Asus Maximus VIII Extreme memory incompatability?

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Landwolf

Landwolf

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Apr 20, 2015
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Howdy, I've been putting together a build, but i'm encountering problems with the memory.
I'm trying to use an Asus Maximus VIII Extreme with a Crucial Ballistix sport (2X8GB kit) but for some reason, I'm getting incompatibility errors, it wont start up (it stops going through first-time startup procedures.)

Both Partpicker, and Crucial say the memory should be compatible with the motherboard, while the manual that came with the motherboard doesn't have the memory on the qualified vendor list. The manual being annoyingly vague on instructions doesn't help maters, as far as I know I followed the instructions for putting the tower together correctly. I have tried using the on-board MemOK memory compatibility feature, but it doesn't seem to work, (based on what the lights on the board say) it seems to try a couple times, then goes back to saying "memory initialization error, incompatible memory type or speed."

I have attempted to find information online, but to no avail, I have also tried using a single stick to launch with, but it comes up with the same error. Asking on here is my last hope before having to order a kit listed in the motherboards list.

UPDATE ONE: After waiting about half an hour, my older brother got home, i asked him if he knew anything about this, but he wasn't able to help. afterwards, i inspected the stickers on the memory's heat sinks, and a sticker on one of them almost matches one of the product numbers given in the motherboard manual. the number given on the memory is "BLS8G4D240FSA-16FARG" while the number that it almost matches in the manual is "BLS8G4D240FSA-16FAR". I also noticed in the manual that the number given for "timing" doesn't quite match the number on the memory, in the manual it says "16-16-16-40" while the sticker says "16-16-16-39", I don't know what this is for, but i though it was something of note.
 
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First remove all the memory, now reset CMOS (it's in the MB manual) install one stick of memory and try it. from their move that stick of memory to each slot on the board trying again each time. From their remove that stick and try the other stick the same way. From their remove the CPU and look for bent pins on the motherboard.
The QVL is only memory that they have tested with the motherboard it is in no way the only memory that will work.
 
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Ok, I pressed the "clear CMOS" button that was on the back, it was lit up green before, but isn't now, i may have pressed it before when putting in the motherboard.
i put the memory in the first slot, and its now showing an error code that corresponds to"super IO initialization" and a light on the board labled "boot device" is lit. according to the manual, that means the motherboard is checking the "boot device" and if there is an error, it would blink, its not blinking, its solid.

EDIT: the CMOS button is on again, showing green.
 
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Do you have the latest BIOS? WOuld check that first, there's been a lot of DRAM roll out since the release of the Z170s and the mobo makers are still playing catchup to get settings for all the DRAM out there loaded, I ran into this a couple time s with new sets and had an older BIOS version
 
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the problem i have is that i cant get to the BIOS, this is a new build, so the motherboard is trying to do the first-time startup stuff, but it stops showing memory issues.

the motherboard has a little LCD screen that can have 2 digits on it, the digits correspond to error codes in the manual. it also has some LEDs that can light up to say what the motherboard is doing or if something isn't working.
 
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i have not tried the single stick of memory in any of the other slots, i can do that now.

as far as i know, all the other computers in the house use DDR3, i can try asking my brother, but i think his desktop doesn't use DDR4.
 
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while researching this question before posting, something i came upon said that directly updating BIOS to the newest version caused problems, should i be concerned?

also, can i put the other stick of memory into the matching slot, or is that something that will cause problems while updating?
 
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Try the other stick and see what happens, as far as flashing the BIOS it used to often be problematic, but during the last 3-4 years, I've probably flashed at least a rig a week and haven't had any die (though I flash the BIOS direct), have seen a number of instances of people bricking their mobo flashing through Win
 
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right, it updated, turning off and on again a couple times, now its running in BIOS, using the new version, it seems to be working.

also, i put the other stick of memory in, it seems to not have caused problems, and in BIOS it recognizes the size and frequency of the memory.
 
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that's the compatibility issues sorted, but now another problem has come forth.

the computer wont start now, it was doing this earlier when i didn't have a power cable plugged in for the CPU, now i don't quite know why it wont start.

i have to turn of the PSU, wait for the lights on the board to turn off, then turn the PSU back on, then when i press the power switch, the PSU clicks, the fans start for a split second, the PSU clicks again, and everything stops. the board's lights are still on, same as when it's not on, but has power. pressing the power switch on both the case and on the board itself does nothing.

while i was in another room to type my last reply, it shut off while in BIOS. before it was running fine, and i haven't changed anything when i came back into the room. i attempted to start it, but to no avail.
 
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i have one in my last computer that i have used for a couple years. its about half the wattage, but it should provide enough.
 
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plugged it in, same result. it doesn't click, but the PSU fan moves a bit, then stops. computer doesn't start, some lights are on, but nothing new. same lights when its plugged in, but not turned on.

before the last time is started up, when i put in the other stick of memory, i unplugged the case fans from the PSU, and plugged them directly into the motherboard, would that have changed anything? previously they didn't show up in BIOS, but after they were plugged into the board they did, showing their RPM as well.
 
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i didn't see your post right away, sorry about that.

that would put them on separate channels, the board has it going 1A 1B 2A 2B.
 
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UPDATE: looking around online, i found some instructions on what to do.

as far as i can tell, the PSU is tripping its breaker thing, basically cutting itself off.

the instructions i found suggested to unplug everything connected to the PSU, except the motherboard and CPU, test and see if they start up, turn them off, connect a component, and try again.

i tried starting up with just the motherboard and CPU plugged in, it worked fine and i was able to go into BIOS. after then shutting it off, i connected the GPU, tried it again, it stopped, and the PSU was tripped.

i tried plugging in the cable into another VGA port on the PSU (its modular) to see if the plug was the problem, but it didn't change the result.

EDIT UPDATE: the GPU has 2 plugs for power, a 6 prong and an 8 prong, it was plugged into the 8 prong, using a 6+2 VGA cable. it was plugged in like that all while dealing with the previous issues.

however, while attempting to deal with the PSU issue, i tried using the 6 prong plug, using the same cable, it works, and i am able to get to BIOS.

I HAVEN'T A CLUE WHAT MADE IT NOT WORK.
 
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its gotten quite late, i'm going to retire for the night.

i very much appreciate the help y'all are giving me here. this is only my second build, so perhaps i should have gone with a little more user-friendly choice of parts. although, thinking about it, i perhaps wouldn't have learned as much with simpler, easier-to-set-up parts, the entire ordeal, from planning to putting the thing together has been very educational for me. anyway, thank you again for all the help.

oh, and happy Easter.
 
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