M6600 two faulty RAM modules at once?

Hi everyone

My Dell Precision M6600 started acting up. The Dell diagnostics indicated memory problems. I have 2 x 4gb modules. I tried each in both slots. It errored on both modules (tried individually) and both slots.

The error code is 2000-0122.

I find it hard to believe both modules would fail at once.

I don't have a third module to test

Is there any chance this is a motherboard or CPU (memory controller?) at fault? Or could both sticks indeed be faulty?

 

At this point, for all we know, it could be either. It is possible, rare, but possible that you have two faulty SODIMMs. Have you tried calling Dell?

 

Not yet. For all the talk of 24x7 prosupport, I have found in the UK you can only speak to the right people in business hours, and it's much easier to be able to say and justify what one needs at the outset.

As a further complication, I replaced the Dell stock RAM with some Corsair performance memory. I can't find my original Dell dimm's (probably mis-placed in my recent house move). Does anyone know how Dell will react to that?

 

Dell will tell you that they will not replace the RAM (kinda obvious!) if that is faulty. If the mobo is faulty, they will fix it though.

 

My M6600 totally failed twice so that it didn't even start. Once while it was just basically idling on the desk and the other time when I just tried to start it normally on the desk. The ultimate reasons are unknown but both times the mobo was replaced twice plus some additional components before it started to work again. So for all that I know it seems that there was some fundamental problem that didn't just break one component but caused additional failures at the same time. I'm just guessing that some component caused some power spike or something that could have caused multiple problems. On the latter event at least the system was on battery power so at least it wasn't any external electrical thing.

So I certainly wouldn't be surprised if you have experienced multiple simultaneous failures and having had 5 different mobos inside the same machine that would be my first suspect. And be warned that if Dell will replace some failed parts, they will most likely use "refurbished" parts, which in my experience seems to mean untried spare parts from other failed machines or something like that, as half of the spare parts have been dead on the box already and hence have been replaced twice each time. And in my case even those that worked didn't work too long too well...