Computer won't boot after installing more RAM

[eurekastreet]

Hi everyone,

My old ram setup was 2x4GB. I received today 2 brand new 4GB sticks which were exactly of the same model as my old ones (G-Skills Ripjaws X DDR3 - 1333), aiming for a total of 4x4 GB.
I'm running Win 10 on an Asus P8H61 EVO.
I've installed the new RAM in slots "1 and 3" - the old one was "2 and 4"....and the computer won't boot. I took them away, and fortunately it booted again.

Could it be that the new RAM despite the exact same name is of a different model than the old one ? I'm attaching a screenshot of the old setup in case that's of any help. http://imgur.com/a/hIXz7

I'm no techie so....any idea what could have caused the problem ? Could it be a manufacture problem ? Bios config problem ? Any help would be more than welcome ! Thanks !

 

[elbert]

Should still boot as long as the ram is ddr3. Sounds like the ram was a bad kit. Get it replaced using RMA.

 

[eurekastreet]

Should still boot as long as the ram is ddr3. Sounds like the ram was a bad kit. Get it replaced using RMA.

No chance there's another solution for this (or some tests I could easily do to be sure of it without putting my pc at risk )? I don't mind returning the products, but since it's some old models, it took about 10 days to be shipped, returning it and asking for a replacement would probably take 2 more weeks :-/

 

[elbert]

Na if a new part makes it not work then when removed works again the part is bad or wrong. Make sure you didn't get ddr4 by mistake.

 

[MeanMachine41]

Hi everyone,

My old ram setup was 2x4GB. I received today 2 brand new 4GB sticks which were exactly of the same model as my old ones (G-Skills Ripjaws X DDR3 - 1333), aiming for a total of 4x4 GB.
I'm running Win 10 on an Asus P8H61 EVO.
I've installed the new RAM in slots "1 and 3" - the old one was "2 and 4"....and the computer won't boot. I took them away, and fortunately it booted again.

Could it be that the new RAM despite the exact same name is of a different model than the old one ? I'm attaching a screenshot of the old setup in case that's of any help. http://imgur.com/a/hIXz7

I'm no techie so....any idea what could have caused the problem ? Could it be a manufacture problem ? Bios config problem ? Any help would be more than welcome ! Thanks !

Hi eurekastreet
Mixing different RAM kits as you describe is not a good idea and can cause issues.
It is during the manufacturing process where slight discrepancies regarding latency and Timings can differ and that's why the manufacturers bin modules into kits to ensure compliance.
Sometimes they do work with tweaking Primary Timings and voltage in Bios but no guarantee.
If the kits you have work interdependently yet not together then return the kit you just bought and exchange them for a single kit the size and frequency you need and keep the rest for spares.

Here is a good article on the subject: https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?57038-Don%92t-combine-memory-kits!-The-meat-and-potatoes-overview

 

[mjslakeridge]

As said, there is no guarantee when mixing ram from different kits. Try the new ram in slots 2 and 4, removing the old ram (don't get them mixed up, maybe put a small dot on the old ram with a sharpie marker). If the new ram by itself works fine, then you have a compatibility issue. You can also download Memtest86+ and install it on a usb stick. Then you would boot from the usb stick (change boot order in BIOS) and run the test on one stick of the new ram at a time.

 

[eurekastreet]

Here is a pic of the 2 sticks & labels, in case that's of any help

Old one is on top (4gb stick, part of an 8gb kit), new one on the bottom (and from the label, it might actually be a 2x2 Gb kit, either the info I got on the website was misleading, or they just changed part of the label)....in any case, all the specs seem to be similar. I guess I'm up for a product return ?

 

[mjslakeridge]

Did you try using just the new ram as I suggested above? If it works, you can download CPU-Z to determine the specs of the ram (frequency, timings, size), to see if it corresponds with the label.

 

[eurekastreet]

Did you try using just the new ram as I suggested above? If it works, you can download CPU-Z to determine the specs of the ram (frequency, timings, size), to see if it corresponds with the label.

I haven't done it (yet). I'm a bit afraid taking away the old RAM in case it would mess up the whole system (no idea if that's possible but as I said I'm no techie). Since this is my work computer, I need to be sure it's gonna work, at least during the week. Maybe I'll be braver during the weekend ;-D

 

[mjslakeridge]

Removing the old RAM and inserting the new will not mess up the whole system, unless you physically damage the slots or damage the motherboard by pressing the new RAM in with too much force. The RAM can only go in to the slots one way, so you have to make sure the notch is in the correct position. I'm sure people have broken the RAM slots or the RAM itself by trying to force it in the wrong way, or by trying to insert DDR4 RAM into DDR3 slots, or some variant of that.

But I can see you waiting until the weekend if this is your work computer.

 

[eurekastreet]

Removing the old RAM and inserting the new will not mess up the whole system, unless you physically damage the slots or damage the motherboard by pressing the new RAM in with too much force. The RAM can only go in to the slots one way, so you have to make sure the notch is in the correct position. I'm sure people have broken the RAM slots or the RAM itself by trying to force it in the wrong way, or by trying to insert DDR4 RAM into DDR3 slots, or some variant of that.

But I can see you waiting until the weekend if this is your work computer.

Thanks a lot for, I'll give it a shot...in 48 hours.

 

[mjslakeridge]

I just looked at your CPU-Z image and I happen to have the exact same RAM (a 2x4 GB kit) I bought a few weeks ago. The part #s are the same except mine ends in 4GBRH. When I look at my CPU-Z info, it is the same as yours EXCEPT under Ranks mine says Single, yours says Double (I don't know what Ranks means). Also in my SPD tab, in the XMP column the tRC value for my RAM is 28, while yours is 29.

I also noticed in your Memory tab, your frequency is 664.9 which seems a bit low. Mine is 668.3. Everything else is exactly the same.

I don't know what to make of these things (if anything), but I guess even buying the "same" RAM, there can be differences. Maybe someone else will be able to comment as to whether these differences could affect the compatibility of different RAM sticks. I will be interested to see your CPU-Z info on your new RAM. I would post mine on Imgur.com, but I don't know how to capture screen shots (I have only posted photos on that site).