RAM not always detecting correctly

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

So I'm having a problem with my ram detecting correctly.  It runs at the right speeds, but periodically detects the full 6 gb, and sometimes detects 4.  This is both in bios and windows.  Gonna try reseating the chips.  Otherwise, thoughts?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820145286

[KarthXLR]

Did you try rubbing the contacts with an regular (pink) eraser?

I was having problems with my ram, but after doing that they worked fine.

[CaffeinePowered]

Did you try rubbing the contacts with an regular (pink) eraser?

I was having problems with my ram, but after doing that they worked fine.

This + a photo lens cleaning kit can help clean the contacts, are you using all of your RAM slots?

If not have you tried various combinations of slots?

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

It's in triple channel per mobo specs.

[HeK]

Yell at it. Then wiggle things.


It's likely a single module or slot that is failing.

See if you can find a 1GB stick that you can use to work out a specific module or slot that is causing problems.

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

I really hope not, this thing's less than a month old.  I'd hate to RMA a motherboard.

[Kirby]

Go get CPU-Z and check the SPD  tab. It returns the info stored on the RAM stick about itself, Part #, date of manufacture, etc. This info can go a long way toward troubleshooting RAM. I used to have a bad stick I couldn't pin down until I noticed one day it's SPD was reporting it was manufactured in the 13th month of 1990.

[CaffeinePowered]

Go get CPU-Z and check the SPD  tab. It returns the info stored on the RAM stick about itself, Part #, date of manufacture, etc. This info can go a long way toward troubleshooting RAM. I used to have a bad stick I couldn't pin down until I noticed one day it's SPD was reporting it was manufactured in the 13th month of 1990.

Lousy Smarch weather

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

Meh CPUZ came back equal on all three.  I think tomorrow I'll reseat and start switching chips out to see what happens.

[Kirby]

Wait for a time when your rig is not detecting a stick, and you're short RAM.

Go back to CPUZ and check the SPD tab again, it'll still list out what slot has what stick in it, and you'll also be able to what slot isn't reporting correctly. That will give you an excellent starting point for using memtest86 while you're out for the day.

If you can figure out which slot is bad/has bad stick in it, you can pull everything but that single stick, and start testing by putting that stick in slot 1, then running memtest while you're out. If it passes in slot1, move it to slot2, etc.

If it passes properly through every slot, rinse and repeat, but with another stick. Process of elimination using this method will let you determine for certain what is bad.

It's not the fastest method by a looong shot, but it's also very conclusive.

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

Only down side is memtest 86/86+ doesn't seem to like my system.  Refuses to run on boot.  Only tried with USB stick though.  Could be a different story with CD.  Damn thing is though that all slots report the same, CPUZ sees 6GB, windows and bios see 4.

[Didzo]

...What OS are you running?

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

Windows 7 64 bit.

[WaR1761]

Just to make sure.... are you putting the ram in the optimal slots per your motherboards instructions? I know mine had a specific order depending on the amount of ram I had. I doubt its the root of your problem but its one simple thing to rule out.

[[fr31ns]Karrde]

Yep, everything is in optimal triple channel configuration.  This is one of the stranger things I've encountered over the years.