Chronic memory problems with Alienware Aurora (DDR3) purchased from Dell in 2010

Interesting that it's actually damaging the DIMMs (you are sure it's not just bad slots).

What Intel processor is in it?

Hello Tesla,     Thanks for the comments.  And no, I am not sure about the DIMMs being bad (versus the slots).  Actually, that is why I posted.  It does seem strange that new RAM would go bad over and over again from 2011 to 2017.

I am using the A11 BIOS (the latest), so no help there.  Your suggestion about getting identical RAM is interesting.  Actually half of the RAM in the machine is replacement equipment from Crucial at this point.  Here is the current DIMM inventory as reported by MemTest86+:

    Slot 0: 4096 MB DDR3-1600 - Crucial BLT4G3D1608DT1TX0 *XMP*

    Slot 1: 4096 MB DDR3-1600 - Crucial BLT4G3D1608DT1TX0 *XMP*

    Slot 2: 4096 MB DDR3-1333 - Nanya NT4GC64B8HG0NF-CG

    Slot 3: 4096 MB DDR3-1333 - Samsung M378B5273CH0-CH9

    Slot 4: 4096 MB DDR3-1600 - Crucial BLT4G3D1608DT1TX0 *XMP*

    Slot 5: 4096 MB DDR3-1333 - Hynix HMT351U6AFR8C-H9

I realize this is a motley mixture, but it is the result of replacing bad DIMMs one at a time over several years.  Actually, there was never a purely matching set in this machine, even when it was new.  (It came with a mixture of Hynix and Samsung modules.)

Let me know if you see any problems in that list.  What's funny is that the machine operated reliably for about three months this winter (as long as I never turned it off).  Then I experienced a rash of problems this month.

Thanks,

Blake

P.S.  The CPU is an Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.67 GHz.

My guess is you started having "memory problems" as soon as either of the 2 banks (1,3,5 or 2,4,6) had anything but exactly matching DIMMs in them. I would run on 12gb (4gb x 3 = 12gb in Bank-1) before I started mixing DIMMs. At least machine will be stable.

Good post and details. However ...
 
With a Intel Core i7-920 CPU and 6 DIMM slots, sounds like you have an Aurora-R1 (from 2010) like mine. The first Aurora had an Intel-x58 chipset motherboard.
 
It has 2-Banks of Tri-channel Memory. You install memory DIMMs in perfectly matched sets of 3 (to create a single Memory Bank).
Install these 3 DIMMs in the proper slots (of lowest number Bank) and remove the rest.

In the manual, the slots are numbered 1-6.

Slot 1: 4096 MB DDR3-1600 - Crucial BLT4G3D1608DT1TX0 *XMP*

Slot 3: 4096 MB DDR3-1600 - Crucial BLT4G3D1608DT1TX0 *XMP*

Slot 5: 4096 MB DDR3-1600 - Crucial BLT4G3D1608DT1TX0 *XMP*

http://ftp.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_alienware_dsk/alienware-aurora_service%20manual_en-us.pdf

Well, I followed your advice but with a twist.  I put the Crucial 1600 MHz RAM in slots 1, 3 and 5.  But I left the 1330 MHz RAM from the other manufacturers in slots 2, 4, and 6.  So far I am seeing a big improvement.  The machine was crashing within 20 minutes before.  Now I'm running MemTest86+ for 72 hours & seeing only two (apparently recoverable) errors at or near the same address 0x002f13128cc (below).

I guess re-ordering can make a big difference.  Very mysterious.  Anyway, thanks for the tips.        -Blake

Yes, I use and am familiar with Memtest86+.
 
I usually run TWO FULL PASSES. If I see even ONE error, I know something is broken. There should never be any errors. Too bad you could not at least try what I suggested. Why is 12gb RAM not enough?