Two of four memory slots will not function (Dell Inspiron 580)

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pteradox

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Feb 3, 2013
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I have a Dell Inspiron 580 that mostly consists of all of the default parts except one extra stick of RAM (Kingston 2GB), a different PSU and a different GPU. I'm not quite sure what the brandname of the motherboard is, it was just the factory default.

Today I decided to polish off some of the system's parts since I hadn't in a while and things got to running kind of hot. I replaced the thermal paste on the CPU and took apart, dusted off, and replaced the paste on the GPU (I don't think either of these are the problem though). Now, my computer will not boot if I have a stick of RAM in one of the two pairs of memory slots (1 and 3). Instead, I get a four-beep code immediately after it powers on. I'm fairly certain the issue lies with the motherboard because any two of the four memory sticks will work fine if put in slots 2/4 but if a single stick is put in 1 or 3, it will not boot.

This is quite a nuisance because it's cut my memory capacity in half meaning I'll either have to buy a new motherboard or larger capacity RAM sticks to fill the two working slots. Any ideas why this might be happening and solutions if possible?
 
Solution
ronintexas
I would be almost 100% sure your motherboard is toast. You can try updating the BIOS....but I doubt it would fix the issue. It can't hurt to try....
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ronintexas

ronintexas

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Memory:
DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800

Memory Type: DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR3 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 8GB
Slots: 4

Although the memory can be installed one module at a time, the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules.

Also - are all the memory sticks the same brand/model? If you are mixing that could be the issue.

Check to see if there are any bent pins in the memory channels 1/3. This could be the cause of the error as well.

 
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pteradox

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Although the memory can be installed one module at a time, the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules.

Also - are all the memory sticks the same brand/model? If you are mixing that could be the issue.
Click to expand...

I have been mixing memory. Three are the default sticks (3x2GB) that came with the system - one is a Kingston 2GB I bought myself. However, this hasn't been an issue until today (several months later) when I actually messed around inside the case, so it would be quite the coincidence if it changed now. Also, currently I am testing it with two identical memory sticks which will work when in 2,4 but not in 1,3.

Check to see if there are any bent pins in the memory channels 1/3. This could be the cause of the error as well.
Click to expand...

Just peering into the slots with a flashlight doesn't seem to show anything interesting.
 
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pteradox

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As far as I can tell there don't seen to be any noticeable hardware damage, nor do I remember severely scraping the board or somehow damaging those slots. Could this potentially be fixed by some sort of firmware/BIOS update? Or would the risk therein be worth the benefit?
 
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ronintexas

ronintexas

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Your system should work with only one slot in use, try using one stick in slot 1, then move it to 2, then 3, then 4. Just make sure that it is both slots 1 & 3.

Once you have verified specific slots, test all 4 memory sticks the same way, just to verify that the RAM is good.

It's a lot of work, but will verify what is going on. It may be a coincidence...or there could be something that was damaged during your work.
 
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pteradox

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Here's the results for each of the four memory sticks (individually placed). I don't know the brand/model of the factory default 3x2GB sticks. The fourth (the one I bought) is a 2GB Kingston. The slots are paired off 2,4 and 1,3 where 1,3 is closer to the CPU and graphics card PCI-e slot where I was working.

Kingston 2GB:
Slot 2: Works
Slot 4: Works
Slot 1: 4 beeps, no boot
Slot 3: 4 beeps, no boot

Factory #1 2GB:
Slot 2: Works
Slot 4: Works
Slot 1: 4 beeps, no boot
Slot 3: 4 beeps, no boot

Factory #2 2GB:
Slot 2: Works
Slot 4: Works
Slot 1: 4 beeps, no boot
Slot 3: 4 beeps, no boot

Factory #3 2GB:
Slot 2: Works
Slot 4: Works
Slot 1: 4 beeps, no boot
Slot 3: 4 beeps, no boot


So it seems reasonable to conclude that this is not a case of bad RAM.
 
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pteradox

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Peachy. Well, I've been looking for an excuse to dump this old 1156 socket for an 1155+i5 CPU. Although, I wouldn't call it "toast" since it still functions with two slots, I'll just be limited to 4GB or have to buy some different sticks. Since it's still usable I hesitate to risk blowing the BIOS. I will try clearing the CMOS, I've heard that can help with some hardware compatibility issues.
 
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pteradox

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Alright, well a quick manual reset of the CMOS led to nothing, I reseated the CPU and might have noticed a tiny bent pin but those are so small it could very well have just been an odd shadow - nor does it matter, clearly the motherboard is the issue either way. I'll probably toss some money for a new mobo and CPU to go with it, I could do with an upgrade anyways.

Thanks for your help though.
 
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agentstar

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Jun 28, 2014
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YA i tries 1 and 3 but when screen shows f2 and f12 for boot ans setup option the computer hangs at that screen...
not able to workkk..
help me plz
 
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agentstar

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HOW TO UPDATE BIOS FOR DELL INSPIRON 580S??
 
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agentstar

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SOMEBODY PLZ HELPPP
what should be ram combination,ram type,ram memory???
and brand of rram which supports inspiron580s...

i bought kingstone but it didnt work.. showed blue screen with equal or less than type of error...(4gb ddr3)
but when i put simmtronics ram(2gb ddr3) alone it worked
CONFUSED....:(
 
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nolanpinto

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Looks like you and I are sailing in the same boat. Apparently the board does not support sticks of more than 2GB. So you will not be able to add more than 8GB of memory on your PC. I had bought a 2x4GB G.Skill Aegis and my PC would not go past the BIOS screen and stay stuck on that screen!
 
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robolas555

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Same here with the Inspiron 580s. I have 2 x 4 gb (8 gb) installed and working great. I've seen some people suggesting that the mobo maxes out at 8 gb and others saying that has not been their experience... that they've got 16 gb working. So I think it may be possible. The sticks that I have working both say P382H PC3 - U and when I attempted to add 2 x 4 gb G.Skill sticks I had no progress passed the BIOS screen... about 1/4 of the way through the Dell progress bar.

I removed all and just proceeded with the G.Skill sticks (2 x 4 gb) alone and that didn't work at all... nothing just some beeps and black screen I think. I'm returning the G.Skills to NewEgg and now I'm looking for some ram that may work. Any tips are welcome! I'm thinking I may try purchasing 4 x 4 gb DDR3 and start from scratch? But maybe it would be worth trying to match some with the P382H 4gbs that I have... possibly these:

http://http://www.datamemorysystems.com/parts/dell/P382H/
 
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erknee1

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What was the solution? I know this thread is long dead










 
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