RAM Problems with ASUS Z170-A motherboard

HamzaRashid

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Oct 27, 2015
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So i was playing PUBG and out of nowhere my pc freezes and my keyboard and mouse LEDS shut off but my screen is still on and showing PUBG (frozen) so i knew it was the ram and removed one stick and my pc worked again, but then when i placed the other stick the DRAM_LED flashed red and my pc didnt boot, so i removed the stick and only used one to update my bios, still no luck, also tried to go to an old version and also removed my CMOS battery and put it back and still didnt work, i know for a fact that it isnt the ram that is faulty because i tried both (individually) and they worked, also dont think it is my motherboard because i got it a month ago and all of the ram slots work as long as i only use one stick, i also tried placing the other ram stick while windows was booting and CPU-Z detected 8GB but my bios and windows didnt. also tried with XMP and without still no luck. any help please?

Use 1 ram stick = works
check if ram slots works = yes they work
Update bios & go back to and old version = no luck Remove CMOS = did but no luck
Try XMP and no XMP = no luck
Press memok with both ramsticks = nothing happens and pc doesnt boot
Use memtest86 = did and no issues with ram
ASUS Z170-a (1month old)
GTX 1050 Ti
i5 6600k @ 4.6 Ghz
1TB HDD & 250GB HDD
8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x4

EDIT: I inserted the other Ram stick while windows was running and CPU-Z detected it and it shows 8GB on windows but when i try to reboot it doesnt boot into bios or windows and the DRAM_LED starts blinking again
https://gyazo.com/9febd5582b06a0d0843e6b3c6544d5be
 
Solution
Yep, that's true, but I agree with Zerk. I generally expect electronics to fail in the first 30 days or not until after the warranty expires. This is known as the burn-in period. As long as you bought a new memory and have a receipt, Corsair should honor their manufacturer warranty. But if you test with your old MB, then you'll know for sure.

smashjohn

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Aug 14, 2017
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You should never install or uninstall RAM while your system is powered on. This can damage more than just your ram. I would install your RAM again and re-run MemTest86 on each stick for 2 passes and reconfirm that your memory is still good.

When you install 2 sticks, are you installing them in slots A2 and B2 (ASUS recommendation)?

I'm not sure how/why you have singled out your RAM as the cause of your system freezing. It is possible, but it could also be caused by a lot of other things.
 

HamzaRashid

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Oct 27, 2015
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When my pc froze i restarted it and the DRAM_LED started flashing red so thats when i knew that there was something wrong with the ram, and yes i have tried in slot A2 and B2 still no luck..
 

HamzaRashid

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Oct 27, 2015
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did that and still does not work... starting to think that my motherboard is the issue, but how? got it a month ago.
 

smashjohn

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Here's a couple things you might try:
1) If you memory works in single mode and not dual channel mode, you might try installing in slot A1 and A2. This may not work at all, or the motherboard might detect the sticks independently and run them in single channel mode. Not all boards will support this configuration, so if it doesn't work, it doesn't mean anything. If this works, then you know that your motherboard is having trouble running these sticks in Dual Channel mode.

2) From looking at your pic, I don't think the RAM timings are being set correctly in the bios. The Bios may be detecting them wrong. You may have to boot with one stick in one slot, set the timings manually, then shutdown. Do this again with the other stick in the other slot, and shutdown. Then try to boot with both.
Anyway, your image shows: 16,16,16,39,2T
When I search your ram I find: 15,17,17,35,2T @ 1.2volts
While XMP2.0 should set this correctly for you, sometimes it doesn't. A lot of folks swear by manually setting these timings; I had to for mine.

If your memory won't run in dual channel mode at these timings, then you probably need to RMA your memory. This is a likely point of failure, and the easiest to remedy. Contact Corsair support and they should approve the exchange. It could be the MB, but I'd start with the RAM.
 

HamzaRashid

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Oct 27, 2015
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Still does not work, but i live in Sweden and bought the ram from a website that is not corsair in january, i don't think they'll accept RMA. but i have spare motherboard (asus h110-plus) which i used the same ram on before and worked perfectly, so if i put this motherboard on and try the ram with it and it works it means that my z170 is failing right?
 

smashjohn

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Aug 14, 2017
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Yep, that's true, but I agree with Zerk. I generally expect electronics to fail in the first 30 days or not until after the warranty expires. This is known as the burn-in period. As long as you bought a new memory and have a receipt, Corsair should honor their manufacturer warranty. But if you test with your old MB, then you'll know for sure.
 
Solution