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Understanding different results with same memory modules

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  • Understanding different results with same memory modules

    Hi,

    I've had this PC since 2012 and never had a problem.
    I had 2 memory sticks same brand same speed (1333), 2gb each.

    For reasons, I exchanged one stick for a 4gb stick, different brand same speed.
    For 3 weeks I didn't have a problem, up until a bsod memory management showed up on Windows 10 2004 x64. That's when I decided to run memtest86.

    These are my results. I'll call the slots in the mobo "A" and "B". "X" means empty slot.

    *try 1-> A: 2 - B: 4 - failed (8,5hrs)

    *try 2-> A: X - B: 4 - failed (8hrs)

    *try 3-> A: 2 - B: X - pass (4hrs)

    *try 4-> A: 4 - B: X - pass (13hrs)

    *try 5-> A: X - B: 4 - failed (10hrs, 1st error 5hrs)

    *try 6-> A: X - B: 2 - pass (17hrs)

    *try 7-> A: 2 - B: X - pass (19hrs)

    *try 8-> A: 4 - B: 2 - failed (1hr)


    So... I was ready to conclude that the 4gb stick is failing but it was ok for 11 passes (13 hours). But if failed in one slot and not in the other.
    Can I conclude both sticks work ok but not together?

    At this point I don't know what to do with the little money I have, if the case is that the 4gb stick is ok and I can't use them together.
    Buy another 2gb same brand and speed and go back to square 0.
    Sell my 2gb and buy another 4gb same brand and speed and have 8gb like I'd like.
    Sell both and buy one 8gb stick and be done with it.


    Also, is it ok to have different cache speeds shown every time I boot memtest86?

    Mobo is Gigabyte h61m-usb3-b3 for reference.


    Thanks in advance for any help someone can provide me.

    I attach images with the tests for reference.

    Regards!
    Attached Files

  • #2
    RAM looks bad.

    It isn't uncommon for ram to only fail when it is in dual channel mode. The 4GB stick is probably marginal / intermittently bad.
    You might be able to hide the problem by manually increasing voltage levels slightly or slowing down the clock speeds in BIOS.

    In the case of a failure, e.g. after 1 hour, then there isn't much point letting it run for another 8 hours. A fail is a fail.

    Having two identical sticks is the best. Speed and compatibility is better with two identical sticks.

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi David,

      Thank you so much for your answer!
      Well I'm certainly glad it isn't the mobo. I'll just see if I can replace the stick. Thanks for your advice.


      Just one more doubt, is it normal to see different cache speeds?

      I can't edit my post and I see my attachments are low quality now, so here they are in hq:
      Tries 1, 2 and 3
      Tries 4, 5 and 6
      Tries 7 and 8


      Regards

      Comment


      • #4
        The cache speed was more of less the same in all 7 of your photos.
        L1 81GB/s
        L2 43GB/s
        L3 26GB/s

        Small variations from one boot to the next are normal.

        However there was a big difference between using 1 stick and 2 sticks for memory speed.
        2 sticks gave you around 15GB/s
        But one stick was around 8.5GB/s

        Comment


        • #5
          David,

          Thank you so much once again for clearing my doubts.

          I understand the memory speed difference is due to the use of single/dual channel.

          You've been of great help.

          Have a nice day

          Comment

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