Memory failure - Memtest - please help

[Triggaaar]

This is the only time I've had to deal with memory failure, so I don't know what I'm doing

I built my PC close to 10 years ago:
i7 930
Asus p6x58d-e https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P6X58DE/
6 GB Corsair XMS 3 DDR3 TR3X6G1600C9 - 3 lots of 2 GB - timing 9-9-9-24 1.65V

A few years after I bought:
12 GB Corsaid Dominator CMP12GX3M3A1600C9 - 3 lots of 4 GB - timing 9-9-9-24 1.65V

I put the new memory in (on its own) and loaded up. Before long I got BSOD, so I thought I may have faulty memory and swapped back and all was fine for a while. Eventually I was getting BSOD due to (I think) my power supply. I upgraded my power supply and all has been good since (with old 6GB memory).

I've just moved office, so I thought I'd try the 12GB again.
First, I and memtest 5.1 with my 6GB. I only ran it for a couple of hours, as I wasn't expecting problems, and it passed a few passes.
I removed the memory and inserted the 12GB and ran memtest. It failed within an hour (probably the first pass, I can't remember). So I decided to test each stick one at a time.
The first stick passed 3 passes, then I swapped to the 2nd stick.
The second stick passed 2 passes, then I swapped to the 3rd stick which I'd leave running overnight.
The third stick passed 8 passes.
I noted from the memtest the timings: CAS: 8-7-7-20 @64 bit mode
When tested individually, each stick was in slot 0. Is that the right thing to do?

I plan to run the first and second sticks over night too, but in the meantime I'd like to learn a bit more (and I need to use my PC). I'm currently using the PC with the second stick in on it's own.

Questions:
Firstly I assume I should go and change this to 9-9-9-24. I will check the voltage - does it need to be higher or lower than 1.65V?
Is it possible that a problem will only exist when I have all 3 sticks together, or should I find a problem with stick 1 or 2 when I run memtest it long enough?
If I do find that one stick is bad, can I use the 2 good ones with my 3 2GB sticks, and if so, what configuration should I use them in?

Many thanks

 

[Triggaaar]

I set the timings to 9-9-9-24, inserted the 3 * 4GB sticks and ran memtest.
Memtest failed in under 2 minutes.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Perhaps you're seeing a slot with an issue. Does it pass if you've only got the first and second slots utilized?

 

[Triggaaar]

Perhaps you're seeing a slot with an issue. Does it pass if you've only got the first and second slots utilized?

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't got that far yet, but it shouldn't be a slot, as I use the 3 slots usually with my 3 * 2GB, with no issues.

I've just finished testing a 2nd DIMM, for nearly 9 hours, 8 passes. Will do the last one overnight. If that works, maybe I'll do a pair, or I'll try one in the second or third slot on its own.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Well the way I see it, you're already at a conflicting position.

You already tested all 3 sticks individually, with success.
You already have been running the system with 3 sticks in use, with success.
Putting in 3 different sticks, that already tested successfully individually, into the 3 slots that have already been in use, with success, causes an error.

That's a problem, because that doesn't point to a bad memory stick, or a bad slot. That means something must be failing softly. Not enough to outright show up bad, but just enough that it shows up under the use of the denser sticks. That's why I wonder if slot 2 or slot 3 might be having some issues. Have you inspected the slots? Given them a good dusting just in case? Have you manually checked your timings on boot to make sure they're still set to 9-9-9-24 @ 1.65V when you have 3 in there?

Have you looked at your command rate and seen if it's set to 1T? Have you tried setting it to 2T?

 

[Triggaaar]

Well the way I see it, you're already at a conflicting position.

You already tested all 3 sticks individually, with success.
You already have been running the system with 3 sticks in use, with success.
Putting in 3 different sticks, that already tested successfully individually, into the 3 slots that have already been in use, with success, causes an error.

That's a problem, because that doesn't point to a bad memory stick, or a bad slot. That means something must be failing softly.

Thanks again for the help. I have (eventually) found the bad DIMM. I passed a couple of passes the first time I tried it, but after two DIMMs lasted 8 passes, I tried it overnight, and it failed in less than 2 minutes. So I ran the other 2 together for 8 passes, over 16 hours, no errors.

Have you manually checked your timings on boot to make sure they're still set to 9-9-9-24 @ 1.65V when you have 3 in there?

Memtest confirms I was running 9-9-9-24 (although not every time, sometimes it would reset to 8-7-7-20, which is weird. I haven't manually set the voltage though.


So I have:
2 good 4 GB DIMMs
3 good 2 GB DIMMs.
Should I put the 2GB ones in A1, B1, C1
and the 4GB ones in A2, B2?

The manual says I can run 1 stick in either A1, B1 or C1, two sticks in A1 & B1, three in A1, B1, C1, four the same as three with 1 in A2. It doesn't say I can run 5.

Or should I find something similar (I don't think I can get identical) to the 4GB ones, so I can fill all slots?

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Corsair has a lifetime warranty on their memory products. Any reason you wouldn't open up an RMA Request and get a working stick?

 

[Triggaaar]

Corsair has a lifetime warranty on their memory products. Any reason you wouldn't open up an RMA Request and get a working stick?

I had no idea about that. Does that apply worldwide? That would be perfect.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I'm not sure, but it might. When I look through a couple of country sub-sites on Corsair's page, I see Lifetime on all the pages (that I can understand) for memory projects. Go to the Corsair page, and at the bottom, adjust for your country. Follow its relevant instructions to open an RMA with Corsair Support. Worth a shot, after all the worst they can do is say no http://www.corsair.com/en-us/support/warranty

 

[Triggaaar]

Corsair don't do the memory I had any more, but they've sent me something similar, which is good enough.