BSOD memory management 0x0...1A when loading a youtube video.

First thing's first. Is your laptop, or more precisely your RAM still under warranty? If the RAM was bought separately was it bought as a kit? The reason I'm asking is if it's just one stick that's faulty you'd be better off replacing the whole kit. While you can certainly buy the same RAM from the same manufacturer it's always ideal to run RAM from the same kit. If an RMA is a possibility I'd consider it.

Next thing to do is test each RAM stick individually with MemTest86+ in each slot on the motherboard, unfortunately that will take some time. If one stick fails in all slots and the others pass in all slots it points to the stick that keeps failing. If all sticks fail in one slot but pass in the other slots then it's the motherboard, which is obviously the worst outcome. If you can get those tests done at your convenience and let me know the results as well as about the warranty we'll go from there mate.

The laptop was second hand, so I suspect it's a no go on the rma front. I'll take a note of the serial numbers nonetheless.

Thanks for the action plan. It'll take several nights to conclude, but it's best to be sure about these things. I'll keep you peeled.

So, this is the latest.

Tested all the modules in the same slot and only one (#4 - originally in the fourth slot) reported errors. I tried the same module in a different slot, and it also came up up with an error. All tests were left to run for 8 passes.

I'll go on to test the stick in the other two slots, but it seems likely that it's the one that's giving me trouble.

Is it possible that a fault on the motherboard (possibly connected to the fourth slot) caused the stick to go bad, or is it just one of these things? I guess what I'm asking is, should I use the slot in the future?

I was also wondering whether there was much use in running 12gb in a 3 slot configuration?

Lastly, I noticed that all the sticks have the same batch number (m471b5273dh0 - ch9 1208). If I wanted to replace the stick, and seeing as I can't rma the whole kit, would it be unwise to throw one with a different batch number (but the same exact model) into the mix?

Thanks in advance.

Hi mate.

Right the offending stick has been identified, at least that's progress. I doubt the fourth slot in the motherboard would cause the stick to go bad, RAM sticks do get faults and it's just one of those things. You'd be surprised at how many develop faults to be honest. Just as a double check test the known good sticks in that slot but I think you'll find it will be fine.

As far as I can see there are three ways to proceed:

1. Run with 12GB RAM, there's no harm in that at all especially if you weren't using over 12GB in the first place. You'll lose the dual channel though unfortunately, although whether that's over all 12GB or just the 4GB that's not paired anymore I'm not sure. I'll get my hardware expert mate to clarify on that one.
2. Replace the single stick. Now again I'll ask essenbe to drop by and clarify but as far as I'm aware it's best to keep RAM in kits, whether the 'odd one out' could cause problems or not I'm not sure but it's a possibility.
3. The last two are extreme choices and ones you probably won't want to do. You could either remove the odd 4GB as well to run with 8GB (if you're just gaming and doing day to day stuff that's more than enough anyway) or replace the whole lot.

I'll ask essenbe to drop by and confirm the points I'm not 100% certain on.

Hi BelugaMumble, Boozad is pretty much right on. If you run with 12 GB (3 slots) you will lose dual chanel mode and be running single channel mode, which is not as efficient in multi threaded operations, but as or more efficient in single threaded operations. Which way you decide is up to you, but there are few things most people do which will use 8 GB of ram.

It is always better to run ram in kits. Most manufacturers test the ram to run well together which is not the case with individual sticks. Many times it will work OK, but just know you are taking a risk. If you talk to Samsung Technical support, they may agree to send you a kit if you replace all 4 sticks. Some Manufacturers will do that as they understand the importance of a kit. The downside of that is you will be without ram until the new ram arrives back. You could ask about an advanced RMA. Most manufacturers will do that, if you give them a credit card number to protect them in case you don't send the old ram back. That is usually the way it is done and I have done it several times, without a problem.

I hope all of that made sense, if not, ask what you don't understand.

Thanks Steve

Hi essenbe, thanks for the second opinion. Boozad, again, thanks for giving up yet more of your time to offer assistance.

It's unlikely that i'll stretching past 8gb's for a while, so I'll likely stick with a 2x4gb setup for the time being. Saying that, I will be doing some developing in unreal engine 4 in the near future, so we'll see.

As for samsung, from what I've uncovered, they no longer offer rma on this model (at least in the uk), but will instead refer you to the seller, and, as I bought the laptop second-hand, i'm probably sol.

The reason I brought up whether I could slot in a stick from another batch, was that I had spotted this on fleabay.

You're more than welcome mate. You can always mark the thread Unsolved if your troubles persist and we'll be here if they do. Which hopefully they won't!

BelugaMumble, if you will check Samsung's warranty, if they offer a lifetime warranty on that ram, they should have to replace it. If they no longer have that type, they will normally replace it with another model, in which case they would most certainly have to replace all of your ram and you would get a kit, which is what you want. That is what happens in the US if there is a lifetime warranty as most manufacturers give on ram. It certainly won't cost anything to ask.

Sometimes you have to be a little bit 'pushy' with these manufacturers to get them to honor their warranty.