Nvidia Corp. and EVGA have issued a statement under which the firms claim that using high-speed memory modules, which were released to support Nvidia nForce 680i SLI core-logic’s high-speed DDR2 memory controller, with their regular voltage settings can cause memory chips malfunction.

“Nvidia has investigated end user reports of high performance DIMM failures on the Nvidia nForce 680i SLI-based platforms. […] We believe that the observed failure is a breakdown of the silicon in the DRAM caused by the prolonged application of 2.4V on the voltage rails of the DIMMs,” Nvidia said in a statement published at EVGA’s web-site.

The company noted that failure is caused not by the nForce 680i SLI core-logic, but by tremendously increased voltage for memory modules, which cause DRAMs malfunction at any mainboard running any chipset that can handle the clock-speeds of the high-speed DIMMs.

Currently Nvidia nForce 680i SLI chipset is the only core-logic on the market that officially supports 1200MHz clock-speed for DDR2. There are not a lot of memory modules that can operate at over 1100MHz, however, one of such products is Corsair Memory’s 2GB TWIN2X2048 - 10000 C5DF kit that can operate at 1250MHz with 2.4V voltage setting. The memory module kit has received the so-called “SLI certificate” from Nvidia, which should, according to the company, “ensures compatibility and system stability”.

It remains to be seen whether makers of memory modules remove products that are supposed to handle 2.4V voltage settings and will be more careful when boosting voltage for memory chips in the future.

Nvidia recommends end-users to contact their memory manufacturer or system manufacturer “for additional information and warranty information”.