Memory errors on new memory in new system
Last weekend I put together a new box to replace the one that has been locking up repeatedly. The components are:
Gigabyte 970A-DS3 MB
8GB (2x4GB) Patriot G3 RAM
AMD FX-4100 Quad Core CPU
ASUS DVD/CD Writer
MSI R5450 Graphics Card
Seagate 1TB HD
After assembling the box, but before I even installed the HD (from my old machine), I booted up and ran Memtest86+. Memtest said that there were errors, but I finished the install and everything seemed to run properly. Over the next few days, I got Squeeze installed and did most of my configuration with no apparent problems. I ran Memtest86+ again and again it showed memory errors. I noticed that it also reported the memory as being DDR2, not DDR3. I did some Googling and found that there is a newer version of Memtest86+ (v4.2) and its changelog specifically mentions compatibility with the AMD Fusion (FX) CPU's. I downloaded and burned the new version and yesterday I ran that for almost 2 hours (almost 2 full passes) and Memtest86+ reported 1666 errors when I shut it down.
Today, I returned the memory to Fry's and got two new sticks (no problems with the return). I came home, installed the new memory and fired up Memtest86+. It looked clean for a while, then, on test #5 the errors returned. I let it continue to run and after about 50 minutes total wall time I noticed that it was not doing anything. I waited another five minutes, but there was no change in the percent completed of the pass, or test. The test pattern had not changed either. I rebooted the system and let it try again. It stayed clean until test #5 and then spewed out almost 500 errors.
I powered the system down and changed the memory sticks to the other two slots and rebooted.
Again, no error messages until I got to test #5. About halfway through the test I got 40 errors. Not good, but a LOT fewer errors then before. It is still running now and is almost a quarter of the way through test #8 and there have, so far, been no additional errors.
I find it hard to believe that two sets of Patriot memory would both be bad. This is not a No-Name brand. Also, since changing the memory slots used, while not eliminating the errors, seems to have drastically reduced them I am beginning to wonder if the problem is not with the memory, but with the motherboard. Of course, Gigabyte boards are supposed to be good boards, also.
Has anyone else had similar problems? Is Memtest86+ not as reliable as it used to be? Should I be returning the motherboard next, instead of the memory?
Memtest86+ just finished the first pass with no additional errors, just to 40 that it registered in test #5. I will let it run at least through test #5, again, to see how it fairs before I post this message.
BTW, that first pass took significantly less time than in the past. I assume that the errors really slow it down. Is that correct?
I just noticed that this second pass appears to only be testing 4GB of memory, NOT 8GB.
Just finished test five. This time there were 366 new error, putting the total up to 406, so far.
I don't know what else to check, or what hardware is actually bad. Any and all suggestions cheerfully accepted.
Marc
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