Ok now I know you told me to go ahead and install Xp, than install the latest Via 4-1 drivers, but I'm extremely paranoid when it comes to computers so I did some more tests on my ram. Proper system stability is a must for me. It's something I don't take lightly. By the way sorry for writing back a few days later... You'll understand why I took so long to get back to you as you continue reading.
Here's a recap [as you know - just refreshing your mind]
. After building my pc out of new and used parts I experienced frequent reboots, and freezes. Sometimes this would occur every everyday, every few days, or once a week. The problem would arise while using the system, and on rare occasion at boot during the Windows XP logo. Every component in my system is new with the exception for my motherboard, cpu, video card, and hard drive. I assumed it was a ram issue and did testing with Memtest86+ on the two new Patriot brand 512mb Pc133 Sdram modules in my system. Their position was slot 1, and 2 on the motherboard. Testing them in that position always generated a lengthy list of errors. Which is why I started this thread... Since that points to the obvious sign of my ram causing the reboots, and freezes.
You and I than tested/tried/checked/researched many things. & After being sure that the bios had the correct ram timings/settings, you suggested we get to work in solving this matter by trying to swap the ram around on the motherboard slots. The following chart shows our tests results by using the two new Patriot brand 512mb Pc133 Sdram modules, and two old generic brand Sdram modules to draw a comparison with:
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Test Results:[Note: Each test item below is the result of a 24 hour Memtest86+ test on the module(s)]
- Slot 1 & 2 position w/both new ram modules "Total of 1024MB" = Massive List Of Errors (24 Hour Test Runs = 8-10)
(Swapping ram in the opposite position generates the same results. A 24 hour test would pass on rare occasion, though yield failures soon thereafter, or upon a new test run)
- Slot 1 position w/one new ram module "Total of 512MB" = No Errors (24 Hour Test Runs = 5-8)
(Testing with the other stick of new 512MB in the same position generates the same results)
- Slot 2 position w/one new ram module "Total of 512MB" = No Errors (24 Hour Test Runs = 3-4)
(Testing with the other stick of new 512MB in the same position generates the same results)
- Slot 1 & 2 position w/both
old ram modules "Total of 192MB" = No Errors (24 Hour Test Runs = 4-6)
(Swapping ram in the opposite position generates the same results)
- Slot 1 & 3 position w/both new ram modules "Total of 1024MB" = No Errors (24 Hour Test Runs = 1-2)
(Surprisingly no errors were reported in this position although this is just the result of a couple tests)
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Ok so I was just surprised/curious as to why the new ram passed in slot 1, & 3 position. I thought this could have been the cause of me optimizing my bios, and making sure SPD [aka AUTO] was set for ram timings. So I reran an old slot test sure to give errors, in order to be confident that SPD wasn't something I just missed by accident when the new ram was in slot 1, & slot 2 position at the beginning of my problems. I made sure SPD was set and sure enough the tests
FAILED with errors
TWICE in a row as you can see below:
TEST ONE - Slot 1 & 2 position w/both new ram modules "Total of 1024MB"(100% positive SPD bios setting selected)
TEST TWO - Slot 1 & 2 position w/both new ram modules "Total of 1024MB"(100% positive SPD bios setting selected & ram swapped in opposite slots)
Now I was completely sure that this wasn't the fact that I missed the SPD setting in my bios. These two new tests above were also done with less hardware connected to the power supply [eg: hdd, front & back 120mm fans]. So I said to myself what else is left for me to really test? How can I really be sure that placing the new ram in slot 1, and 3 position will always be fine? Heck it they only passed Memtest86+ in that position a couple of times. I figured it was all too good to be true.
SO I RAN THE MOTHER OF ALL TESTS!!!!I put the new ram in slot 1, and 3 position again. Made sure SPD was set in the bios, and ran those suckers for
70 HOURS STRAIGHT!!!!!! Indeed the longest test I've ever ran on ram. This was the result:
70 HOUR TEST - Slot 1 & 3 position w/both new ram modules "Total of 1024MB"(100% positive SPD bios setting selected)
Wow well as you can see the test resulted in just one single error! I continuously checked the test run and that single error you see occured somewhere after 24 hours... I don't know what to make of this...
Questions:
1) Does this mean my system is now stable and I should go ahead and install XP, and the Via 4-1 drivers you asked me to?
2) What does a single error mean? I read on some other forum that a user ran a long test and he didn't get errors for a very long time. When he did he assumed it was just a random error that almost anyone would get after running ram for so long. Now he wasn't an expert but this was his comment.
3) Give me any opinions and insight into why only a single error would occur.
Thank You
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