Memory issues (was 7.0-BETA1 freeze using portmaster)

[Robert Marella]

> Robert Marella wrote:
> 
> > It is looking like a hardware problem. I update portmaster to 1.24
> > and it didn't help. When I tried with the -B option it froze in a
> > different place. I then csup the latest source rm'd /usr/obj and
> > attempted a buildworld.
> > 
> > Lo and behold it froze up. It has been very hot the last few days
> > here in Kona but all the fans seem to pulling good air. I am now
> > running memtest and will let you know what I find.
> 

This is for the archives and to see if any hardware guru out there has
some helpful knowledge.

This computer has a ASUS P4P800 mobo with 2Gig of ram (4x500M). Memtest
failed within minutes. I then ran each memory module one at a time and
each ran without failures no matter which socket it was in.

Further tests showed that memory tests failed only when I had 2 or 4
modules configured as dual channel *. The system is now running flawless
with 3 modules (1.5G) installed which forces single channel operation.
Again, the 3 modules can be in any sockets.

Since the computer is about 4 years old I am not sure if I want to
invest any additional $$ into it but I would suspect either the mother
board or CPU as the culprit.

I will be willing to test any ideas anyone has but I guess we can close
this out as another strange effect of memory.

Robert

* From the User Guide:

Mode          DIMM_A1   DIMM_A2   DIMM_B1   DIMM_B2
Dual-channel     X                   X
                           X                   X
                 X         X         X         X