Booting problems with GA-EX38-DS5 Mobo, Bios F4

[Dark Mantis]

From what you have said it sounds like the sticks are both dead now. Why that has happened is not clear at the moment but I think you need to RMA them both.

[KJILM123]

That my friend I am going to do Monday or Tuesday.  So I hope they won't have any fuss about it, because they came with limited lifetime warranty. So I am going to try and discuss that with them and how it is possible why these all of sudden don't work. While they still work when you put all 4 in there, besides rebooting a few times which causes the pixel shift thing problem.

But this time I am going to ask the exact match with the other sticks specification serial and part numbers.

So I will soon give a update, please bear with me,


KJ

[Lsdmeasap]

The old 2.2V rated Crucial sets are known for dying easily, so I would remove those and send them in for RMA as that sounds like the set that's probably faulty.   You shouldn't mix them anyway since the new ones need 2.0V and can't run at 2.2V safely.

[KJILM123]

Hi LSD,

Yeah got that figured out now, am in the process RMAing them. I will talk to Crucial on Monday. I will update when all is sorted.


KJ

[KJILM123]

For everyone to read regarding the problem with the Crucial Ballistix Memory,


I just spoke to the Crucial Chat room online and put my issue forward which was.

What I have:

Ballistix 2 x 1 GB 240-Pin Unbuffered DIMM 128X64 DDR2 PC2-8500 EPP, 5-5-5-15, 1066 Mhz 2.2 Volts
Part No BL2KIT12864AA1065.8FE5 Serial No. CL1118Z.ZN 97433


What I should have had:


Ballistix 2 x 1 GB 240-Pin Unbuffered DIMM 128X64 DDR2 PC2-8500 EPP, 5-5-5-15, 1066 Mhz 2.0 Volts
Part No BL2KIT12864AA106A Serial No. CL1118Z.ZN 97433


Apparently it is so that they have now suggested that I am waiting for their Email of instructions how to RMA the RAM sticks that do not work. They have not really admitted that something was wrong with the other set, but DO agree about that the sets of RAM should be Identical in order to work properly in a Mobo. Which I agree wholeheartedly.

I think at the time I did not pay attention to the difference and when I just put them in they used to work together. Perhaps overtime something has changed now and it just "came to the conclusion" hang on, You and I (the different RAM sticks) we actually are incompatible. Hmmm interesting. It seems to be that things sometimes are quite finicky when it comes to let things work together. I also find that it should not be possible in the first place to have such a mix and match situation. However I know many people have in their computers Mix and Match and it seems to work. Still I would suggest and believe, keep it all the same for Pete's sake. Less problems likely then the normal "dying" of the RAM sticks. Much easier to distinguish, I guess. However I do agree that you should test your RAM sticks before sending them off to the Manufacturer if you can. Because many times nothing seems to be wrong with them except that people do not seat them properly or just do not know what is compatible with the Mobo's. I have also noticed that spending lots of money on the Mobo, CPU, PSU, etc etc. And then skimp on Memory costs (I know memory can be expensive)and get cheap memory instead of saving up properly for a good bundle that works nicely together. I am not saying you should go out of your budget what you have decided, but if you want to go for the Big Guns, please take out a substantial sum and buy all that is nicely working together what the manufacturer is recommending. These guys are not sitting there just for the sake of selling things to ya, but they just have tested it FOR YOU before hand so you can be safe if you go with their choices recommended.

Hurray, I think we are gettin' there, gettin' there.


KJ

[Dark Mantis]

Well that sounds about right and is what we were suggesting. Hopefully it will all be resolved soon then.

[KJILM123]

@ DM,

Well the Email is in and I followed all the instructions on it for RMA and the number given by them. So I have written a nice letter with what is in the package, included it into the big envelope with the box of the Ballistix RAM (It's good to keep some boxes on the shelf or shed, in case things happening like this so you can send them back in the original package. It shows also you are following the instructions of the Manufacturer up to a Tee because they appreciate that you are not a silly Slarty Bartfast with your precious bought stuff and being careless. And try to pack it in nicely as they sold it to ya. ) I am sure that this will also speed up the exchange of the goods that are taken in and send back to you. Just make sure print their address and RMA number is clearly on the front of the envelope and box and your return address of yourself on the back and send it off as registered with the post, so you have proof that you send it to them.  

Oh by the way DM, does your ATI 6970 get also very hot when you play a heavy game like Crysis 2 with settings out to the MAX ? Mine goes all the way up 93-97 degrees, but cools down quickly after you stop the game. Not that I have problems at the moment. Playing for a while heavy games. I checked it in the ATI Catalyst Center. Running it while I play the games. But CPUID HW monitor tells this as well. Ambient Temp around 24 degrees or lower. Or do you have yours watercooled ? I do not at the moment. But I always run the fan around 85 % speed afterwards when I stop playing games for a 5-10 minutes until it cools back to 40 degrees or so.

KJ

[Dark Mantis]

No I have my whole system watercooled and quite heavilly. Besides I don't have time to play Crysis...yet.

I have a whole load of games that I intend to get to grips with eventually!

[KJILM123]

@ DM,

Crysis, Crysis 2 is gorgeous on the 6970, please for your own sake get hold on it quick and immerse yourself in gorgeous graphics and game play. Your system is screaming out for it.


KJ

[Dark Mantis]

Oh I  have a copy. I get them all as they are released. It is just finding the time to play them is the problem.

[KJILM123]

Ok here is the deal !!!!

After RMAed my 2 x 1 GB sticks of Crucial RAM for the right ones as the others were. Stuffed them in the Mobo. Guess what ? Itta works !!!!! Hurrah ! No more funny booting problems, no more pixels shifted on the screen. Sticks came in this morning and I am writing this Email now after 15 hours of consisted working of particular computer Mobo. Computer is as it was before.

So here is the summary of the problem.

1. During boot, pixels were funny shifted over the screen, result no boot.
2. Removed one by one Hardware and ended up with the two Crucial Ram sticks which were under suspicion.
3. RMAed to Crucial via Website. Took the RAM sticks packaged them in and send them back to Crucial.
4. Waited a few days.
5. Contacted Crucial via Chat Program online on their website. Gave them my order number #1234567890, was told return RAM sticks were under way to my home 1st class.
6. Post man dropped them in the mail box this morning 19/05/2011.
7. Installed them carefully and started PC and it was working again.
8. Happy Smile   Gigglebytes !

Hopefully this gives some insight in how to get your Puter running again when strange phenomenon is happening.


Cheers !!!!

KJ

P.S. Thanks DM, LSD and others for being patient.

[Dark Mantis]

You are very welcome and I am very happy to hear that our diagnosis of the problem was correct and everything is working again now.

[KJILM123]

Y'all diagnoses ?   You mean mine...... !!!! Mine, Mineeee, alll mine !!! ;-)