Memtest86+ single error

[Alerie]

Hello. I wish someone could help me... I'm running out of ideas.
I've been the entire month setting a new computer, and there is always a problem...
I had to RMA the mobo (Gigabyte GA-F2A88X-D3H) and the processor (AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7Ghz) because of freezes and errors while installing and decompressing.
With the new ones (same model) it happened again... This time I ran Memtest86+ with my single 4GB stick, and I encountereed more than 200 errors in just 1 memory slot. The other 3 slots didn't show any error. So I returned the mobo again, seeming like the memory slot was faulty.

This time I bought a different mobo (ASRock FM2A88M Extreme4+). I didn't get any errors while installing or decompressing, but I get BSODs and my PC freezes sometimes. Windows Event Viewer shows a lot of Error and Critical messages. Also I get an amd driver crash sometimes, screen goes black, then works again instantly.
I ran Memtest86+ and it shows 1 single error, in just 1 memory slot AGAIN... The other 3 slots do not show any error.

> Is my mobo broken for the 3rd time? Is it the RAM stick that for some reason shows error in just one slot, in two different mobos? Maybe the problem is anywhere else?
> My HDD is fine, I tried it with my old PC and works perfectly, no problems. I do not OC. I didn't change voltages, everything is stock (except I disabled AMD Turbo Core in the BIOS)

Image of the Memtest86+:
http://i.imgur.com/4pscPkd.jpg

- Specs:
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88M Extreme4+
Processor: AMD Athlon X4 860K 3.7Ghz (stock heatsink)
Graphic Card: AMD Radeon HD 6970
Power Supply: B-Move 600W
RAM: 1x 4gb DDR3 Patriot
Case: AeroCool GT Advance Black Edition

 

[RaDiKaL_]

One error can be enough to cause your issues, having said that I'm not sure about the quality of your PSU, a low quality PSU can also cause the problems you're mentioning.

An HD6970 needs 34A@12v+ rail, your PSU delivers around 32 - 35A, but the fact that your PSU actually delivers that amount being potentially a low quality unit is quite unlikely, If possible get borrowed another PSU of better quality or a less demanding video card and see if the problem goes away.

 

[Alerie]

One error can be enough to cause your issues, having said that I'm not sure about the quality of your PSU, a low quality PSU can also cause the problems you're mentioning.

An HD6970 needs 34A@12v+ rail, your PSU delivers around 32 - 35A, but the fact that your PSU actually delivers that amount being potentially a low quality unit is quite unlikely, If possible get borrowed another PSU of better quality or a less demanding video card and see if the problem goes away.

Thanks for answering. I have another PSU, but it is a "Approx 500w", so it is a low quality one, right? And 500w is not enough for the HD6970.
I have my old graphic card (GT 440), I can try with it. But I don't know how the PSU could be the problem. How does the PSU affect the Memtest and my freezes+drivers crash+Windows Event Viewer Error messages?

Btw, this is my Event Viewer. There are error messages almost everyday since the day I installed windows (17/02/15)
http://i.imgur.com/mtnwMro.png

Thank you!

 

[RaDiKaL_]

If the PSU doesn't deliver enough power in a stable manner it will lead to system freezes or video card problems (among them the drivers crashing) due to the unstable power delivered to it.

As for the RAM error... theoretically could also be caused by the PSU but that's a rather remote possibility since RAM uses a minimal amount of power compared to your CPU/GPU, still, lets be sure first that your system is getting enough power to properly work.

 

[Alerie]

If the PSU doesn't deliver enough power in a stable manner it will lead to system freezes or video card problems (among them the drivers crashing) due to the unstable power delivered to it.

As for the RAM error... theoretically could also be caused by the PSU but that's a rather remote possibility since RAM uses a minimal amount of power compared to your CPU/GPU, still, lets be sure first that your system is getting enough power to properly work.

I will try it with my old GPU then, but before that I would like to know if the problem could be the RAM timings? I've been investigating and some people fixed it changing the timings in the BIOS, but I know nothing about that and what effect has changing that
This is what CPU-Z shows:
http://i.imgur.com/YqTTdM5.png
The RAM is in the #3 slot because Memtest didn't show errors there and I'm checking if my PC freezes setting it in that slot :\

 

[RaDiKaL_]

The current RAM settings is shown in the "Memory" tab, SPD shows the possible values.

If you haven't OCed or anything your RAM should be at stock values, you could go into BIOS and choose "default settings" to have it all set as it should, after that however make sure your SATA mode is to whichever mode you currently have it (most likely AHCI, check that value before applying the default settings option).

 

[Alerie]

The current RAM settings is shown in the "Memory" tab, SPD shows the possible values.

If you haven't OCed or anything your RAM should be at stock values, you could go into BIOS and choose "default settings" to have it all set as it should, after that however make sure your SATA mode is to whichever mode you currently have it (most likely AHCI, check that value before applying the default settings option).

Ok, this is the Memory tab at CPU-Z: http://i.imgur.com/XeEPnXR.png
And this is what my BIOS shows, sorry for the bad quality :\
http://i.imgur.com/wRew8wN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/y1A92LW.jpg

Everything is set to Auto (there is no default, just Auto or set one manually). But I don't know if there is something abnormal.

 

[RaDiKaL_]

Essentially looks good, timings are correct, your RAM voltage however is at 1.580, try setting it to 1.500v manually and see if the error goes away, if for some reason that settings prevents you from booting your PC reset your CMOS and it should work again.

 

[Alerie]

Essentially looks good, timings are correct, your RAM voltage however is at 1.580, try setting it to 1.500v manually and see if the error goes away, if for some reason that settings prevents you from booting your PC reset your CMOS and it should work again.

Well, I changed the RAM voltage to 1.500v, put my old GT 440 and made some tests with Memtest86+
- Slot_1 showed 3 errors instead of 1: http://i.imgur.com/oQEeveO.jpg
- Slot_2 shows no error after 7 complete passes (sorry for low quality...): http://i.imgur.com/8pYghme.jpg

I'll just use my PC normally with my old GT 440 and the RAM stick in the Slot_2 to check for BSODs and freezes. The problem is that BSODs and freezes appeared randomly... I could play all day, use UDK, Photoshop and nothing happens... or turn on PC, open World of Warcraft and PC freezes :\

Thanks for helping. I will update this post if something happens 🙁

 

[Alerie]

Got two freezes today with my old GT 440 and the RAM stick is in the Slot_2 (which didn't show errors), so maybe this confirms that the problem is my RAM stick?

 

[RaDiKaL_]

Apparently yes, if possible, when you see that your system is behaving stable, try running Prime95 with the Small FFT test, just to discard the CPU as the issue.

As for RAM... 1 single error can cause those issues indeed, but frankly its so uncommon to see a low error count on a faulty module, if possible get borrowed a RAM module and test it on your pc, just be 100% sure before burning money on new parts.