Apparently my RAM is shorting out my PSU?

[Just a guy]

i5-6600k
MSI Z170A PC MATE
EVGA Geforce GTX 960 4Gb
Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2x4gb)
Noctua NH-D14
WD BLUE 1TB
Cooler Master Vanguard S 550W


http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems
Linked thread, 23.

Tried breadbording to see why my computer would only POST with 1 ram stick and not two.

(Both ram sticks manage to reach BIOS when by themselves.)
(Already tried going to BIOS and activating XMP, didnt work).
(Also tried resetting CMOS and it didnt work).

I followed these steps and pulled everything except for the motherboard, heatsink + fan, psu, and motherboard speaker.

I got 3 long beeps so I proceeded to installing 1 stick of ram.

(In the right spot, installed correctly, and none of the cpu pins are bent.)

When I booted with the 1 stick of ram, no beeps were heard.

"Silence indicates that the RAM is shorting out the PSU (very rare)."
posted from jsc.

So I have come to the conclusion that my ram is shorting out my PSU.



What can I do to solve this?

 

[Shaun o]

Well to be honest if each ram stick was tested in one memory slot, and both worked.
The problem would point more to the fact that the memory slot of the motherboard is in fact the cause.

It can be down to a bent gold contact of the memory slot, a missing pin or connector of the slot.
Or two of the gold fingers of the contacts of the memory slot touching.

Have a look for any damage to the memory slots on the motherboard.
Or any debris that may be wedged or masking a gold connector pin of each memory slot.
Shine a torch at the memory slots and examine the pin arrays of each.

Disconnect the power from the system. and try using a clean paint brush to clean along the inside of each memory slot.
Or use an air spray canister to remove any potential debris or foreign objects that may be in the slots.

Like wise check the gold wafer fingers on each memory stick.
If you have a rubber, or eraser, as called in the (US), use it on the gold finger contacts of each memory stick.
This will clean any dirt, grease or sticky liquid that may be on the contacts causing the problem of why the memory is not detected in a memory slot.

When your fitting the Memory sticks.
Make sure they are both in the correct orientation to the key in the memory slot.
And that you apply pressure with equal force on each end with your two thumbs.

Wiggle each memory module back and fourth while seated in each memory slot.
Don`t use too much force.
It is to make sure the gold pins of the memory slots touch the fingers of each memory module.
As heat and age, along with expansion and contraction due to heat can often cause a shift in contacts.

Power the system on and see if both of the memory sticks are detected after the points or possible fixes have been tried.

If it is a new build consult the motherboard manual on where the memory modules should be fitted and in what order of slots.
Particularly if you have four memory slots and two memory sticks.

Some motherboards do not like it if you place two memory sicks in the correct slots stated in the manual.
It can prevent the board from powering up, or one of the memory modules not being detected.

 

[Just a guy]

Have a look for any damage to the memory slots on the motherboard.
Or any debris that may be wedged or masking a gold connector pin of each memory slot.
Shine a torch at the memory slots and examine the pin arrays of each.



Like wise check the gold wafer fingers on each memory stick.
If you have a rubber, or eraser, as called in the (US), use it on the gold finger contacts of each memory stick.
This will clean any dirt, grease or sticky liquid that may be on the contacts causing the problem of why the memory is not detected in a memory slot.

Both memory sticks look the same after close examination.
Both memory slot pins are exactly the same and look alright.

In the 2nd slot there is a small circle of dirt or something, not covering any pins but I'll try getting it out before attempting to boot.

Are there any other tools I can use besides a paintbrush or air canister to clean the memory slots?
and are you sure that its ok to use an eraser on the memory sticks?

 

[CountMike]

Using eraser may leave rubber residue on RAM contacts and so insulate that contact resulting in bad contact. I use a clean, folded piece of printing paper to clean them. Those contacts on modern RAM sticks are just too thin and fine for any harsher treatment.

 

[Just a guy]

Thankyou all for your answers, I have solved my problem!

It appears that my motherboard's memory slots 3 and 4 are not working. However the computer did manage to post when my 2 memory sticks were used in slots 1 and 2.

If anyone has the same problem as me, try using different memory slots, it might also work for you.

 

[CountMike]

Thankyou all for your answers, I have solved my problem!

It appears that my motherboard's memory slots 3 and 4 are not working. However the computer did manage to post when my 2 memory sticks were used in slots 1 and 2.

If anyone has the same problem as me, try using different memory slots, it might also work for you.

That's always recommended but with Intel it may be a problem with some CPU socket pins.