Adding a second set of RAM causes issues

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

 

I originally owned 2x4GB GSkill. I got a good deal and decided to buy another set, exact same part number. I originally asked about compatibility in this thread. It is the exact same part number.

 

Unfortunately, after adding the second set, running only 2 minutes of Memtest86+ resulted in many errors. I then tried to do Memtest runs on the new set alone and everything went fine. So the new set is OK, but both sets together are giving errors in Memtest86+.

 

Even though Memtest was giving me errors with both sets together, I tried booting using XMP profile (1600Mhz - 7-8-8-24 2T) and Windows would not boot up. I then disabled XMP (1333Mhz, 9-9-9-24 2T). Still errors in Memtest86, however Windows boot properly and seems stable, so far. At least, for the past hour and while writing this post.

 

I would prefer to run at 1600Mhz and 7-8-8-24 2T of course. According to MaxxMEM benchmarking tool, I am loosing at least 2Gb/s in Read/Writes when using settings at 1333Mhz. Latency also increased to 77ns from 57ns.

 

Any tips on what I should do ? I'm pretty sure GSkill would just tell me that these sets were not meant to work together and I should have buy a 16Gb set.

 

Thanks !

 

Neo.

[Hspasta]

Failing memtest is usually a big indicator of bad sticks. I've never tried running 2 2x sets of RAM, but there should be no problem with that. I would try to them your new set replaced.

 

Actually, have you tried running memtest only with the new set?

[CatzRuleZWorld]

You should try to isolate the problem. Try just the new set or maybe just each dimm separately.

[Guest]

Failing memtest is usually a big indicator of bad sticks. I've never tried running 2 2x sets of RAM, but there should be no problem with that. I would try to them your new set replaced.

 

Actually, have you tried running memtest only with the new set?

 

You should try to isolate the problem. Try just the new set or maybe just each dimm separately.

 

Yes, I did run Memtest86+ on the new set alone. Only for an hour, but enough to make 1+ pass. I'll give it another shot tonight and run it all night long. If it doesn't find anything, then I'll test both new DIMM separately.

[EpIcPoNaGe]

I don't know too much about RAM but from what I've heard, sticks of RAM sold together are confirmed compatible and when you buy sticks separately, there's a chance of them not being compatible. Given that they seem to work alone, that probably means they're incompatible. I'd try returning/swapping the new pair for another pair of new RAM. 

[Nutarama]

Have you tried using the original good RAM in both slot sets? (Try booting once with your two original sticks in the black, and then try booting with the two original sticks in the light gray slots; don't worry, both are supported configurations)  I ask because it's possible that one of the slots on the motherboard (probably the set of slots you weren't using previously) is actually faulty, making it a motherboard problem and not a RAM problem.

[Guest]

Have you tried using the original good RAM in both slot sets? (Try booting once with your two original sticks in the black, and then try booting with the two original sticks in the light gray slots; don't worry, both are supported configurations)  I ask because it's possible that one of the slots on the motherboard (probably the set of slots you weren't using previously) is actually faulty, making it a motherboard problem and not a RAM problem.

 

Thanks, I did try that last night. I have been using slots 2 and 4 for the past year with my old set. So I did my tests last night on slots 1 and 3. I've been running Memtest tests for the last 12 hours. Here are the tests I have done so far :

 

- One single new DIMM in slot 1 running for 2 hours. No Memtest errors after 3 passes.

- The other new DIMM single in slot 3 running for the entire night. No Memtest errors after 13 passes.

- Mixed up an old DIMM in slot 1 and new DIMM in slot 3 for 1 hour. No Memtest errors after 1 pass.

- Keeping the setup of last test, I added an old DIMM in slot 2 and new DIMM in slot 4. Therefore I am testing with all 4 DIMMs mixed up. No Memtest errors when I left home, after nearly 1 pass.

 

Usually, when errors comes up it would have been in the first 3 minutes of Memtest. I hope to get home tonight and see no errors. The current test/setup is mixing up sets of DIMMs. Running XMP profile at 1600Mhz 7-8-8-24 2T as well. I don't know how RAM is made/built, but it seems that the new set differs from the old set in a way. Even if they are the same model number and specs (Mhz, latency). By mixing an old and new DIMM together in the same channel, it is possible that the motherboard adjust to the "lowest" settings. So both channels are now running and testing with one DIMM of my old set and one DIMM of my new set in each channel.

 

I hope to get back home and Memtest still has no errors !