ASUS Sabretooth 990 FX R2.0 RAM issues...

[TragicallyWired]

Just went and bought myself more Corsair RAM, but these damn things come with the most stupid looking heat spreaders. So I had to remove them so it would fit under the gargantuan CPU heat sink.

(http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004CRSM4I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00)

Before, I had 8GB (2 sticks) of these installed and all was happy.

Received the extra 2 sticks and took the heat spreaders off. Installed it. Tried powering up. Wouldn't boot, and was kicking off a beeping; which was 1 long beep, followed by 2 short, which apparently means no RAM is being detected. Thought WTF?

Then tried swapping over the sticks in different slots etc. and now my PC is saying only 4GB instead of 8.

Could I have effectively damaged my original stick of RAM when I was messing about swapping them over, hence it only saying 4GB?

And could the new RAM be defective?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Double check the population rules for your board and make sure the two older modules are the the slots for channel A and the two newer modules are in the slots for channel B. Also, try bumping the DRAM voltage in the BIOS slightly, with only the two older modules installed.

Make absolutely sure the modules are FULLY seated. It's very easy to have a stick that's not completely seated. It's also possible that you somehow damaged one of the modules when you removed the heatsinks, but not highly likely. Does the system still recognize 8GB if you install only the two older modules?


This might be of some help as well. It's entirely possible that you have incompatible memory modules, even if they are all the same part number and increasing in probability if your do not.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html


It might also be worthwhile to try installing all four modules, disconnecting the power supply from the wall, remove the motherboard CMOS battery for five minutes, reinstall the battery, plug it back in and boot. This will reset the BIOS or EFI hardware tables.

 

[TragicallyWired]

Double check the population rules for your board and make sure the two older modules are the the slots for channel A and the two newer modules are in the slots for channel B. Also, try bumping the DRAM voltage in the BIOS slightly, with only the two older modules installed.

Make absolutely sure the modules are FULLY seated. It's very easy to have a stick that's not completely seated. It's also possible that you somehow damaged one of the modules when you removed the heatsinks, but not highly likely. Does the system still recognize 8GB if you install only the two older modules?


This might be of some help as well. It's entirely possible that you have incompatible memory modules, even if they are all the same part number and increasing in probability if your do not.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html


It might also be worthwhile to try installing all four modules, disconnecting the power supply from the wall, remove the motherboard CMOS battery for five minutes, reinstall the battery, plug it back in and boot. This will reset the BIOS or EFI hardware tables.

The older modules have chips running along BOTH side of the board, the newer ones only have chips on one side.

I will have another play with them when I get home later and report back. Thanks for the response!

Do you have a recommended voltage that I should increase it to?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Those are probably NOT compatible. A lot of motherboards are finicky about using modules with chips on only one side or on both sides, and especially using them together if they are different. I'd return them. Have you tried the newer modules by themselves without the older modules installed to see if they work independent of the disparate models? Did you try the older modules by themselves again to see if they are still working as before?

I wouldn't worry about the voltage for now as it's probably not the problem.

 

[TragicallyWired]

Those are probably NOT compatible. A lot of motherboards are finicky about using modules with chips on only one side or on both sides, and especially using them together if they are different. I'd return them. Have you tried the newer modules by themselves without the older modules installed to see if they work independent of the disparate models? Did you try the older modules by themselves again to see if they are still working as before?

I wouldn't worry about the voltage for now as it's probably not the problem.

I've requested replacement sticks - but will try again as you suggest. Just a pain in the ass booting up and down every minute. I'm also doing it with just the case door off and just the unplugged. Very fiddly in the dark!

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Modules even if identical , but purchased at different times have a good chance of being incompatible , best when all from the same retail pack.

 

[TragicallyWired]

Jesus, I feel like such a tool now...

The RAM just wasn't seated correctly. Firmly slotted them in one at a time and boom, 16GB total.

Ugh. Live up to my avatar that's for sure! Interesting bit of info though. Been very helpful guys, thanks for your help!

 

[Darkbreeze]

Well, don't feel bad. It happens a lot and I've done it myself on more than one occasion which is why I used caps to emphasize FULLY seated in that first reply. Learn from it, know to be aware of it next time and just be happy it wasn't a more serious issue. Good luck Tragic.