What is killing my RAM?

[Matteo2000]

Hi all,

I'm having what I think is quite an unusual problem.

Basically, every three to four weeks one stick of RAM in my pc dies (i.e. goes faulty), and the computer will refuse to post. The only way to get the computer running again is to remove the dead stick of RAM, and then the pc will run fine.

So I put a new stick in, and 4 weeks later, boom, it blows again!

I'm running 1066Mhz RAM at 1066Mhz, which should be fine, and I've tried running it at its recommended voltage of 2.2V and 1.8V, but neither stops the RAM from dying.

I've replaced my motherboard twice, I was using a gigabyte GA-p35-ds3r before (tried version 1.0 and version 2.0 with different bioses but both were the same). Now I'm using an ASUS Maximus Formula (as you can see from my specs below), but the problem keeps happening!

So, my theory is, some component that hasn't changed is somehow damaging the RAM... The only components I can think of which could be causing damage are:

- Graphics Card (8800 GTX)
- Sound Card (X-fI)
- PSU (Corsair 620W)
- RAM (Crucial Ballistix)

It seems to me that it's always the new stick of RAM that dies, so my personal theory is maybe the other stick (that's never been changed) is somehow damaging the other stick? Is this even possible?

I'd really appreciate some opinions and advice about this.

Matteo


Asus Maximus Formula X38
Q6600
2 x 1 Gb Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 (BL12864AA1065)
XFX Geforce 8800 GTX
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
Corsair HW 620W Power Supply
2 x Seagate Barracuda ES 500 Gb
Vista Home Premium

[Kheldar]

hmm strange one - whats the airflow like around the ram sims - are they overheating?

[Matteo2000]

I had a theory it might be overheating, so I replaced my case with an antec 900, and now i've got some serious airflow. Which hasn't stopped the RAM blowing!

[HemiRick]

single sided Ballastix have been less than reliable the problem is well known all over the web....