BSOD's relating to bad RAM?

[Cringle]

Hey sevenforum

Fresh build with a new install of windows 7 ultimate 64. When I attempted to first install Windows I had a few issues, such as restarting or hanging, thought little of it and continued until it installed properly. Since the install I have been getting random restarts with no errors, BSOD regarding paged area, irql and memory management.

Under My Computer > Properties it says I have 8GB of RAM installed yet only 3.96GB is available to be used, does this narrow it down completely to a faulty RAM stick?

System specs as follows:
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 PRO
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws-x 9-9-9-24 1600MHz (2x4GB)
Video: AMD ATi HD6870BE
CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 955BE @ stock
Power: OCZ Modx 700W
HDD: WD Caviar 500GB

I have only just turned on minidumps, as I forgot to do it earlier, but any reassurance regarding the fault would be appreciated. I will be running memtest86 overnight tonight.

Thanks alot.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

You might try removing one stick of RAM and see if it is detected and everything runs okay. If so, replace it with the other stick.

Do run Memtest86, on both sticks at the same time as well as each stick individually.

If you can run Prime95, try all three tests for about 2 hours apiece. See here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-cpu-stress-test-prime95.html

 

[Cringle]

I tried running memtest86 overnight but after setting it up, I return 7 hours later to find it stopped testing at 7minutes into the test? Looked like it was frozen.

 

[Jonathan_King]

That is most likely a sign of bad RAM. Continue your troubleshooting with one stick of RAM, see if there are any issues there. If so, switch to the other stick.

 

[Cringle]

What are the chances that the RAM itself is fine, yet imcompatible with my motherboard? I went with the "RAM is RAM" approach and just chose the specs I wanted whether it was on the QVL or not.

Would this still produce errors in memtest?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Thanks for bringing that up...I forgot to check!

That RAM should work, though AMD chipsets are known to have issues with speeds over 1333 MHz. Try decreasing the speed to 1333, see if that helps anything.

 

[Cringle]

I found out my RAM is on the QVL list after all, I have already set the timings in the BIOS but am still getting errors. I ran memtest for 3 hours (2 passes) and it said everything was fine. After I rebooted from memtest I got my first "Bluescreen" since I made this thread so have attached the files as per the tutorial in your sig.

View attachment 174849

Thanks.

 

[Cringle]

It's been up and running now for over 3 hours and seems to be pretty stable, but once again under My Computer it says 8GB (3.96GB Usable). I really hope this all boils down to faulty ram, rather depressing for brand new hardware.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Continue the "single stick" line of attack, as you may find that gives the most clues as to the actual problem. Test both sticks in both slots individually (four separate Memtest86 runs!), and note what My Computer says about the installed RAM each time.