Motherboard or RAM Problem?

[Fatalist]

Summary: Microsoft memory checker reports massive errors,
first RAM stick still on RMA.
Is it really a motherboard problem instead?

When I first put my new computer together in July 2008,
I would sometimes have programs crash at random.
It affected almost all programs, such as Explorer,
Firefox, Games, even Windows booting up.

At this time I had 2 Crucial Ballistix in my motherboard, 1 GB each.

I found and used Microsoft's memory checker and it reported errors
on one of the tests. I swapped the RAM slots and the errors moved locations
as I would expect if it was a RAM problem. I took out one of the sticks and
the tester ran without errors for hours.

The stick I took out is still in RMA.

I started having issues again including Windows telling me my Registry was corrupt.
I thought my hard drive was dying. However, with only the stick I didn't RMA, the memory checker is reporting LOTS more errors on every test.

Could this be a motherboard problem instead?

Motherboard: ECS GF7050VT-M
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 1 GB 6400

 

[Lemon law]

As someone familiar with memtest86 but not your Microsoft memory checker, I googled the latter. And the first hit I found indicated its not accurate with 64 bit processors. But from what I have read about ram, it can be really tricky stuff, Some ram does not like certain mobo's, sometimes standard spd timings do not work, and often a ram voltage increase in the bios can make a world of difference.

But no doubt about it, crucial ram has a fine reputation, and some investigation on the crucial web site is recommended along with playing with bios settings. But in a word, yes it could be your mobo also. Or the memory controller on your processor.

As for registry errors, its what happens when ram is not reading right. At a minimum, a clean install of windows may be in your future.

 

[jackschmittusa]

You really don't mention a lot about your hardware.

Agree with Lemon law that Crucial ram is pretty reliable. ECS mbs are usually in the "probably OK" category.

It could also be a thermal issue (cpu, chipset, vid card). Check your temps?

Power supply up to snuff?

 

[faxon]

arg thats going to be a hard one to troubleshoot. i have seen a lot of bad reviews on the tracer ram you have, including my own buddy having to rma 4 seperate kits because theywere all bad. on the flip side, i have never seen anyone recpommend an ECS mobo, and my experience with them so far has been ro avoid them at all costs, since they are notorious for having bad memory controlers and othre hard to discern issues that can take hours to figure out. what i would do is take a stick from another system which has tested as good and run memtest86 on it in the ECS mobo. if it comes back good test the tracer in the good system by itself. if you get to this point without issue i would start messing with your voltages and timings in bios. also xonsider testing your power supply to make sure it is putting out what it is susposed to. if good ram is erroring out as stock clocks and latency it isnt getting enough power and the DIMMs are resetting since they didnt get power to refresh their contents

 

[jackschmittusa]

faxon

Where do you get that it is the Tracer version of ram?

I've used several ECS mbs in plain-Jane office rigs and never had a problem with any of them. Most often they get put down because they are not feature rich and generally, not very overclockable. Far too many of the doa user problems came from not reading the manual. For a long time ECS shipped mbs with the "clear cmos" jumper in the clear position to preserve battery life. Too many idiots did not know this, did not read the manual, and never noticed it.

Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[Fatalist]

I'm leaning towards the RAM now.
It is the regular Ballistix, not tracer.

Although not exactly the same speed, I think this sums it up for me (along with some Google research):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148069

30% of the votes were the lowest possible score.

These seem to be the same item. Check out the reviews for the past 6 months:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146565

 

[faxon]

doh my bad i somehow read into it that he had tracer ram. still, crucial has had quite a few complaints as of late and the ram is getting worse ratings on newegg as a result. what i would do is get some OCZ or Corsair, or at the very least just borrow a stick that works from a friend, test it in your system, and the result of if it works will be your answer