My PC doesn't start when my new RAM sticks are installed

cezar_dan · Oct 3, 2016

Hello

I recently bought two Corsair XMS3 4GB RAM's at 1600 MHz. When they are installed however my PC refuses to start. I have tried to start the PC with my new and old RAMs together, the new ones by themselves and each new RAM stick individually but each time the result is the same. The PC powers up and shuts down a few seconds later, then automatically tries to power up again until I force it to stop. I does not even reach the BIOS. In fact no signal is sent to the monitor at all. Once I install the old RAMs by themselves the PC booted up normally with no issues.

My motherboard is a GigaByte EP45T-UD3P and as far as I understand it it can take up to 16GB of RAM of up to 2200 MHz. My current functioning RAMs are 2x Kingmax FLFE85F-B8KL9 at 1333MHz and my processor is a Core 2 Quad CPU at 2.40 Ghz. My GPU is a GIGABYTE GeForce GT 740 OC, 2GB GDDR5, 128-bit.

I know my system isn't exactly new, but I can't afford a real upgrade just yet and I was hoping to squeeze another year or two of decent performance out of it with a GPU and RAM upgrade.

So, why isn't it working with the new RAMs?

vijenderrinku · Oct 3, 2016

first of all, remove the previous. and check with new ram one by one.

-reset BIOS setting to default.

cezar_dan · Oct 3, 2016

I already tried one by one and the effect was the same. Resetting the BIOS might be a problem. First of all I can't access it with the new RAMs at all as nothing boots up. Secondly, I have a password on my BIOS that I don't know, so I can't do that while my old RAMs are installed anyway. It was either put there by the original owner of the system (whom I can't contact because I'm at least the third) or it may have been put there by the manufacturer. I any case I can't access my BIOS settings at all. I have considered just trying out some typical passwords from a list I found on the internet that manufacturers use for BIOS, but I don't know if that will somehow break my system or not.

SkyNetRising · Oct 3, 2016

cezar_dan :

Use CLR_CMOS jumper on motherboard to reset BIOS settings (it removes password also).

vijenderrinku · Oct 3, 2016

their is reset BIOS jumper in Motherboard, find out the jumper and do it

Mitochle · Oct 3, 2016

How is the ram set out in the motherboard?
Try to arrange the sticks of RAM in an alternating sort of pattern, going RAM, EMPTY, RAM, EMPTY rather than having the sticks inserted next to one another.

cezar_dan · Oct 3, 2016

There's no jumper, just the exposed pins. I actually tried that when I first discovered the password, but it didn't work. As per the manual instructions for the motherboard I used a screwdriver to connect the two pins in order to reset the CMOS values. I did it with every cable unplugged and held the screwdriver's tip to the pins for less than five seconds for fear of damaging my motherboard irreparably. When I booted up the PC the password was still there. Did I do something wrong considering that it had no effect?

This is the manual as far as I can tell. Page 32 for CLR_CMOS instructions.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B--6cb4mbv7nYlAxNHJ0RFlNcGM/view?usp=sharing

@Mitochle: That's how my original RAMs were set up and that's how I installed the new ones. It didn't help.

Mitochle · Oct 3, 2016

cezar_dan :

Judging by the manual, it says that the RAM inserts say DDR2, is the RAM you're currently using DDR2 or DDR3? What DDR- is the previous RAM?

UPDATE: The previous RAM sticks are also DDR3, judging from what I can see online, unless they specify otherwise...

cezar_dan · Oct 3, 2016

Yeah, I find that weird too. But when I check my hardware with SiSoftware Sandra it says this about my current RAMs

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingmax FLFE85F-B8KL9 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-24 4-33-10-5)
Memory Module : Kingmax FLFE85F-B8KL9 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-24 4-33-10-5)

So as far as I can tell I have DDR3

Mitochle · Oct 3, 2016

From the manual regarding memory installation:
"DDR2 DIMMs are not compatible to DDR DIMMs. Be sure to install DDR2 DIMMs on this motherboard."

