bad ram?

[wtfulookinat]

gday.
Corsair Value Select 2x512 ddr2-667. Runs at 5-5-5-15. I could probably walk faster... anyway..

Due to my overclock (p4 630@3.6ghz 240fsb) its been running at ddr-600 4-4-4-12 for 1 week. So, under spec, but tighter timings. SPD says it runs 4-4-4-12 at 533. Been playing UT2004 and CnC Generals:ZH a lot.

Last night when i tried to reinstall windows it kept bsod'n. Changed cdroms, changed hdd's. same problem same point at copying files to hdd ~11%

Took out the 512 stick in second bank and BAM! works like a charm. Took the "bad stick" swapped it into 1st ram slot where the "good stick" was.. errors again...

So my question is, has the one stick of ram gone bad, or is it just the 4-4-4-12 at ddr-600 thats killing it? Keep in mind it ran fine for a week like this. For it to be causing errors now, that would indicate that something isnt right with the stick wouldnt it.. I just want to know so i can get it replaced.. If it has degenerated under tighter timings, it could get worse yeah?

I would re-install windows with it at 5-5-5-15 and see if it bsod's but i just got the system back up for work today and i cant do it agan for a while. Im running on the good stick at 4-4-4-12 now.
Cheers!

 

[Ricemarine]

Whenever you install something big like an OS, you should install at stock speeds.

 

[wtfulookinat]

first two installs i was running oc'd, i realised this and dropped it back to stock... the only thing i forgot was the ram timings because i was in a hurry... but still, it ran games and everything fine for a whole week overclocked at tight timings and lower ram speed, why die now? Especially a windows installation, its not exactly prime 95..

 

[Skeeedunt]

So it's running at the SPD rating for that speed? Sounds like the stick just went bad, especially if it doesn't work in one ram slot but the other identical stick does.

 

[wtfulookinat]

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
So it's running at the SPD rating for that speed? Sounds like the stick just went bad, especially if it doesn't work in one ram slot but the other identical stick does.

the sticks are 2x512 ddr2-667 5-5-5-15

they were running at ddr2-600 4-4-4-12 for a week perfectly under heavy load

when i went to install a fresh copy of XP, constant bsod's, still at 4-4-4-12, one stick errored out, even tho it ran that entire week just fine. When i took it out, XP installed fine.

Im running on the "bad stick" now at 5-5-5-15, under prime blend test. Its been running for about an hour, im up to the 5th lot of tests and no errors so far.

what im worried about is if 4-4-4-12 damaged the stick... I've never used more than its rated voltage. It ran for a week perfectly at 4-4-4-12, why error out now? Is it damaged and will it get worse or can ram just sometimes say enoughs enough, too fast, after an entire week and not actually be damaged?

 

[wtfulookinat]

well i cant work it out..

1- I test the "bad stick" at 5-5-5-15 for 2 and a half hours in prime95, no errors.

2- Reboot, set it to 4-4-4-12, run memtest86+ for 3 hours, no errors.

3- Load windows at 4-4-4-12. Crashes. What the hell is windows doing thats killing it?

4- Set the voltage from 1.8v to 1.9v, it runs perfect in windows at 4-4-4-12. Primes stable for 2 and a half hours.

5- I take it out, put in both sticks as it was originally, put the voltage at 1.8 again, run at 4-4-4-12, run prime for 3 hours... no errors!

what the HELL is goin on? It crashes at stock voltage at 4-4-4-12 on its own but when its running dual channel with the same config its fine? Should i prime it overnight?

 

[Ike0069]

Find the max voltage you RAM is made to run and try that. Alot of time it seems a little more Voltage is all that's needed to "fix" a stick of RAM.

 

[wtfulookinat]

is 1.8v to 1.9v ok? i know with ddr a lot of the stuff thrives on extra volts, but i havent heard the same of ddr2. I cant find any reviews on the corsair value 667 overclocked either because its not exactly an overclockers ram. Im just not sure what to pump into it. I mean i know i can go to 1.9v and it runs good, but im not sure how high is too high with this ram. Would like to keep it more than a year