Memory Problems on MSI Notebook

Hello all,

I'm currently having some issues with my MSI GT627 notebook. I've been getting fairly frequent BSOD crashes. (Up to 2-4 times a day.) I ran the windows memory diagnostic tool and it says I have a hardware problem. I contacted MSI, but my system is out of warranty, so I'd rather diagnose and fix the problem myself. I'm not extremely knowledgeable re: computers, but I think I could replace RAM if that's the issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

System info output from Speccy is attached if that will help.

 

It sounds like you've got a stick of RAM that went bad. MemTest time!

 

Upload the memory dumps instead - c:\windows\minidump

Zip them up and attach them here.

 

Folder is empty.

 

Burning the image now.. Is there a log file it will produce?

 

You should just take 1 stick out or get some new ram for cheap to diagnose the problem.

Are you overclocking at all with the MSI boost? I think it is overclocking you ram too which leads to instability.

 

I have been using the turbo button. That might explain some of the issues.

I ran Memtest. It was taking a while, so I left it running while I made a day trip. I came back and it still wasn't finished after 36+ hours and 59000+ errors. Had to stop the test because I needed my computer...

Questions:
How do I find out which stick of RAM is giving me the issue?
How do I find out which RAM I need to buy to replace it? (Compatibility/etc)
Could this problem be something other than the sticks of RAM themselves? (So that replacing RAM will not fix it?)

Thanks in advance!

 

Pull out 1 stick of RAM and note which one and rerun MemTest. If you error out swap that back in and the other out and keep in the same DIMM. If that still errors out swap the module. If it still errors you possibly might have both sticks of RAM going bad and you will need to buy a known good stick of RAM. If that still errors out you likely might have a bad motherboard/IMC as from the specs I'm gathering on the GT627 it is Core 2 based so the IMC is on the motherboard not CPU (Core i based notebooks have IMC on the CPU).

 

My GT627 came with 800mhz ddr2 sodimm ram. Yours should be the same, but you have to check to be sure. Run CPUz, it will tell you what ram you have.

Don't think so.

 

Thanks for the quick response. I will try that out and post the results. As I mentioned before, the memory test wasn't finished in over 36 hours. Is this simply due to all the errors? How long should it take if the memory is all good?

 

Running the test with only 2gb ram should be faster, probably around 1hr-3hrs max.
That's just my guess, I'll run memtest right now with 4gb ram and see how long it takes me.

 

Moral is correct, but you might as well rule out all the issues with your notebook now. Use known good memory to rule out your motherboard. And MemTest shouldn't take that long all depends on how much memory you are testing with.

 

I figured out which stick was having errors.

CPU-Z:

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format SO-DIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Transcend Information (7F4F000000000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number JM800QSU-2G
Serial number 0007EB30
Manufacturing date Week 02/Year 09
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no


Any reason not to buy the same stick of ram as opposed to a better one? Will the performance be noticeable?

 

Since you overclock with the turbo button, you might want to get good ram.

BTW I ran 2 passes and it took 2 hours with 4gb of ram.

 

What would good ram be?

Thanks for your patience.

 

Crucial, Corsair, GSkill

I would replace both sticks.

 

Right. I'm not sure which memory I need though. I currently know that I have DDR2 but that's about it. I don't know anything about RAM.

 

Based off Crucial you have PM45 chipset so the max RAM is 4 GB DDR2 PC2 5300 or PC2 6400.

 

Would two of these be compatible/a good choice?

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Laptop Memory Model F2-6400CL5S-2GBSK

 

Yes. If you install 2 different memory modules make sure you run MemTest or Prime95 or Intel burn test to test it out. Good luck

 

Thanks for everyone's help. You guys have been a great resource. Hopefully, I won't need to post again about this issue.