BSOD following RAM upgrade (confirmed hardware is sound, possible issues remain)
BSOD following RAM upgrade (confirmed hardware is sound, possible issues remain)
About a month back I purchased a fresh 16 GB RAM module from G.SKILL (F4-3600C16-8GTZNC) to reach a total of 32 GB. Following that, I began experiencing BSODs roughly every other day. I conducted numerous tests and checked the Windows diagnostics, which kept reporting issues until I updated my BIOS—after which errors ceased. Still, MemTest86 continued flagging problems, even when testing only the new RAM or the old one in identical slots with XMP enabled. The old RAM remained error-free, while the new one triggered failures. Because the RAM slots were unchanged between tests, I suspected a faulty component. After returning the defective unit to G.SKILL and receiving a replacement, I resumed normal operation, assuming the problem was resolved. Recently, though, another BSOD appeared with the 'MEMORY_MANAGEMENT' error code. Further testing confirmed the issue persisted. At this stage, I’m unsure what’s causing it—the identical models and specs don’t help clarify the problem.
I verified the same positions, swapping the RAM during each run. I understand the slots remain functional since they performed adequately with the previous RAM.
Fennex’s idea has some merit. Another possibility is those two memory kits aren’t truly identical despite the claim. Gskill keeps its details tightly guarded, often having suppliers affix their logos to components instead of using their own, which obscures what’s inside the product.
even though they varied, this still led to issues. i've combined ram types before without problems, but i've only experimented with ddr3 so far.
Even with variations, the issue wouldn't account for the failure in the new RAM while the old one still worked.
Perform tests with one stick of the latest RAM individually, identify the correct motherboard slot for installation