Looking at the newer ram, it also seems to be DDR3 DIMM RAM of the same type, strange that it's having an issue like this.

cezar_dan · Oct 3, 2016

To make things ever weirder, I checked the rev number written on the motherboard itself and it says 1.0. According to this page it should only be able to user DDR2 RAMs

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2919#sp

But as far as I know the slots for DDR2 and DDR3 RAMs are different so they shouldn't even fit. Yet the new RAMs clicked into place with even more ease than the old ones. I'm really confused now.

Update: I took out one of my old rams and compared it to one of the new ones and the position of the groove is identical. It also say DDR3 on the old stick and it says DDR3 2200+ on the motherboard in between the two sets of RAM slots. Yet it definitely says Rev 1.0 on the motherboard. There seems to be something atypical about my motherboard.

SkyNetRising · Oct 3, 2016

Board is GA-EP45T-UD3P with DDR3 ram.
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3014#ov
Manual in your link was for GA-EP45-UD3P with DDR2 ram.
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3012#ov
(visually they differ only by ram slot colors and DDR3 written on southbridge)

To reset BIOS:
1. Disconnect PC from power;
2. Press power button, to discharge any left charge from PSU capacitators;
3. Remove BIOS battery;
4. short CLR_CMOS pins for more than 5 sec;
5. (to be sure) short also battery socket contacts on the motherboard for more than 5 sec;
6. Put back battery and remove short from CLR_CMOS pins;
7. Boot up the PC, enter BIOS and load safe defaults.

Mitochle · Oct 3, 2016

SkyNetRising :

Oh nice, I know how to build a PC but not how to read.
Such is life.

Tradesman1 · Oct 3, 2016

Make sure you have the latest BIOS - if no joy, the DRAM is prob a newer model that uses high density ICs (chips), the mobo was designed to run with the older, original low density ICs

cezar_dan · Oct 3, 2016

Well, I managed to clear all the old CMOS settings, including the password, I loaded the fail-safe defaults and installed the new RAM sticks. Unfortunately the behavior was the same as before. I've since reinstalled the old RAMs and loaded the optimized defaults. What could I try next? BIOS update? How would I do that exactly?

junkeymonkey · Oct 3, 2016

get a understanding on whats said here with that platform as tradesman1 tried to point out

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3032790/lga-775-motherboards-memory.html#17848493

just to add sticks that I suggested to still work in that thread are now no longer available or harder to find / get ??

I think todays skylakes with the split mem controller will go down the same road a lot in common as 775 was then today ??

cezar_dan · Oct 3, 2016

So basically the RAM sticks aren't compatible with the motherboard? And the particular motherboard model I have generally has compatibility issues with many RAM sticks? Did I get that right?

junkeymonkey · Oct 3, 2016

that's how it 90% of the time adds up with todays memory even with the same part numbers its just not the same ic's used to build them and even Kingston has a deal saying most of them older boards are no longer supported your board is not even listed in there memory finder ??

[this page and gskill rep mat wang answer] may want to see if the memory the gskill rep got him is still available ??

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/57362-upgrading-ram-ep45t-ud3p-2x4gb-ddr3-1600-a-3.html

giga is the hardest brand to match this up and hardest to get compatible memory for

Tradesman1 · Oct 3, 2016

junkeymonkey :

___________________

+1 Matt knows his stuff, he's their head TS guy at their HQ in Taipei

cezar_dan · Oct 4, 2016

Well, thank you all for all the help

At least out of the whole deal I managed to get rid of that pesky BIOS password.

Looks like I'll have to return the new RAMs to the retailer and very carefully shop around for something compatible. I prefer to buy new, but given the circumstances I may have to go second-hand.

junkeymonkey · Oct 4, 2016

I'd just run what you got and get by in till you save up for a more today platform like z97 and up ? even todays newer graphics cards can have compatibility issues now on older boards and may not fully work if at all ? look how may try to use like 900 cards and up to stare at a black screen or no boot .

today its you now support them [hardware manufactures ] not like it use to be of them supporting you and your needs . you want to use there latest hardware you have to near have all the latest hardware to do so ... this saves them money at your expense

good luck

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