AsRock Z97 Killer Fatal1ty Not Accepting 32GB of RAM

[86Timewarp]

Hello all!

I recently rebuilt my stock HP computer with the following components and so far, the AsRock Z97 Fatal1ty Killer/3.1 has been giving me some major problems.

Original Components to be Reused:

• 
  ■ Intel i7-4770
  ■ MSI GTX 980TI Reference Card
  ■ Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD
  ■ Seagate 1TB 7200RPM HDD
  ■ Generic DVD Reader

New Parts:

• 
  ■ AsRock Z97 Fatal1ty Killer/3.1
  ■ Corsair 100R Case
  ■ 2x Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB 2400MHz RAM (to achieve 32GB of RAM because this was cheaper than buying a full set)
  ■ Corsair RM850X PSU
  ■ Card Reader
  ■ Windows 10 64-bit OEM License

After rebuilding my computer, it would not POST. Rather, it would turn on, stay on for 30 seconds, and then restart. I eventually determined that the problem was caused by the motherboard and RAM not playing nice with once another.

Now, I know that you're all thinking, "Don't mix RAM kits kids: Very dangerous stuff." That's why I took out 1 of the RAM kits leaving only 16GB of RAM in the motherboard. After that, the computer booted normally, and I was able to install Windows 10 and all of my other software without a hitch.

I assumed that the RAM kits didn't like to play with one anther, so I checked AsRock's website to find a compatible 32GB RAM set and ordered it on Amazon: Corsair Vengeance Pro 32GB 1866MHz.

Once the RAM arrived in the mail, I installed all four sticks, and turned on my computer hoping for the best. Unfortunately, it wouldn't POST: It would stay on for 30 seconds and then restart, much like the first time I turned on my computer.

I spent some time on the forums reading through similar issues, and saw that I should test each slot to see if any of them are defective. It was also recommended to increase/decrease the voltage of the RAM. After checking each slot, I found that Slots 1&2 didn't work. I don't know if increasing/decreasing the voltage would work if the two slots won't accept RAM in the first place.

I just emailed AsRock support to see if I can do an RMA, but here's the catch: Because I used an OEM copy of Windows 10, is there any way to transfer that license to a new motherboard? I know OEM is fixed with no transferable rights, but would Microsoft make an exception?

The computer is currently running fine with just 16GB of the 32GB RAM kit. I think that I might have to RMA the motherboard unless there's something in the UEFI that need to mess with. I did turn on XMP and I did set the manual RAM frequency from "Auto" to "DDR3-1866".

Any help/recommendations are welcomed. If there's a better motherboard that will accept LGA 1150, can support 32GB of RAM, and has multiple USB 3.0 ports with headers, feel free to let me know!

 

[Tradesman1]

What set of DRAM? The model #. Make sure you have the latest BIOS. Also depending on what DRAM it is it might well need additional voltage for 32 GB most often to the MC...If this new set is 2400 as was the old, it may be too much DRAM for the CPUs MC and we may need to drop to 2133 or even 1866

 

[86Timewarp]

What set of DRAM? The model #. Make sure you have the latest BIOS. Also depending on what DRAM it is it might well need additional voltage for 32 GB most often to the MC...If this new set is 2400 as was the old, it may be too much DRAM for the CPUs MC and we may need to drop to 2133 or even 1866

Tradesman1,

Thanks for looking into this. First thing I did when I was able to get the Ethernet driver installed was update the BIOS of the motherboard.

The new set of RAM is actually 1866MHz, not 2400MHz model number CMZ32GX3M4X1866C10. In UEFI, it shows that I have 2 sticks of 8GB DDR3 ram in slots 3&4, which is correct because I'm currently running on 16GB, however the speed of the RAM is listed a 1333 not 1866.

I'm currently emailing AsRock support and they told me to reset to motherboard, by shorting pins 2&3, and checking each slot individually. After doing all of that, no dice: Slots 1&2 aren't working so this might be a defective board. This is interaesting because I've seen only 1 DIMM slot fail on a motherboard, not 2.

 

[Tradesman1]

What CPU cooler? If overly tight in a corner or side it can throw the CPU out of level so it doesn't have full contact with all the socket pins and you can effectively 'lose' a channel, try loosening the cooler and snug screw tight

 

[86Timewarp]

What CPU cooler? If overly tight in a corner or side it can throw the CPU out of level so it doesn't have full contact with all the socket pins and you can effectively 'lose' a channel, try loosening the cooler and snug screw tight

I'm using the stock cooler that came with my i7-4770. Prior to reinstalling the CPU, I read that screwing in the CPU cooler too tightly can cause the motherboard to bend/warp effectively causing the CPU to miss connections on the motherboard.

With that in mind, I only tightened the CPU cooler until I felt moderate resistance in the screws.

 

[Tradesman1]

Will 2 sticks work in slots 1-3 from CPU and/or 2/4?

 

[86Timewarp]

Will 2 sticks work in slots 1-3 from CPU and/or 2/4?

Sorry about the late reply! I tried that and it doesn't work. I'm about to send out my board to AsRock and hopefully this is just a problem with the board.

Worse comes to worse, would I be better off ditching the motherboard and get a newer processor because I feel that LGA1150 chips are slowly being phased out.

 

[86Timewarp]

Hello guys!

After a few weeks, AsRock sent me a completely different motherboard as opposed to repairing the old mobo, which I'm not gonna complain about. To be safe, I loaded up the motherboard with the 32GB set of ram (8GBx4) and booted up the computer: It POSTed! I was able to logon to Windows, and the BIOS to see that the RAM was recognized. I changed the clock speed from 1333MHz to 1866 just to match this specific set of RAM.

Feeling confident, I loaded my two sets of 16GB RAM (8GBx2) and booted up the computer: It also worked! I changed the clock speed from 1866MGz to 2400 MHz and I have had no problems!

I'm gonna keep the two sets of 16GB RAM since it was cheaper and has a faster clock speed than the 32GB RAM set I bought to test.

All in all, the problem was a defective board!