my RDRAM died

[gildan2020]

i've four pieces of them and 2 are confirmed dead (can't test the remainder bcos their partner is dead)

how could this happened? i thought ram are supposed to last very long time.

this might be a stupid question but...is it theorhetically possible for anyone to inject data into the RAM so corrupted it destroys the RAM sticks?


gildan2020

[lynx]

Are you sure it is the ram which is faulty and not the mobo you are testing them on? Since the mobo controls the ram then mobo errors can show up as ram errors. Test them again on a different mobo if possible.

How could it happen?
This sort of thing can be caused by voltage spikes passing through the PSU, although it is unusual that nothing else is damaged. In fact it is more usual for other parts to be damaged first.
The other possibility is STATIC discharge. Have you been handling the memory sticks, or had your hands near them? Again, it would be unusual for more than one stick to go bad at the same time.
Finally, your mobo (again) could be faulty and is supplying too high voltage.

Can data corrupt them?
No.

[Virtualbody1234]

Was the memory ever overclocked?

[Snee]

Was the data from the wrong side of town?




Like lynx says, static or a voltage spike is the most likely suspect.
If the partner is dead for two of them, can you get your hands on a dummy stick or something?

[gildan2020]

my mobo is fine bcos when i replaced the RAMs my comp ran fine again.
how can i prevent power spikes and static discharge from damaging my RAMs?


gildan2020

[Snee]

RE:static: At the very least you should touch a radiator or something else that's grounded before you handle anything in your computer.

Some people stand on antistat carpeting and have a wire around their wrist that's connected to a radiator or something.
That will prevent you from messing stuff up yourself, I guess.

Making sure that there's not a lot of dust in your case will also help.


I've got a breaker between my computer and the outlet to protect me from spikes, it's not perfect, but it doesn't hurt.

[gildan2020]

thx for the advice


gildan2020