HELP!!! Adding ram.

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

I am trying to add ram to my PC and am having problems.

SPECS:
CPU: AMD A8-6600K APU
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
MOBO: MSI A88X-G45 Gaming
RAM: 1x4GB Pacific sun DDR3, 1x8GB PNY (I now know that i should have kept them the same brand, but one was a gift.)

Current set up works fine, but as soon as I install a new Pacific Sun 8GB, windows wont boot and my monitor stays blank.

Thanks for any help you can send my way.

abhilaas · Apr 24, 2016

OK, PLEASE SAY THE FULL SPECS OF BOTH THE RAMs FIRST.

Shaun o · Apr 24, 2016

It may be likely that the motherboard you have does not support a single memory stick density of 8Gb.
And why the system does not boot when you place the 8Gb memory stick in the memory slot of the motherboard.

If you go to the Msi website with the motherboard model number you have and go to the support section of the Msi website.
It will detail in the specifications for your motherboard what the maximum capacity of each memory stick must be placed in each of the memory slots on your motherboard, mathman097.

The other problem could be that the 4Gb module and the 8Gb module run at different speeds from one another.
Or that the memory timing for each memory stick differ.

You can check both by looking on each memory stick via a sticker placed on each, if you could read them off and post the details of the information found on the stickers of each memory module it would help to diagnose what the problem is when you fit the 8Gb memory stick in the system with the 4Gb memory stick.

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

abhilaas :

the two that are in and work are 1) Patriot 4GB PC3-12800 CL11
2) PNY 8GB DD3

They are placed in the 3rd and 4th RAM slots

The one I'm trying to put in is a pacific sun 8GB DDR3 PC3-10600 (1333MHz)

abhilaas · Apr 24, 2016

Ok, seems like both the DIMM should work ok on ur motherboard, but seems like there can be a defective DIMM or a DIMM mismatch scenario. I WILL RECOMMEND FIRST REMOVE ALL RAMs FROM UR MOTHERBOARD, THEN 1st CONNECT THE 8 GB PACIFIC SUN RAM AND BOOT UR SYSTEM. IF IT BOOTS THEN GO AHEAD AN CONNECT THE REST TWO RAMs AND SEE IF IT WORKS. CONCLUSION- IF UR PC DOES NOT BOOT AFTER INSTALLING THE 1ST RAM (PACIFIC SUN), THEN IT SHOULD BE THE DEFECTIVE RAM. NEXTLY IF UR PC DOES NOT BOOT AFTER INSTALLING ALL 3 RAMs THEN ANY 1 OFF THE THREE RAMs IS MAKING A HARDWARE CONFLICT WITH THE OTHER TWO. TRY THIS OUT AND LET US KNOW THE RESULTS. HOPE THAT HELPS.

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

abhilaas :

(Sorry, accidentally clicked solved)
I did that. It booted with the Pacific Sun no issues. Then I put the other two in, and no boot. So to try and trouble shoot some more, I took the PNY out, and left the Patriot in. It started up just fine, and windows said i had 12GB ram. Then i switched the Patriot with the PNY and it booted up again. But now windows says that i have 16GB installed but 8GB available.
(Thanks again for the help)

abhilaas · Apr 24, 2016

OK, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHICH VERSION OF WINDOWS DO U USE(32 or 64 bit)?
NOW WHAT I CAN MAKE OUT FROM UR POST IS THAT THE PNY RAM SEEMS TO HAVE SOME OR THE OTHER PROBLEM IN IT. IF 16 GB RAM IS INSTALLED THEN AT LEAST 14 GB SHOULD BE USABLE, NOT 8. ALSO LET ME KNOW THE FULL MODEL NUMBER OF THE PNY RAM IF POSSIBLE. TRY REMOVING ALL RAM STICKS AND BOOTING THE PC WITH THE PNY RAM. LET ME KNOW THE RESULTS. U SHOULD GET AN ERROR THIS TIME.

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

abhilaas :

I am using 64-bit. Boots fine with only the PNY, no error. And the sticker that is on the stick only says "PNY 8GB DD3". is there a way to figure that out in windows? I can tell you that it is an XLR8.

abhilaas · Apr 24, 2016

OK, USE CPU-Z, ITS A FREEWARE APP, GOOGLE SEARCH AND DOWNLOAD IT. THERE IS A SPECIFIC "MEMORY COLUMN". NOW, USE ONE RAM AT AT A TIME, BOOT UR PC RUN CPU-Z TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF THE MEMORY SECTION. SO USE ALL THREE RAMs AND TRY POSTING THE SCREENSHOTS IN THE FORUM, OR AT LEAST THE SPECS SHOWN. HOPEFULLY 1 PARTICULAR RAM IS CREATING A CONFLICT.

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

abhilaas :

Ok.

http://s1016.photobucket.com/user/mathman097/library/

abhilaas · Apr 24, 2016

Thanks for the screenshots, now the answer is clear, PNY Is a CL9 RAM (CAS LATENCY), while the other two are CL11 (LATENCY TIMINGS OF CL9 IS LESS COMPARED TO CL11).
CL9 is much faster compared to CL11 DIMM. Now mixing both Latencys may cause system issues, but sometimes they work just fine. Ur system should work ok, but these problems may arise. TRY A TROUBLESHOOTING- INSTALL THE TWO CL11 RAMs IN DIMM SLOT 1 AND 3 AND THE CL9 RAM IN SLOT 2 OR 4, CHECK IF THAT HELPS, IF NOT REPLACE THE CL9 RAM WITH A CL11 OR JUST REMOVE IT FROM UR RIG. DO POST THE RESULTS. HOPE THAT HELPS.

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

abhilaas :

Thank you again for the help. Unfortunately, that didn't work either. And I tried to just put the Patriot and the Pacific Sun into the slots that you told me to, but then it still wouldn't boot. It only boots when i have ram in the 3 and 4 spots. If there's anything in the 1 or 2 spot, nothing boots.

Tradesman1 · Apr 24, 2016

What cooler are you using on the CPU? If it's too tight in a corner or side it can throw the CPU out of level and cause you to 'lose' a channel. Can try loosening then snug it down screw tight

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

Tradesman1 :

A corsair water cooler. I cant remember the name. I got rid of the box after I installed it.

Tradesman1 · Apr 24, 2016

As mentioned, try loosening then snug down screw tight

abhilaas · Apr 24, 2016

Hope what Tradesman1 said helps, if not then definitely u need to get ur RAM slots 1, 3 checked by MSI.

mathman097 · Apr 24, 2016

Ok. Will try that tomorrow. How would I go about MSI to check those slots? And it's actually the 1 and 2 slots. Could it be somethings in bios or system configuration?

Tradesman1 · Apr 24, 2016

If it's not the cooler, you can check the CPU for bent/broken pins, if not that my guess would be a defective mobo

HELP!!! Adding ram.

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