Bad DIMM Slot?

[AuroEdge]

I have an older motherboard with two slots for DIMMS. In slot 0, I can run memtest all day on a 64MB stick of RAM I've got. I've got two 512MB modules that fail miserably at test 8 in slot 0. Testing in either slot 1 or both slots all modules test out fine in slot 1. I've already checked my capacitors and have swapped CPUs. The suspect slot appears undamaged to the naked eye. What gives?

Motherboard supports up to 1GB, 2x512MB, at PC66/100/133. The 3 modules I currently have are all PC100. The 512MB modules are 64Mx64 configuration.

[redwudz]

I've had the same problem before. I don't know if it was the memory controller or the load resistors for the DIMM socket. The socket itself was undamaged as far as I could see. The only cure was to buy larger capacity modules to get the amount of RAM I needed.

For your situation with a older MB, a replacement MB may be the only solution.

[freebird73717]

I've seen it happen before too. Like wudz said. Either buy larger capacity ram or replace board.

[AuroEdge]

I am not against getting a new motherboard. It's a mini-atx form factor case, so I could just throw in a different motherboard?

On a side note would this situation likely be caused by a power fault or would it be something wrong from the factory?

EDIT: Went ahead and found the exact motherboard on sale for $5.

[redwudz]

That sounds like a good solution if you don't need to upgrade the PC or spend the extra money.

Most likely the DIMM socket dying was just a motherboard flaw. A power supply problem would probably have affected other parts of the PC. If you look to the sides of the DIMM slot, there are very small surface mount load resistors in a row. If any one of them gets a scratch, they can fail. I slipped with a screwdriver and scratched one once and killed a DIMM slot that way. Or the memory controller might have a problem. Considering the amount of parts and circuitry on a motherboard, it's surprising there aren't more MB failures.

It's also remotely possible that something else has failed and causing this, but the RAM is usually controlled by the NB chip and it's unlikely that the CPU would have anything to do with that sort of problem. For $5, I would certainly just replace the MB and keep your fingers crossed.