Problems since getting new RAM

[korimus]

Hello all,

Well, I am having an interesting problem. I recently upgraded from 2GB of corsair xms memory to 4GB of Patriot Extreme Performance RAM. First off, I messed up by not changing the voltage to the proper level. At first I was running it at 1.9v (the manufacturer recommends 2.1-2.2). So, obviously I start getting weird problems, lots of crashing. I finally figure out the voltage is wrong and change it to 2.2v. Now, I use memtest86 and do 10 passes and no problems found. I completely wipe and re-install Win XP, followed by Vista 64-bit (on a different partition). So I have dual boot, XP on one HDD, Vista on another. Get Xp all updated and everything installed and it runs great. Only minor issue is in Age of Conan I get some graphical tearing (which could be a video driver thing, though I get no tearing in any other game). However, now i switch to vista. Vista (SP1 installed)keeps getting failures on updates, and major graphical issues when trying to play games. Also, it sometimes doesn't load into Vista (it will freeze). I did the sfc /scannow and find nothing corrupt in the vista files. When I do windows updates, the Superfetch service will stop running, which is what I think causes the failure. The only other errors in the event log is Volume Shadow Copy, which keeps getting errors and restarting.

So, before i changed RAM, no problems. Now I have new RAM (which to the best of my ability seems fine physically), yet Vista is unhappy. Any thoughts?

My Specs:
MSI 975x Platinum Power-Up Edition
Intel Core 2 Duo p6600 (2.4ghz)
4GB Patriot Extreme Performance DDR2 RAM
BFG GTX 260 896MB RAM
Creative Audigy 2 ZS Gamer
WD Black Edition 1TB HDD x1
Raptor 10k rpm 36GB x1
WD 300GB x1
Vista 64 Ultimate and Windows XP Pro

[Patriot_Ben]

Have you tried flashing to the latest BIOS and updating all possible patches and updates for Vista 64?

Although the memory appears stable, I would try running something like Prime 95 or Orthos in your XP Partition so you can rule that out.

[korimus]

I have the latest bios for my mobo, but the timings are set on auto. I just read in the manual for my RAM that the timings should be at 4-4-4-12 at 2.1v~2.2v.

Right now it is at 2.2v and the timings are 4-4-2-10. So maybe that is the problem?

[Patriot_Ben]

I have the latest bios for my mobo, but the timings are set on auto. I just read in the manual for my RAM that the timings should be at 4-4-4-12 at 2.1v~2.2v.

Right now it is at 2.2v and the timings are 4-4-2-10. So maybe that is the problem?

Yes, go ahead and manually set it to see if it's is stable. 4-4-2-10 is a real wacky combination. I would also double check CPU-Z to make sure the timings stick.

[korimus]

lol yeah i know. Why the heck is my mobo setting it to those timings? weird. anyways, when i get home I will try the recommended timings nad run CPU-Z. and prime 95

Thanks again!