My PC is not working :(

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  1. Posts : 42
    Windows 7 Ultimate 6.1.7600 Build 7600 64-bit
       #1

    My PC is not working :(


    Some time ago (several months) my PC wouldnt start at all, just blank screen, I would just turn it off and on and everything would be ok. It happened just few times and it was not big deal.

    But before few days things got different. It wont start at all even after 10+ turn off/on, so I started mission to find whats wrong.

    Problem details: Power ON - nothing happens - blank screen - not even BIOS info. Nothing.

    1. I remove HDD (Sata and power cable) - nothing happens, so its not HDD.
    2. I remove HDMI cable from GPU and still nothing
    3. I disconnect SS2 PCI card and gamepad wireless receiver but again nothing.

    Then i go to memory, remove 3 sticks (4x1GB) and PC working, then i put 2nd stick and ok, then third and again ok, and last one..again ok? wtf?

    Then i use PC few times, play games, power off/on..everything great, and after 2-4 days again same problem, blank screen and pc doesnt boot. Now i have removed just 1 stick and its working..for now..but i am not sure it is memory because when i put all 4 sticks back everything works. I play games (NFS Shift, Tropico 3..) for several hours and its all fine, Windows report 4GB RAM. (Win7 64-bit)

    Can CPU or motherboard be problem? I think system just doesnt accept sometimes 4 sticks. (motherbord support 4x2GB)

    How can i be sure that memory is ok?

    NOTE: before 1 month I upgraded memory, from 2x1GB to 4x1GB, memory is from same manufacturer, same speed, maybe different chips. Now when PC working it use 2X1GB old sticks and 1GB new stick.

    Sorry for bad writing, i dont know English.

    Please help.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,280
    Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit / XP Home sp3
       #2

    I would suggest downloading and running memtest. run it with 1 stick of ram at a time run at least 5 times per stick. You may find you have a bad stick of ram or possibly since they weren't purchased at the same time some incompatibility. memtst download here |MG| Meatiest 3.5 Download. I would then also suggest you run GPU-z this will tell you the memory manufacturer and the speed as well as the timings. Make sure they are the same or at least the timings and speed. Usually if they are different but compatible they will run at the lowest speed .CPUID
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #3

    Along with memtest the SIW tool or System Info for Windows will show what dimm is in what dimm slot. SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala

    With some boards however problems are seen when all slots are populated for some reason even when all dimms are matched and good!
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 1,360
    win7 ultimate / virtual box
       #4

    If this was me I would make sure my motherboard had the latest BIOS and I would have a look around in the BIOS menu to ensure there wasn't any acceleration set ?

    problems with ram timings with slightly different ram sticks can cause issues.

    for sure by your description this is a motherboard / BIOS / ram problem
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #5

    That's an excellent point! Another would be If the dimms were mixed at all the individual voltages could easily vary as well as the difference in timings. These are both things to consider.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 42
    Windows 7 Ultimate 6.1.7600 Build 7600 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Ok, here are first tests:

    Configuration of memory were like this:
    Row1: 1GB old stick
    Row2: 1GB new stick
    Row3: 1GB old stick
    Row4: 1GB new stick
    (1-3, 2-4 because of dual channel)

    I didnt have time to do 5x test on all sticks.

    Stick 1 (from row1) : memtest: DDR2 400MHz (DDR800) CAS 5-5-5-18 - 2873MB/s - 3 TESTS OK

    Stick 2 (from row2) : memtest: DDR2 400MHz (DDR800) CAS 5-5-5-18 - 2664MB/s - 1 TEST OK

    Stick 3 (from row3): memtest: DDR2 400MHz (DDR800) CAS 5-5-5-18 - 2873MB/s - 1 TEST OK

    Stick 4 (from row4): memtest: DDR2 400Mhz (DDR800) CAS 5-5-5-18 - 2664MB/s - 5 TEST OK
    Last one i check 5 times because PC started working when i pull out it and leave 3 sticks. Its seams that everything is OK with memory..only thing which is not clear to me why are old sticks 2873MB/s and new one 2664MB/s? It should be other way by logic :)

    Here is picture from CPU-z when all sticks are in PC (now):
    http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3605/cpuz.jpg

    Just one weird thing, with all 4 sticks in PC when i run memtest, after few seconds (2-3) PC restarts. Memtest 3.4 (old version didnt crush but i left it just 1-2 min to work..)

    Before returning all sticks i changed its position, now its 1-3 new sticks, and 2-4 old sticks. Here are what CPU-z say for every stick:
    Stick 1 (new one) : http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4162/cpuzmem1.jpg
    Stick 2 (old one) : http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4117/cpuzmem2.jpg
    Stick 3 (new one) : http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/8029/cpuzmem3.jpg
    Stick 4 (old one) : http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/213/cpuzmem4.jpg

    I will now try with BIOS update, it cant hurt :)

    EDIT: Bios is now up-to-date (F4..it was F3), but only change in new one is some irrelevant function so i dont think Bios will help.

    Now i will wait, if it happens again it means my motherboard dont like 4 sticks. :)
    Last edited by Mbbest; 12 Oct 2009 at 05:50.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 50
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and Windows 2003 Datacenter Server x64 Edition
       #7

    There are two different sets of RAM modules installed inside your Rig i.e of Kingmax Semiconductor as well as of Nanya Technology. You may better consult your local hardware technician and ask him to test / replace four alternate RAM modules of similar nature and class and see if they work resourcefully.
       Tip
    If you're planning to replace entire RAM modules, you may better re-install Windows 7 operating system so that the platform configures it's primary registry in conjunction with virtual memory efficiently.
    ICKYMAY is right... distinguished ram modules having different parity information is the actual cause of problem...
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 42
    Windows 7 Ultimate 6.1.7600 Build 7600 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    On every modul there is label: "Kingmax DDR2 800" so i had hopes it will work :)

    1 more question, why sometimes they work and sometimes dont? Like now, i turned of/on pc several times and every time it works. Why PC just sometimes dont want to start??
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 50
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and Windows 2003 Datacenter Server x64 Edition
       #9

    Mbbest said:
    On every modul there is label: "Kingmax DDR2 800" so i had hopes it will work :)

    1 more question, why sometimes they work and sometimes dont? Like now, i turned of/on pc several times and every time it works. Why PC just sometimes dont want to start??
    Click here to visit Microsoft Online Crash Analysis Website and follow the instructions...
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #10

    The 4 dimms are all labeled Kingston. But if you look at just the transfer per second rate you obviously have two different pairs not the identical across.

    The timings are identical which is good. But the two pairs were made for Kingston by two separate companies. Kingmax Nanya as Maxman was pointing out there. I suspect if you installed the 4th dimm in the first slot with the other 3 and ran memtest on it for several hours you might find a few errors.

    The SIW tool mentioned before would list all 4 dimms on one main screen showing far more detail about each one by itself.
      My Computers


 
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