No display from 16GB (4x4GB), but 8GB (2x4GB) works fine

saganism

Reputable
Jun 23, 2015
2
0
4,510
Recently tried installing new RAM:
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct51264bf186dj
onto this Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138317

The motherboard should handle the RAM fine according to specs, but when all 4 sticks are installed (16GB) the display never receives a connection from the MB. I have tried all 4 sticks in various combinations to rule out bad memory; adding a 3rd stick will make the display stop working, but 2 sticks in either memory slot set will work as well as each individual stick in any slot.

Here is a screenshot of Speccy with 1 stick in:
http://i.imgur.com/yckWaUr.png

I have tried bumping the voltage to 1.375v and 1.4v with no fix. Could this be caused by compatibility, BIOS firmware, or something else?
 

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
These are all single sticks? If so that may be it. Always best to buy all the DRAM you want/need in a single package, that way you know they have all been tested to play together. Mixing DRAM is not a good idea even of the same exact model, no guarantees when mixing DRAM from different packages. I'd try with 2 sticks in slots 1-3 or 2-4 from CPU, then set the DRAM voltage to 1.5 (yes it's safe), and then try adding the other two sticks. If still no joy, Contact Crucial and see what they can do (if anything) about exchanging for a 4 stick set
 

saganism

Reputable
Jun 23, 2015
2
0
4,510
Thanks, these were purchased after using Crucial's compatibility test tool (by my friend whom I am doing this work for, new to hardware) and after not working Crucial tech wanted the CMOS battery checked. That didn't seem logical to me since it boots fine with 2 or 1 stick.

When you mention:
"I'd try with 2 sticks in slots 1-3 or 2-4 from CPU, then set the DRAM voltage to 1.5" what do you mean by "from the CPU"? As mentioned I have tried all combinations of 2 sticks in the 1-3 slots and 2-4 slots with all of them booting with display.
 

Dealer of Aces

Honorable
Jun 23, 2014
77
0
10,630
Is it possible that the motherboard is malfunctioning? If all sticks work in various combinations then ram is good. It's possible that the motherboard isn't providing sufficient power to the ram when more sticks are added.
 

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum

_________________

Am pointing out the number slot designators counting from the CPU - start with two sticks - you said two work, raise the DRAM voltage (this can help stabilize) then add the other two. It's never a good idea to mix DRAM from different packages there's no guarantee they will play together
 

zgrgurac

Prominent
Oct 15, 2017
3
0
510
System: Windows 10 Pro, AMD FX-8350, ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0, 4x4 GB Kingston DDR3 1866 Kingston Hyper Fury Black
Motherboard should support 32 GB DDR3 2100+(OC)/ 1866*(OC)/ 1800*(OC)/ 1600*(OC)/ 1333/ 1066/ 800.

I've decided to extend my 2x4 GB RAM by two additional sticks of the exactly the same specs.
System did not boot and I have tested any combination of sticks and slots to be sure that all sticks and slots are OK.
I have restarted to UEFI and lowered memory frequency to 1066. PC booted successfully and I worked my way up step by step restarting to UEFI and increasing frequency.
Now I can boot the PC using 16 GB of RAM on 1600.