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Question

RAM card defects in 3-4 weeks

Jan 11, 2015 5:48PM PST

Hi. I'm having trouble with my RAM card(s).

So, 2 months ago, I bought a new motherboard, power supply, CPU, GPU and a stick of 4 gig RAM DDR3.

Everything was fine for 3-4 weeks and then my computer froze, blue screen appeared and said "Kernel data inpage error".

My computer then restarted and went straight to BIOS. It went to bios every time i restarted my PC.

If I wanted to go to windows, I had to turn my PC off for 20-30 minutes and then it would normally go to windows.

The PC then would run fine for 15 minutes and would then freeze and give another blue screen and the process repeats.


So, I replaced my RAM (trial and error), and my PC was fine.... For the next 4 weeks.

My RAM again broke after a month of usage.
(Also, I'm typing this thread in a hurry before my PC freezes again)

CPU: AMD FX 6300 6-core, 3.5 GHz processor
GPU: NVidia GTX 260
4 GB DDR RAM (1 stick)
Power supply: CX 430, ATX power supply 430 WATT
Motherboard: Asrock 970 Pro3 R2.0

Does anyone know what is causing my RAM to break down?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Have you tested the RAM with a program like
Jan 12, 2015 9:57AM PST
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haven't tested my ram yet
Jan 12, 2015 9:24PM PST

First RAM that I ruined was a single stick of King Max DDR3-1600 4GB.

Currently, I'm using 2 sticks of King max DDR3-1333 2GB.

Also worth to note is that I don't have RAM heatsinks and I don't have a fan blowing on my RAMs.

I'm not overclocking.

During stress (usually gaming) both CPU and GPU are around 75 deg. celsius.

The reason I think temperature is what's causing problems is because after my PC crashes to BIOS I have to wait 20-30 minutes before I can re-enter windows.

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Have you using the 2 x 2GB ram and 1x4 GB
Jan 13, 2015 3:46AM PST

Have you checked ram having different frequencies of 1600 & 1333 on 2 GB and 4 GB. Have you using all the three rams in the same PC.

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no
Jan 13, 2015 9:44PM PST

no, I haven't.

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Answer
heat issues???
Jan 13, 2015 4:56AM PST

sounds like you have heat issues if you have to wait 20-30 minutes after the freeze before able to turn the computer on again. Overheating will damage ram and everything else if left unchecked. When it freezes does the case feel hot? check the temperature as previously mentioned. You can also try taking the cover off with a table fan blowing across it and run as normal to see if freezes - my non tech way. If it dont freeze, you have a heat problem.

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progress
Jan 13, 2015 9:44PM PST

something else to note, usually when I'm gaming, I turn down all my fans down to 50% to reduce noise with SpeedFan program (is that bad? could that have been the issue all along?)

Also, the manufacturer says my RAM is supposed to be powered with 1.5V. In my bios, it was set to automatically adjust voltage with a maximum of 2.1 volts. I turned off the "auto" option and set it to 1.5V.

So far, my pc hasn't crashed since i adjusted the voltage and I haven't reduced fan speed.

Another question:

1.How do you measure RAM temperature. It doesn't have sensors on it. Do I just touch it with my finger?

2. Do you recommend installing another fan that blows directly on motherboard? Is it safe for a fan to blow vertically on the motherboard and not horizontally (along the motherboard if you know what i mean)

Thank you in advance.

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That's bad.
Jan 14, 2015 12:15AM PST

Turning the fans down is just a bad idea. But it's your hardware so yours to burn out sooner.

Why not leave the case cover off instead?
Bob

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I'm with Bob....turning down the fans while using RAM
Jan 14, 2015 10:16AM PST

with no heatsinks plus the auto voltage is a recipe for instability and or early demise.

If the system noise is unsat....consider bigger fans that run a lower RPMs, quieter fans, add sound deadening material, etc.,

Re checking the RAM temp or any other component....I use an infrared thermometer similar to those listed at the link below. Can come in very handy for measuring temps on PC component temps or anything else you want to check.

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ainfrared%20thermometer

Let us know how it works out.

VAPCMD