dead ram slots

[ross89r]

Hello, I've got an asus vi hero with i7 4770k and the last 2 ram slots (b1,b2) which is a red and black lane are dead. Tried different sets of ram re seating cpu moving ram in different confconfigurations, couldn't see any bent motherboard pins either. I've tested ram with memtest86 no problems. Pc will only boot up of there's one stick in a1 or if you put 2 sticks in a1, a2 (red and black lane) making it run single channel.

Now before I go buy a new board, is there anyway to know it's my motherboard for sure? Unfortunately I don't have a spare cpu to see if that's the cause

 

[alexoiu]

Hi, Try testing the board outside the case, with the stock Intel CPU cooler, for ruling out a short. Can you post a picture of the CPU socket?

 

[ross89r]

im getting a new psu tomorrow or most probably tuesday to rule out a power issue. while im fitting that I can get a high rez picture up incase i missed something. i've tried testing it outside the case and i was on stock cooler before my h80i.

So when i take the picture, if there isn't any sign of bent pins any idea what im looking at as cause ?

on a side note the cpu dont overclock stable at all with the tiniest OC, even with one stick of single channel ram in a1, gets a bsod saying whea_uncorrectable_error is that related to any of my problems ?

 

[alexoiu]

If no bent pins, then it might be a faulty motherboard... or CPU.

 

[ross89r]

Is there any software test I could do to eliminate one or the other?

If I was to get a new board should I go for a z97, if so any recommendations? Or just wait for skylake and get new cpu and board at same time

 

[Tradesman1]

Have you tried loosening the CPU cooler then snugging it back down, if too tight in a corner or side (or overall) it can affect the MC (memory controller)

 

[Benevolence]

Having an H80 myself, I realized you can definitely screw that thing down too tight. Finger tight + a little screwdriver pressure is plenty. Also, make sure it is oriented correctly. I forget the exact article, but rotating the water block 90 deg can sometimes solve the problem.
What happened to me is the waterblock wasn't making full contact with the CPU because of capacitors near the CPU. Rotating the block 90deg solved the problem. This would also explain why you can't overclock, since the memory controller isn't getting full contact.



EDIT: Found that article:
http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=98107&highlight=block+orientation
"Try turning the waterblock 90 degrees. We have see a few boards like your (mostly older gigabyte) that have put caps too close to the cpu socket. Turning the 90 degrees has fixed a few of them that way."

 

[ross89r]

I have tried re-screwing the block down but maybe I'm still not getting it correctly, the pipes on my cooler are abit unforgiving on position so I will have another go, come to think of it I might of seen some blank spots on the cpu where there wasn't any paste maybe from it not touching although across all 4 cores the temperature are the same I'll take some high rez pictures tonight.

Interesting about turning the block 90 degrees I've not seen that before I'll see how that works. I'm probably going to replace this cooler though for a Noctua NH-U14S, not a fan of the noise and my unit was refurbished, I'd cry it anything happened to leak

 

[ross89r]

Sorry about the quality! the light in my room was pretty poor! i moved the hydro 80i 90 degrees and same problem.

but i suspect im missing a pin 🙁 these are the two pictures





as you MIGHT be able to see theres a little black dot . Im 100% sure there isnt a pin there but where im not clued up on how many pins there actually should be, is that a missing one or shouldnt there be one there anyway?

 

[Tradesman1]

Hard to tell - might be

 

[ross89r]

yeah there is a pin missing, new motherboard it is then..