Can you burn out RAM

steelbiker

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Hey Guys, ok...admittedly I am a tool...perhaps a noob is too kind. But I went checking in my box, and pull the ram stick out, to get the serial number. When I put it back in...I mistakenly put it back in backwards. I got a burn smell, then system died, when it finally did come up said no boot drive. Flipped the Sata6 cable. and then the system, came up. 4 GB in stead of 8GB ram. I went back and flipped the 2 sticks and still only 4 GB came up. SO I can only assume the motherboard is fine, since swapping stick positions would mean that specific slot for the ram chip is good. but the stick itself is toast. Would you all agree with my assertion?

its only 8GB win 7 64 bit. But I am going to be loading the system with music production software, and it will want RAM. SO....I'm considering 16 or 32 GB. for now 16 will be in the budget, but seriously who gives bang for buck, they all seem the same, if I'm running 16 gb 1600 (btw: p8p67M board, handles 1600), then does it really matter, since I don't OC anything.

Gkill, Corsair, Kingston, all make 16gb @ 1600. so...thoughts?

PS: Need to buy today.

Thanks for input.
 
Solution
Then keep the bad stick out of the system and go buy a new set. Ideally do not use the remaining good stick with the new. Some people prefer to have matched sticks of ram (such as a kit).

You did not say if the single good stick worked in every slot. That will test for a bad slot.

The PC should be faster again once you have 8GB back in it.

Traildriver

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Was the PC running when you pulled the stick?

Try one stick at a time, powering down and grounding yourself each time.. Try each single stick in each slot.

This will test which stick is bad, and with the good stick test each slot on the MB. You better hope the MB is ok.

 

steelbiker

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No...system was shut down when I pulled the stick out. And system was down when I put it back IN. Motherboard should be ok, since, i am up and running on the system, and aside from it running a little bit slower, it boots up fine, and runs fine. As I am currently updating this thread on it.
 

Traildriver

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Then keep the bad stick out of the system and go buy a new set. Ideally do not use the remaining good stick with the new. Some people prefer to have matched sticks of ram (such as a kit).

You did not say if the single good stick worked in every slot. That will test for a bad slot.

The PC should be faster again once you have 8GB back in it.

 
Solution

steelbiker

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Trail: Your right. Bad Memory Slot. Both 4GB ram sticks work FINE. in Slot 1, none work in slot 3 ( I think its dimm set 1, (color coded black slots 1 & 3 and dimm set 2 (Color coded blue / slots 2 & 4). SO I need a new motherboard then to correct the 1 slot burn out, or could i just move the 8GB to slots 2 & 4.
 

Traildriver

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Sounds like the default setup the MB wants is 1 and 3 (you can check manual) for maximum efficient operation. It will definitely limit the amount of Ram you can install. And will the software you want to run be affected by the "slowdown"?

You have a decision to make now...
 

steelbiker

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Well....My solution was, I replaced the motherboard myself. Swapped the I5-2600 chip with heat sink, into new board, connected everything added the 8GB Kingston Hyper RAM with GKILL(?) 8GB both sets at 1600 ...and its soaring away just fine. the new board P8z77-v lx has enough sata / usbs that i need. I don't OC anything, so there's no real point in my mind going for a more expensive board at this time. I'll probably do a chip upgrade in 3 years. When i do a full rebuild.

Thanks for your help ... muchly appreciate all. :)