OCZ says RAM not defective but needs higher voltage

[DannyITR]

Here is my problem.

The computer I just built in my sig works fine with one stick of RAM in the blue slot. If I put
the other stick in the second blue slot it wont boot and I get a media
test failure message. If I use the second stick in the first slot alone
I get the same result.

I sent them my problem and here was their response.

Hi Danny,
your RAM is most likely not defective. It just requires more voltage
than the DDR2 default (1.8V), it needs 2.1V. The problem is that your
board doesn't allow any voltage increases. You'll need to either get RAM
that works with 1.8V or a mainboard that allows voltage adjustments.

Sorry.

I've never heard of that before. Is this guy full of it? I mean if one stick works and the other one doesn't wouldn't that suggest defective RAM?

[newbuilder14]

I think you just have one defective stick. I agree, if one stick works and it is a matched pair, why wouldn't the other?

[MaxRat]

well have you checked the ram settings...?

OCZ maybe right...what are the default voltages the sticks are rated for...

If they *are* rated at 2.1v and you *are* running them at 1.8v than thats the problem as described....

some sticks may run at lower voltage with no problem but others wont...even in dual channel kits some sticks differ with voltage

I have noticed this in several kits of ddr ram where both sticks will run as advertised at 2.5v but one stick would run with much less volts while the other wouldnt...;)

[glc]

Incompatible. OCZ is telling you the truth.

DDR2-800 Memory Support for Intel® Desktop Boards Based on Intel® 965 Express Chipsets

Only DDR2-800 memory supporting JEDEC approved 1.8V operation with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 is supported on Intel® Desktop Boards based on Intel® 965 Express Chipsets¹. Any other timings or voltages above 1.8V are not supported and may result in memory initialization errors (indicated by three beeps when the system is powered on) or a no POST/no boot situation (indicated by a black screen when the system is powered on).

Several examples of currently available channel memory (marketed as DDR2-800 with 5-5-5 timings) have been evaluated and found to have incorrectly programmed Serial Presence Detect (SPD) devices. Correctly programmed SPD device data is necessary for proper chipset operation. Memory with SPD device data that does not allow correct chipset/memory operation at DDR2-800 settings may be downgraded to run at DDR2-667 or lower. In the worst case the system will neither POST nor boot.

Please check with your vendor to ensure the memory you are installing runs at 1.8V and has correctly programmed SPD device data. Alternatively, Intel recommends using memory from the tested memory lists:

Memory tested with the Intel® 965 Express Chipset family but not specifically using Intel® Desktop Boards as the test platforms

Memory tested by a third-party test house using Intel® Desktop Boards as the test platforms

http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/wh/wh_mem.htm