Intalled new RAM 16GB to add to my current 16GB but PC wont detect RAM?

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BigCapitalist

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I have a i5 6600k, Asus Z170 Prime motherboard, 16Gb G.Skill RAM DDR4 and went to Neweggs website and bought another 16GB making sure I got the same RAM. I installed the RAM today but Windows 10 or the BIOS is not picking it up, it says the other 2 slots are empty.

I pressed the Mem OK button, read through the Motherboard Manual and that is the only thing that I can think of doing that would fix it, it did not work...

The boxes of RAM that I bought both are the exact same, they say this:

F4-3200C16D-16GTZB
DDR4-3200 PC4-25600
8192MB X 2
CL16-18-18-38 1.35V

The RAM is literally the same, the only difference I see is that on the RAM the PCB is shaped a little differently on the new RAM, but the model, latency, speed is all the same.

What is wrong?


 
Solution
Froberg


Read your manual first man. From the sound of it, it's possible you have been installing the RAM in the incorrect slots. It's very unusual for two memory sticks to be installed right next to each other when four slots are available.
Make sure, and then try again.
And as others have said, voltages have to be checked. Maybe check if the timings are set correctly in BIOS as well.
Just make sure to match the old RAM in Dual Channel, and the new RAM in dual channel.
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Froberg

Froberg

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Try checking for a BIOS update, I've found that to fix many a RAM compatibility issue, particularly when utilizing all four slots for some reason. It's actually why I prefer two large modules for dual channel over four now.
And as the others have said, checking the new modules by themselves is a solid idea. As is clearing CMOS as TJ Hooker suggested.
 
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why_wolf

why_wolf

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even buying the same make and model does not guarntee RAM sticks from different boxes will work together.

First thing first though is pull out your new RAM and make sure the old stuff still work correctly. Once that is confirmed take out your old RAM and put in the new RAM to confirm it works by itself.

If both work by them selves you can then try putting the old RAM back into the slots that are currently not working. If it still doesn't work turn off XMP or any other RAM overclocking you might have turned on.

If none of that works well like I said at the beginning mixing and matching RAM doesn't always work. Most of the time it will but not always, RAM is just that sensitive to timing differences.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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You have rediscovered why ram is sold in kits.

If the new ram works by itself, then you know it is good.
If it does not, return it.

Sometimes adding a bit of higher ram voltage will work.
Add the voltage when you are in the bios with 2 sticks.
Then, shut down and try adding in the second two sticks
 
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Froberg

Froberg

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I figure it was confirmed, due to the fact that he can boot in to Windows and reports being unable to see the added RAM either in Windows or in the BIOS.
Which is fairly odd in and of itself.
 
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BigCapitalist

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I have two RAM slots on my motherboard:

DIMM-A1
DIMM-A2 (I think you know where this is going...)
DIMM-B1
DIMM-B2

My RAM was always in B1 and B2 on the far right, so those two slots work fine. I put my old ram in A1 and A2 and the system wouldn't even boot.

I took the old RAM out and put the new RAM in A1 and A2 and the system did not boot. I put the new RAM in B1 and B2 (the ones that were always being used) and it worked.

I assume this means that I have a crappy motherboard, never knew it, and two of the slots don't even work...

Unless there is another possible answer this is all I can think of. This ticks me off though, because now I have 4 sticks of RAM, two are useless. I will have to see if I can send it back then just buy a 32Gb stick, but then I am afraid if I do that then get another 32GB stick that it will not work with the other.

Somewhat good news is I am probably going to be upgrading to either Ryzen 2800X or Threadripper 2, hopefully I can hold out that long.
 
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BigCapitalist

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How would I sell used DDR4 3200mhz RAM?

Because It does not make sense to have 16gb just laying around. Good news is that I may actually make a profit on it haha, I bought it 2 years ago.
 
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Karadjgne

Karadjgne

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First. Make a decision. Obviously the mobo is bad if only 2 out of 4 slots will recognise ram. You can try inserting the sticks several times, sometimes it's just a pin is dirty and sticking or not scratching the ram sufficiently. So, do you keep the 32Gb and get a fully working board, or sell the old ram and stick with a board that is working only in single channel mode, about 15-20% performance loss over dual channel. The ram should always have been in A2/B2, not B1/B2.
 
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BigCapitalist

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I have been thinking about building a new PC like a tactician haha.

I am going to just hold out until Ryzen 2800X or ThreadRipper 2 and buy a new motherboard then. My I5 at 4.5ghz is a monster for games, but I am getting into some highly intensive 3d modeling, rendering, textures, photogrammetry etc.

I am just going to return my new RAM, sell the old and try to make a profit (from when I bought it), then buy two 16gb sticks.

Or what I was hoping to do is sell my Motherboard, CPU, 16GB ram and just upgrade the whole thing...I know a guy that may buy it, maybe.

 
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geofelt

geofelt

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You have 4 ram slots on your motherboard.
Your motherboard manual says to use A2 with a single stick.
You might test each stick individually to see that it works.
Use memtest86.

Next to get dual channel operation, you need to install the ram in different channel slots.
For a two stick kit, that is A2 and B2. Using B1/B2 has hurt you with single channel operation.

Test each kit in A2/b2.

When you test all 4 sticks together, you will need added voltage to possibly overcome the mismatch in the kits.

Sometimes bios updated are made to get better ram compatibility.
If there is such an update, install it.
Otherwise, DO NOT update the bios on speculation. A bad flash can brick your motherboard.

Lastly, I have seen such strange channel errors caused by bent pins in the cpu socket.
It is easy to do.
I have also seen such a problem with a defective cpu; but I think this is rare.


And... if you go ryzen, realize that it is very picky on ram; much more so than Intel.
 
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BigCapitalist

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Yeah, I'm just going to give up on this motherboard. That is the only thing I am worried about, going to a new MB and CPU and getting RAM every couple of months.

Do they make Motherboards on for Ryzen that can use 182gb or is that just the I9 and Threadripper?
 
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Froberg

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Read your manual first man. From the sound of it, it's possible you have been installing the RAM in the incorrect slots. It's very unusual for two memory sticks to be installed right next to each other when four slots are available.
Make sure, and then try again.
And as others have said, voltages have to be checked. Maybe check if the timings are set correctly in BIOS as well.
Just make sure to match the old RAM in Dual Channel, and the new RAM in dual channel.
 
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