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**Lsdmeasap** · 09-28-2008, 11:17 AM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Ya, errors at the same place no matter what means DOA stick for sure. But just so you know, you should be running those at 2.0V at least. And for 2x2 you need to add some MCH voltage (+.15-.2) and set trfc to 52-62

Of your choices there, I would choose GEIL above the others for a Gigabyte Board.

My suggestion to you would be Mushkin if you can buy them where you live.

Crucial are Well known for being terrible in GA-P35 boards, some get them to work but not many

**VorLonUK** · 09-28-2008, 06:35 PM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Originally posted by cheap1 View Post

Hi all

Like others who've found this place... I wish I had seen this forum before purchasing my funky Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR2-800 PC2-6400 4GB Kit (2x2GB) with flashy LEDs. They look great and they were on special at the time I bought them...

First pair was flakey and had to be RMA'd. Got a new pair, and I'm getting 1 memtest error in the same address... I swapped the 2 sticks around using the same slots, and the memtest error was at the same address...

Test 4
Pass 10
Address 507.3Mb

Test 1
Pass 6
Address 507.3Mb

I then swapped the positions of the memory sticks.

Test 4
Pass 1
Address 507.3Mb again..........

1. So I'm hoping this is due to incompatibility rather than the mobo being faulty? Tonight I will try testing with one stick in slot 1 only.

2. I'm running the memory at stock voltage (1.8v) and timings (5-5-5-18) with no overclocking. I would be open to try some different memory settings and voltages and test overnight, if you have suggestions for my motherboard EP35-DS4. I tried updating the bios to the latest beta one and it didn't help.

3. This is for a business computer and needs to be stable....overclocking is a bonus, but it may be better to just avoid the incompatibility issue of Crucial altogether since my PC shop allows me to exchange the RAM... my options would be the following, which would you recommend? I will have about $165AU store credit... but i dont mind paying a little extra to get extra performance boost with maybe PC-8500 RAM instead

- Corsair Twin2X 4096MB 240-pin DDR2 800Mhz PC-6400 Twin Pack (2x 2048mb sticks) w/heat spreader, 5-5-5-18 $176.00

- Corsair Twin2X 4096MB 240-pin DDR2 800Mhz PC-6400 Twin Pack (2x 2048mb sticks) w/heat spreader, 4-4-4-12 $198.00

- Corsair Dominator 4096MB 240-pin DDR2 XMS2-8500 Twin Pack (2x 2048mb sticks) w/heat spreader, 5-5-5-15 $203.50

- Corsair Dominator 4096MB 240-pin DDR2 XMS2-8500 Twin Pack (2x 2048mb sticks) w/heat spreader and fan system, 5-5-5-15 $214.50

- Geil EVO One 4096MB DDR2-800 Twin Pack PC-6400 240-pin DDR2 RAM, 2x 2048MB sticks, 4-4-4-12, special heatsink $220.00

- Geil 4096MB DDR2-800 Twin Pack PC-6400 240-pin DDR2 RAM, 2x 2048MB, 5-5-5-15 $126.50

- Geil 4096MB DDR2-1066 Twin Pack PC-8500 240-pin DDR2 RAM, 2x 2048MB, 5-5-5-12 $181.50

- Patriot 4096Mb PC-6400 800mhz DDR2 RAM, 2x 2048mb 240-pin DDR2 sticks $126.50

- Patriot 4096Mb Viper PC-8500 1066mhz DDR2 RAM kit, 2x 2048mb 240-pin DDR2 sticks $179.30

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! :)

------------------------------------

INTEL XEON QUAD-CORE X3360 2.83GHZ
Gigabyte S775 GA-EP35-DS4
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme + Scythe S-FLEX 120mm Fan SFF21E
Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR2-800 PC2-6400 4GB Kit (2x2GB)
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64 BIT
Thermaltake Toughpower 750w
Sapphire HD 3870x2

So you have already RMA'ed one pair?

And with the new pair a Memtest error occurs in exactly the same spot, regardless if you swap stick positions?
I assume you are testing both sticks at the same time and you are using memtest V2.01?

I find it quite unlikely that if you have an error at say the 500MB point and if you then swap stick positions with each other, it still occurs at the same point, that the ram is faulty.

You could try one stick at a time.
I'd say it was a setting issue, or even a board issue.

Even if both sticks were faulty, you would assume that it would most likely not be at the same point.

I would try a lot more before considering new ram, because the Irony is you might end up with rebadged Crucial Ram aka "Micron" chips if you buy another popular make.

