MSI z77a-g45
i5-3570k
I had 2x8gb g.skill ripjawsX in first channel/pair (slot 2 & 4 i believe - they are black), and 2x4gb ripjawsX in second channel (blue slots). Worked great, OC'd cpu to 4.4, mild and stable timing increases on RAM, and was running DDR3-1600.
Motherboard is an RMA I got in July after last one died. It came shrink wrapped with all items in an original box so may be new, may be refurb.
Due to the mismatched memory, which has been in there about 5 months after I purchased the 2x8gb, the 16gb memory appeared to be running at 1333. (I've learned now it was not and I should have left it all alone)
Started pulling DIMMs to see what happened. Started getting 4 beeps (motherboard timer error). At one point I smelt the stomach-dropping ozone smell right after an insertion of a 4gb into slot 3. Pulled the power, yanked the stick, noticed one gold finger was now silver. Pulled out its mate, computer booted fine, I figured leave it alone, 16gb plenty (gamer).
Then started getting 4 beeps on POST and reboot over and over, increasing in frequency over a week. ("motherboard timer controller error" or similar)
Pulled the 2x8gb. Got 3 beeps (as expected with no RAM, 3 beeps being a bad base 64k memoey).
Put one 8gb stick in slot 2 (first black). Computer booted in single channel mode. Still gamed great. If I added back the second DIMM, I get 3 beeps. ALWAYS. With a single DIMM, doesn't matter which one (either of the 2 8's or the 4 that's intact), I can occasionally boot, but only in the black slots. Often it starts the 3 beeps again, and I discovered that I could also put a single 8 in slot 4. It would work about as often as a single in slot 2. But never could do dual, always 3 beeps.
Tried putting the good 4gb into slot 1, computer booted single channel with 12GB, but every reboot after -- 3 beeps.
What the HECK is going on???
(and yes I've already requested another RMA, though the last one they tried to just give me $50 as they had no Z77 mobos, I waited 3 weeks and they did. Don't know if I'll be so lucky again).
Needs to be a Z77 as I can't afford a new CPU etc. Ideally needs to be MSI z77a-g45 so I can keep my free Windows 10!
They cannot be found ANYWHERE in stock at a reasonable price. New, if found, are like $250-$400. Ebay, still would be 150-190 for a new one, and I live in Hawaii and 75% of those fools don't ship here anyway. When I replaced the mobo in July, Windows 10 didn't blink. If I change to another brand, I'm sure it'll ask for money to activate.
So if there's something, anything I can do, please help. Even with 1 8gb I can use the comp for now, but it's a TOTAL crapshoot if it'll boot or 3-beep with 3-beep happening for days then I get a good boot and try not to power off!
Windows 10 Memory tester on either 8gb either slot is fine. Haven't run any other mem testers. Have heavily stress tested every component with aida64 on a good boot, no probs.
Have cleared cmos, pulled the battery AND pushing the button. No go. Also of course have tried with my GTX 970 out, all devices unplugged, just RAM-cpu-PSU (cx600) -mobo- Corsair H80i GT. Same behavior. Have checked the 24 pin power cable and the cpu power cable. Secure.
Ideas?
i5-3570k
I had 2x8gb g.skill ripjawsX in first channel/pair (slot 2 & 4 i believe - they are black), and 2x4gb ripjawsX in second channel (blue slots). Worked great, OC'd cpu to 4.4, mild and stable timing increases on RAM, and was running DDR3-1600.
Motherboard is an RMA I got in July after last one died. It came shrink wrapped with all items in an original box so may be new, may be refurb.
Due to the mismatched memory, which has been in there about 5 months after I purchased the 2x8gb, the 16gb memory appeared to be running at 1333. (I've learned now it was not and I should have left it all alone)
Started pulling DIMMs to see what happened. Started getting 4 beeps (motherboard timer error). At one point I smelt the stomach-dropping ozone smell right after an insertion of a 4gb into slot 3. Pulled the power, yanked the stick, noticed one gold finger was now silver. Pulled out its mate, computer booted fine, I figured leave it alone, 16gb plenty (gamer).
Then started getting 4 beeps on POST and reboot over and over, increasing in frequency over a week. ("motherboard timer controller error" or similar)
Pulled the 2x8gb. Got 3 beeps (as expected with no RAM, 3 beeps being a bad base 64k memoey).
Put one 8gb stick in slot 2 (first black). Computer booted in single channel mode. Still gamed great. If I added back the second DIMM, I get 3 beeps. ALWAYS. With a single DIMM, doesn't matter which one (either of the 2 8's or the 4 that's intact), I can occasionally boot, but only in the black slots. Often it starts the 3 beeps again, and I discovered that I could also put a single 8 in slot 4. It would work about as often as a single in slot 2. But never could do dual, always 3 beeps.
Tried putting the good 4gb into slot 1, computer booted single channel with 12GB, but every reboot after -- 3 beeps.
What the HECK is going on???
(and yes I've already requested another RMA, though the last one they tried to just give me $50 as they had no Z77 mobos, I waited 3 weeks and they did. Don't know if I'll be so lucky again).
Needs to be a Z77 as I can't afford a new CPU etc. Ideally needs to be MSI z77a-g45 so I can keep my free Windows 10!
They cannot be found ANYWHERE in stock at a reasonable price. New, if found, are like $250-$400. Ebay, still would be 150-190 for a new one, and I live in Hawaii and 75% of those fools don't ship here anyway. When I replaced the mobo in July, Windows 10 didn't blink. If I change to another brand, I'm sure it'll ask for money to activate.
So if there's something, anything I can do, please help. Even with 1 8gb I can use the comp for now, but it's a TOTAL crapshoot if it'll boot or 3-beep with 3-beep happening for days then I get a good boot and try not to power off!
Windows 10 Memory tester on either 8gb either slot is fine. Haven't run any other mem testers. Have heavily stress tested every component with aida64 on a good boot, no probs.
Have cleared cmos, pulled the battery AND pushing the button. No go. Also of course have tried with my GTX 970 out, all devices unplugged, just RAM-cpu-PSU (cx600) -mobo- Corsair H80i GT. Same behavior. Have checked the 24 pin power cable and the cpu power cable. Secure.
Ideas?
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram