Random screen stuttering, believed to be related to RAM

[Lightning7]

I build this PC last summer and I have had problems with it ever since, constantly resolving them, but one issue I am not able to fix is the random screen stuttering.

So I first started off with a TV, where the screen would turn black every 20-40 minutes for a brief moment, now I thought it was the TVs fault (it is 6 years old), so I bought an ASUS 1440p monitor, everything worked fine for about a week when the stuttering randomly started reoccuring.

When I built the PC I constantly got random Q codes until one morning it worked for some reason (I still don't know how). On the new monitor the stuttering looks more like artifacts with a vertical and horizontal stripe and the audio also makes a loud "thump sound", sometimes the screen turns totally black for 10 seconds. (It happens about every 20 minutes to 2 hours). Sometimes random stuttering appears next to the cursor as well.

I tried to fix it by turning my RAM freq and voltage down (it was at its standard rated freq but whatever) and that fixed it for about a week, after that it started reoccuring AGAIN. At this point I don't know what to do and any help would be appreciated.

SPECS:
CPU: Intel i7-4790k @ 4 GHz
CPU Cooler: Be Quiet! Dark rock 3
GPU: Msi GTX 980 Ti
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16 GB 2400 mhz
PSU: Corsair RM750i
SSD: 500 GB Samsung 840 Evo
HDD: WD Blue 1 TB
DVD Drive: Samsung DVD Read/Write
The Monitor I'm using is a ASUS PB278QR.

PS: Sometimes when I start up the PC it gives a Q code 64 and I have to unplug my keyboard in order for it to boot up, it happens rarely though.

 

[blazorthon]

That seems more like a faulty graphics card than faulty RAM, but you never know. Have you tried running memtest on each memory stick individually? This will help determine any problems with the memory. You can also try testing each memory slot after you've tested the sticks individually.

Are there any other computers you can use to test the GTX 980 Ti?

Also, what are your current memory timings, frequency, and voltage set to and what motherboard do you have?

 

[Lightning7]

That seems more like a faulty graphics card than faulty RAM, but you never know. Have you tried running memtest on each memory stick individually? This will help determine any problems with the memory. You can also try testing each memory slot after you've tested the sticks individually.

Are there any other computers you can use to test the GTX 980 Ti?

Also, what are your current memory timings, frequency, and voltage set to and what motherboard do you have?

If I am fair I am too afraid to pull out the RAM, as my PC might not work anymore after that (as I said it worked all of the sudden), sadly I dont have another computer to test it. I have not run memtest as I dont know how to frankly, do you have to put it on a USB stick? and how long do I let it run?

And the RAM info you asked:
Frequency: 2200 Mhz (it was 2400 first but as I said I turned it down)
Voltage: 1.6 (Lowered it from 1.7)
DRAM CAS is 11
DRAM RAS CAS is 13
RAS PRE is 13
RAS ACT is 31
and COMMAND RATE is set to 2

 

[blazorthon]

Wow, 1.7V... That can really harm the CPU's memory controller. That might explain why things work for a while before becoming a problem again, you may have greatly over-stressed the controller and now it's damaged. I never recommend such high RAM voltages for DDR3. Let's try some easier settings just to be sure, like DDR3-1866 at 1.5V with 9-9-9-24 timings.

One thing of note is that lowering the voltage so much while the frequency was dropped only a little (1.7 to 1.6 and 2400 to 2200) might also be an issue. Granted lower voltages are better for the CPU, running a still fairly high frequency at a lower voltage is difficult for the memory and can cause instability. Note that it is not likely to damage the memory, just cause crashes more often and other annoying behavior.

You can type "how to use memtest86" into google search and it'll tell you what to do automatically.

Go to this website for more information:
www.memtest86.com/technical.htm

 

[Lightning7]

Wow, 1.7V... That can really harm the CPU's memory controller. That might explain why things work for a while before becoming a problem again, you may have greatly over-stressed the controller and now it's damaged. I never recommend such high RAM voltages for DDR3. Let's try some easier settings just to be sure, like DDR3-1866 at 1.5V with 9-9-9-24 timings.