**Lsdmeasap** · 09-28-2008, 10:40 PM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Ya, I must have read his comments backwards or something VorLonUK. I think I thought he had the same errors with his sticks in the same place no matter the slot he used.

But now that I read it again I see it is the same spot no matter the stick. So ya, I think it would be a settings error or something else.

And again, At least for mushkin, They do not use Micron chips anymore. Only in old sticks which Spec voltage is 2.1-2.3 and the $300 Redlines, not the $120 ones. The rest are now Powerchip IC's for the newer models, and ProMOS for most of the other non expensive older ones. Just thought I would tell you that since it looks as if you are saying that towards my Mushkin suggestion.

And again, it is the SPD programming and PCB that makes Crucial Fail for GA-P35 boards, I do not know why myself either. I have used them without issue personally, but over the past year I can say at least 85+ % of users whom I have helped never got anywhere with them and when replaced had no issues at all

**BongWizard** · 09-28-2008, 11:26 PM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

out of the ones that you have there, i would suggest these

- Geil 4096MB DDR2-1066 Twin Pack PC-8500 240-pin DDR2 RAM, 2x 2048MB, 5-5-5-12 $181.50

However, like LSD said, mushkin have always been leaders in memory and are great in GA boards. Id also recommend Kingston, as I've had nothing but good exprience with them

**cheap1** · 09-29-2008, 02:22 AM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Hi guys, thank you very much for the responses... greatly appreciated!!!

Just to answer some questions, using MT v2.01, the first pair of RAM, one sticked flaked out BIG time, I'm talking about like 1 error every 2 seconds :) So that was definitely a RAM issue...

The 2nd pair was a little more subtle. I tried slots 1 and 3 and I got 2 or 3 errors. Then I tried one stick at a time, and one stick spat out 2 errors and the other stick didn't have any errors.

Then I tried slots 2 and 4... and then no errors for 24 hours. Then after a few weeks I noticed my comp BSOD'ing etc... So I tried memtest again, and got those errors I was describing, and it's at the same address even if I swap the sticks from 2 to 4 and 4 to 2. But even with the sticks swapped, the error was in the same address...

I did however last night try the settings as you guys have suggested, i.e. upping DRAM voltage to 2.1 and upped FSB and MCH by 0.1v. No errors for 8 hours, when normally the error would have occurred... I also set Write to Read delay to 8. I don't know what helped, but I suspect it's the volts. I don't understand why the specs say 1.8v for 5-5-5-18 when it is not stable at that.

So I was thinking it's an incompatibility now and fortunately the store was kind enough to offer store credit, so I might as well avoid all the problems and go with another RAM just for piece of mind. I'm not 100% confident in the RAM.

Thank you again for your RAM suggestions. Unfortunately, hardly anyone sells Mushkin where I am (Australia). Kingston is a lot more common so I will consider that too. Could you please tell me which other brands & models of RAM (inc/ Kingston) I should go for to suit my DS4, that may be better than the GEIL, around the $180 price range? Or will be GEIL be OK?

Thanks so much!!

**Lsdmeasap** · 09-29-2008, 02:25 AM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Yes, Geil will be fine. G.Skill is also good (If you get, choose models that end in K)
Kingston will also work, A-Data, Patriot as well

**cheap1** · 09-29-2008, 02:30 AM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Thanks so much for your help. I'm very grateful!! I'm going to investigate my easiest options :)

- Geil 4096MB DDR2-1066 Twin Pack PC-8500 240-pin DDR2 RAM, 2x 2048MB, 5-5-5-12 $181.50

- Patriot 4096Mb Viper PC-8500 1066mhz DDR2 RAM kit, 2x 2048mb 240-pin DDR2 sticks $179.30

**Lsdmeasap** · 09-29-2008, 07:52 AM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Man, that is expensive! If I was you I would look on ebay and find a worldwide shipper of something else. There is plenty

Just trying to keep all you options in mind

**cheap1** · 09-30-2008, 01:51 AM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

although they are in AU $, i compared and you're right, they are on the pricey side. cos it's an RMA, I'm a little limited to what I can replace with... if i can do a straight swap, then I'd be happy.

thanks for all your help LSD.

**Lsdmeasap** · 09-30-2008, 02:34 AM

Re: EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendatio

Anytime, good luck in deciding and getting your new ram!

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EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendations?

EP35-DS4 / Crucial Ballistix 4gb Memtest error - replacement memory recommendations?

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