for an hour or so, if it was yuor suggestion, it would have crashed

 

[AnorianDeson]

Since all the modules tested clean, install all 4, making sure that each one is firmly seated and run the test again to see what happens. If you can remember, put the modules in the way you had them before your problems started. That way each bank is a matched pair.

If you start getting problems again, try rotating the modules to different sockets. If you get errors in the same range, then it may be the socket or the power supply. Dell buys from the lowest bidder, same as anyone else. Despite what the placard on the PSU says, it may not be putting out the power that is stated. Hopefully they used an ATX standard case so you can replace the PSU if need be (Dell and other companies have often designed standards defying chassis to prevent 3rd party replacement of key parts like the mainboard and the PSU).

 

[billdcat4]

Trying memtest again w old dimms

 

[billdcat4]

Well i dont remember which dimm of which pair was in which slot but i know this is how i had it

old// new// old// new

ill try that but memtest will take 35 min
or should i just try to use windows w all dimms

 

[billdcat4]

Fact is i dont have alll day, i gtg in max 1hr

The fact that when i woke up there were hundreds of errors would indicate that something IS bad, probably the 4th dimm, a new one as anorian said

i want your input too though

 

[Mondoman]

...Fear went great for an hour or so, if it was yuor suggestion, it would have crashed

Not necessarily, if it's just making some memory unstable. Anyway, I think you'll find it easier to figure out what's wrong by only changing one thing at a time. Take out the sound card, go back to your old video card, but install the new RAM. Run memtest86+ to see if it runs OK under that situation. If so, run Orthos or similar CPU/RAM "torture test" under Windows for half an hour or so. If that works OK, upgrade the video card and repeat. That'll allow you to pin things down a bit more.

PS - Don't forget that PSs slowly drop in output as they age, and that you can't just add together the 2 +12V rails to get total +12V current (otherwise, your PS would have 204w per +12V rail for a total of 408w just for +12V, leaving almost no +3.3V, +5V, -12V output!).

 

[billdcat4]

I didnt touch the bios, no

hundreds of errors though?? and the ram is good?
I bet if i run the new dimms for 7 passes i will get errors

I dont think its my psu or cpu all my parts are quite cool. I have never felt HOT air around any part of my PC only slightly warm at full load

my pc has been ultra stable b4 i upgraded it. btw when i first upgraded it i did have issues with restarting the pc, after uninstalling an ATI program it would ask to restart, and then hang.

last part might be the clue

hope its not the gpu, it did fear so well

 

[billdcat4]

Now that IS helpfull

thank you but i cant do any more testing for today
sat night ill begin the big crunch

 

[Mondoman]

... after uninstalling an ATI program it would ask to restart, and then hang....

After removing the old graphics card, you need to remove ALL the ATI software. You should be able to do that in the Control Panel, under Add/Remove Programs.

 

[billdcat4]

Although you are overplaying aging. if i did add both 12volt rail together i would get 34
all i need for the gpu is 20
it doenst use 200 or 400 watts alone.
Ive got a prescott,, 7900gs, sound card, pci wifi, 2 sticks o ram, 2 opticals, 1 floppy, 1 3.5" sata hd

should be able to handle it all even with aging
again though why would fear be all good if my power was stressed the greatest then?

 

[billdcat4]

I did all that as follows in this forum instructions:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=965852

all went well except for the hangups when the ati programs tried to restart
i uninstalled the 1st 2 on the list then restarted then the 3rd one uninstalled

 

[billdcat4]

Ok, ive decided on it.

Ill install the old sound and keep the 1gb of old ram
then ill test it for stability using memtest, orthro (spellcheck?), prime95
or whatever i have
as you guys say it might be the gpu
if i have issues, i think ill be able to pin it on the gpu, which i will then return, newegg should be fine w that.

I will also return the sound card and the ram in that situation and go back to my old config. If i have issues then, well Ill be pissed.

God, i could use your help right about now.

 

[billdcat4]

i said b4

it was
old dimm (444-11)// new dimm (444-12) // old dimm (444-11) // new dimm (444-12)

both pairs are matched new and old, and the CAs is the same in each pair
i wont get a tester, if i have issues w the gpu, it all will go back.

I can live at lower settings
not looking forward to sat night, any suggestions on my agenda for testing then???
any programs ishould use and methods how long how many times
i want to be clear, on sat night ill test the gpu alone with the rest being old parts

 

[billdcat4]

You know, everything you say is positive, yet i have issues

please come back and add one final comment i gtg in a few minutes

 

[billdcat4]

also whatever happened to my kb and mouse is f-ed up

 

[billdcat4]

Well put it this way, if its true that the gfx is bad
it all goes back
i dont need the headache of full rma, as long as i can return and get my cash back
my old ram is fine, no?

im sure you can see this

 

[billdcat4]

ive got no nearby pc shop.

the only one i know who has a rig new enough for dd2 is my friend who lives out a ways.

If i have issues after i send it all back (that is assuming ill have gfx issues)

ill give the OLD ram to him for memtesting, new stuff goes home to corsair

 

[billdcat4]

also, an issue could be the gfx's incompatibility with my dell pc
a dell rep told me that my psu could not run the 7900gs, but after research, we so called proved that it would work

rails amps and the such

gonna go soon, got a pm though