One thing of note is that lowering the voltage so much while the frequency was dropped only a little (1.7 to 1.6 and 2400 to 2200) might also be an issue. Granted lower voltages are better for the CPU, running a still fairly high frequency at a lower voltage is difficult for the memory and can cause instability. Note that it is not likely to damage the memory, just cause crashes more often and other annoying behavior.

You can type "how to use memtest86" into google search and it'll tell you what to do automatically.

Go to this website for more information:
www.memtest86.com/technical.htm

I will try memtest, but I would like to run the RAM at 2400 mhz, otherwise I could have bought normal RAM, so if this appears to fix it, I will probably RMA.

 

[Lightning7]

Wow, 1.7V... That can really harm the CPU's memory controller. That might explain why things work for a while before becoming a problem again, you may have greatly over-stressed the controller and now it's damaged. I never recommend such high RAM voltages for DDR3. Let's try some easier settings just to be sure, like DDR3-1866 at 1.5V with 9-9-9-24 timings.

One thing of note is that lowering the voltage so much while the frequency was dropped only a little (1.7 to 1.6 and 2400 to 2200) might also be an issue. Granted lower voltages are better for the CPU, running a still fairly high frequency at a lower voltage is difficult for the memory and can cause instability. Note that it is not likely to damage the memory, just cause crashes more often and other annoying behavior.

You can type "how to use memtest86" into google search and it'll tell you what to do automatically.

Go to this website for more information:
www.memtest86.com/technical.htm

No errors over 3 passes, I read on forums that it may be related to a problem between windows 10 and turbo mode, so I turned that off, will keep you notified if I notice any more stuttering

 

[Lightning7]

All right, the stuttering is still there but the frequency decreased from about 20 mins -2 hours to 2 hours - 4 hours, so that is a major improvement.

 

[Tradesman1]

Make sure you have the latest BIOS, you may need a slight OC of the CPU to run at full 2400, but simply enable XMP in the BIOS and choose profile 1 - the system will set the DRAM up correctly for you

 

[Lightning7]

Make sure you have the latest BIOS, you may need a slight OC of the CPU to run at full 2400, but simply enable XMP in the BIOS and choose profile 1 - the system will set the DRAM up correctly for you

It's set at corsair's reccommended settings for this particular ram, BIOS is latest version, screen stuttering is still happening though ;C

 

[Tradesman1]

Have you tried the OC?

 

[Lightning7]

Have you tried the OC?

I tried running it a few frequency options lower and the stuttering still persisted, so I don't think overclocking will help

(sorry for the late reply 🙁 )

 

[Tradesman1]

A few freq options lower? I was talking take the CPU to 4.2 or 4.3 or so

 

[Lightning7]

A few freq options lower? I was talking take the CPU to 4.2 or 4.3 or so

I mean the RAM, I set it on about 2000 MHZ and still stuttering

 

[Tradesman1]

What timings?

 

[Lightning7]

That seems more like a faulty graphics card than faulty RAM, but you never know. Have you tried running memtest on each memory stick individually? This will help determine any problems with the memory. You can also try testing each memory slot after you've tested the sticks individually.

Are there any other computers you can use to test the GTX 980 Ti?

Also, what are your current memory timings, frequency, and voltage set to and what motherboard do you have?

If I am fair I am too afraid to pull out the RAM, as my PC might not work anymore after that (as I said it worked all of the sudden), sadly I dont have another computer to test it. I have not run memtest as I dont know how to frankly, do you have to put it on a USB stick? and how long do I let it run?

And the RAM info you asked:
Frequency: 2200 Mhz (it was 2400 first but as I said I turned it down)
Voltage: 1.6 (Lowered it from 1.7)
DRAM CAS is 11
DRAM RAS CAS is 13
RAS PRE is 13
RAS ACT is 31
and COMMAND RATE is set to 2

 

[Lightning7]

Bump