Run the memtests.
If you can't get other RAM to test in your system then consider taking it to a repair shop and ask them to test it with another brand of RAM.
This way you can rule out the incompatible RAM.
After having BSODs for so long it might be worth the time and cost to confirm it.
Just saw your last post. This might be your best option to solve this stubborn problem.
It is posible that it can be motherboard or even the CPU causing the issues.
Thanks Dave. Right now I'm mailing with the webshop about the RMA. This has gotten a special case so indeed I'm going to ask them to accept the motherboard, ram and cpu for RMA and have a look at it. The motherboard is RMA worthy anyway, the ram sure looks like it because it doesn't run OK at rated specs. And reason for CPU was mentioned before.
Thanks again all, will let you guys know how this turns out.
I think you are making the right decision as inconvenient as it is. I would certainly like to know they find when they test your motherboard and RAM. Keep us updated, please.
Thanks, I sure will! Have been sending a couple of emails back and forth with my webshop yesterday. Haven't come to a final agreement yet on the RMA. But they already offered to take in the motherboard and ram. So we're on the right way. Just want to make some clear agreements in advance.
I would like to add some more info to this thread. Though not to find out whether RMA should still be done, that is obviously a YES.
Yesterday evening I decided to run some more memtest at 1066Mhz 7-7-7-20 1.64v on the ram and all other timings on auto (tRFC is 60 this way with 1T command rate, qpi/vtt voltage on auto also). This was recommended by my webshop so I tried it (whether this OCZ kit likes tRFC of 60 is debatable, but it is at 1066Mhz though). Also, I've put the CPU vCore back to auto as well, to exclude that from causing any problems. Now, memtest would freeze in a seriously messed up way:
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2663/20101124190714.jpg (non-coldboot)
Also, I had two freezes yesterday during gaming. One freeze ended in a BSOD with driver irql not less or equal. The same type of freeze I've been having since this new kit (though the first crash with a BSOD). I've seen various people on the net getting this (the type of bsod) also with ram issues. So I'm also leaning towards that still, as my drivers appear to be sorted.
This morning I did another memtest coldboot on the same settings as mentioned above. And guess what, errors at 1080.0MB range again (which also happened at rated specs), this time test #4. Again faulty ram seems plausible as the errors have been reproduced in the same range and solely this range, so far. Unfortunately I will be away for a few days so I won't be able to test these modules individually. But one would expect to see just module 3 from slot 5 (tested in any slot of course) to throw errors when tested alone and the other two to be clean. Here's the screenshot of this morning, after which memtest also froze. I guess if I would let it run for a longer period of time, it might end up as in the screenshot above.
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/855...1125075801.jpg (coldboot)
And while just using the PC I had two more BSOD's, with the settings mentioned above. The same type that occurred on the previous two faulty kits as well. I'm now again on rated specs, 1.34v qpi/vtt.
Hope to come to a final agreement with my webshop soon on the RMA. This sure has become a special case. But I don't want to run into any more unforeseen consequences or costs.
Thanks again guys, I'm still optimistic about this whole thing.
Last edited by Trinitrotoluene; 25 Nov 2010 at 03:28.
Looks like the RAM is a good place to start.
Good they are checking the motherboard.
You should convince them to check the CPU, won't cost any more to send back.
It is possible that the integrated memory controller is failing.
The shop just agreed to take in the motherboard and ram for the obvious reasons. But also the CPU. So that's good news. Shipping things out tonight/tomorrow.
Will keep you guys posted on what they think. Funny to say, this has become both frustrating and very interesting...
That is good news. I am very interested to learn what they find. YOu have definitely had a learning experience.
Glad to hear they agreed to take all those components. Hopefully they will find the culprit.
Let us know the results, this has been an interesting one...
It's no fun having problems, but you do learn from them.
Right now I can tell you guys that the webshop ran into the same memory errors as I did. They can't yet say whether it's down to just the ram, cpu, motherboard or a combination. But anyway, the memory part looks good, as funny as that may sound. The only thing is, if the memory itself is broken, there will probably some warrenty problem as I've received this third kit from OCZ RMA, not the webshop. But that's of later concern.
They haven't yet heard any coilwhine on the motherboard. Which is strange! I've told them that maybe my raid0 setup might be related to the coilwhine, advising them to test it with raid0 (you never know, right). And I told them that, if I remember correctly, I started hearing the coilwhine when I removed one of four hearddrives (standalone drive). Perhaps there's some sort of weird HDD load relation.
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