Question Adding/Increasing RAM results in initial very slow boot up - why?

[benherrmann]

Hello all...

I just purchased a Cyberpower gaming PC (a GXi3000CSTV2 on a great closeout price) - and I'll be using it mainly for photography work. It features an i5 CPU and has 32 Gig of DDR5 6000 RAM installed.

I mistakenly ordered and inserted an additional 64 Gig of DDR 5 5600 MHZ of RAM and after removing the RAM that was in there and replacing it with the new RAM, I was flabbergasted to see that the PC would not load windows 11. I've since returned that RAM and put the old RAM back in (specifically in the original slots 1 and 3). After reinserting the RAM, the PC started acting like it did with the other RAM, and seemingly took like 30-60 seconds just to boot up. That had me scared for a moment, wondering if I had damaged the PC.

I have a few questions:

1. Firstly, there are 4 RAM slots on my Motherboard and Cyberpower had installed two 16 Gig modules - one in slot 1 and the other one in slot 3. This begs the question, why didn't they insert those in slots 1 and 2?

2. Secondly, why would the PC load very slowly after reinserting the RAM?

3. Thirdly, when the new (correct) RAM arrives - this time from the same manufacturer (T-Force) and model number (which is DDR5 6000Mhz CL38), do I remove the two 16 Gig modules and insert the two 32 Gig modules in the same place (slots 1 and 3)?

4. Finally, with slots 2 and 4 being open, could I then reinsert the two 16 Gig modules that I originally had, in those slots - thus giving me 96 Gigs of RAM?

5. Or, can I place the two new 32 Gig modules in slots 1 and 2, and then put the two 16 Gig modules in slots 3 and 4?

I know - lots of questions, but I need to learn here. Thanks in advance for any help.

Ben Herrmann
Fuquay-Varina, NC

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

1. Firstly, there are 4 RAM slots on my Motherboard and Cyberpower had installed two 16 Gig modules - one in slot 1 and the other one in slot 3. This begs the question, why didn't they insert those in slots 1 and 2?
So the ram can run in dual channel. The first two slots, starting from the left, are channels A and B. So A1, A2 and B1, B2. Rams should go in slots A2 and B2, or as they're labelled on the motherboard's PCB/manual.

2. Secondly, why would the PC load very slowly after reinserting the RAM?
if you look at the two rams listed, they are of different frequencies, so the rams are all running at the lower speeds. You might want to go into BIOS and enable X.M.P.

3. Thirdly, when the new (correct) RAM arrives - this time from the same manufacturer (T-Force) and model number (which is DDR5 6000Mhz CL38), do I remove the two 16 Gig modules and insert the two 32 Gig modules in the same place (slots 1 and 3)?
What is the make and model of the motherboard in the prebuilt?

4. Finally, with slots 2 and 4 being open, could I then reinsert the two 16 Gig modules that I originally had, in those slots - thus giving me 96 Gigs of RAM?
You don't mix and match rams unless you want to go down the rabbit hole known as troubleshooting. Sometimes mixing and matching works, sometimes it doesn't. If you want more ram, buy the same ram kit as you currently have but if you're on a 13th/14th Gen Intel platform, additional ram sticks will add stress to the memory controller and perhaps cause POST issues.

5. Or, can I place the two new 32 Gig modules in slots 1 and 2, and then put the two 16 Gig modules in slots 3 and 4?
Read the prior point.

 

[benherrmann]

The Speccy online report is at:

https://speccy.piriform.com/results/Dx04gH0r2leWG0rmqJk3q2H

The exact CPU model is: i5-14400F up to 4.7Ghz. Purchased from Costco the other day - perhaps it's a special model. I couldn't tell you what generation that CPU would be, perhaps you know?

The motherboard is:

Manufacturer: Asrock
Model: B760M-C
Chipset vendor: Intel
Chipset: Raptor Lake

To be honest, although I've been using PC's for a long while now (since the mid 90's), I still consider myself an amateur when it comes to the technical aspects of it all.

Alright, am I correct in assuming that it would be best just to have the memory modules in slots 1 and 3 (the way the PC was configured) - and just upgrade the RAM in those two slots. Or, could I insert four 32Gig RAM modules into the four slots to boost my RAM content? I need as much RAM as possible because of heavy photographic work and the latest versions of Photoshop and other professional software just eats RAM big time.



I called Cyberpower the other day and talked to their technical support. They were able to pull up my model PC right away and I was told that the Motherboard can handle up to 256 Ghz of RAM.

 

[geofelt]

Here is the ram QVL support list for your motherboard/processor.
It is a list of kits that have been tested. The list is not comprehensive and is not updated constantly.
https://www.asrock.com.tw/MB/Intel/B760M-C/index.us.asp#MemoryRPL
There are a few entries that support 4 32gb ram sticks.
I see none that support 4 64gb stick kits.
Perhaps that is because the QVL list came out before the advent of 4 x 64gb ram kits.
Go to a ram vendor web site and access their ram support app.
Enter your motherboard and cpu and you should get a list of supported kits.
I keep saying kits... Ram to work properly must be from the same matched kit.
This becomes more important as the number of sticks and the total capacity becomes larger.

 

[Notton]

I would guess RAM training, which should only happen after a RAM configuration change.
https://www.crucial.com/support/articles-faq-memory/ddr5-memory-training