DRAM LED solid red, no video output on Asus Z97-A mobo

[mikeyplocky]

Z-97A mobo

2x4gb HyperX Ram 1600CL10 240 240-PIN

First time building a computer. I plugged it in and all the fans are running, but am getting a solid red DRAM led light. Ive tried swapping out the ram in every single combination, clicking the MemOK! button and still nothing it keeps coming back on. Not sure what else to do as this is my first time building a computer, i have 0 clue how to troubleshoot! Anyone have any ideas of what this could be? Reading thru the forums im seeing things like loosen the grounding screws on the mobo (tried) taking out the battery and resetting bios (tried) trying it without the graphics card in (tried) totally resetting my CPU and water cooler (tried) and none of those things are working. Could it be a PSU issue? I unfortunately dont have a backup PSU lying around so i dont really know how I could go about testing that.

Thanks so much for the feedback:

A nervous noobie

 

[Computer LVR]

did you put your motherboard on the standoffs?

 

[mikeyplocky]

did you put your motherboard on the standoffs?

Are the standoffs the grounding pins on the chassis? if so, then yes.

 

[Alectfenrir]

Is your RAM seated in properly?

And did you make sure that your RAM is seated in slots A1 and B1 or A2 and B2?

 

[Computer LVR]

Why dont you try contacting kingston by phone also have tried just using one ram module

 

[mikeyplocky]

Is your RAM seated in properly?

And did you make sure that your RAM is seated in slots A1 and B1 or A2 and B2?

Yep the ram is def seated correctly, only one way that it fits in cause of the gap in the middle and thats how its in. Ive tried every single permutation of 2 sticks and 1 stick in every single slot, happens for all combinations.

 

[mikeyplocky]

Why dont you try contacting kingston by phone also have tried just using one ram module

I have yet to try calling them directly but I guess I should. But is it likely that it is an issue with the RAM itself if both sticks individually are causing the DRAM led to turn red?

 

[Alectfenrir]

Well it looks like you got a problem with the RAM itself or the RAM slot.

Try RMAing the RAM and get yourself new ones, if it still doesn't work then you got a defective RAM slot. G.Skill Ripjaws and Corsair Vengeance series are very good brands for RAM.

 

[Shaun o]

Here is your list of things to check.

Get the manual for the motherboard.
Check that the board takes the speed of the memory you have.
The manual will also list depending on how many ram sticks you have, where and what slots you must place them.
Depending on the amount of sticks used.

Check that you have connected the extra four or six pin power connection block from the PSU to the motherboard, socket for extra power. Located next to, near or around the cpu socket.
If the read light is on the motherboard it`s telling you to connect up the power block to the eight pin from the psu to the mobo, it means a lack of 12v extra feed to the mobo.

Check that both the ram sticks are seated in the slots fully down, and you have not placed them in backwards as there is a key in each memory slot stopping the incorrect fitting. both memory sticks should be level.
Like I said a red light on the mobo means you need to connect the four or eight pin power from the psu to the mobo ok. with Asus boards it is always related to a lack of power.

 

[mikeyplocky]

Here is your list of things to check.

Get the manual for the motherboard.
Check that the board takes the speed of the memory you have.
The manual will also list depending on how many ram sticks you have, where and what slots you must place them.
Depending on the amount of sticks used.

Check that you have connected the extra four or six pin power connection block from the PSU to the motherboard, socket for extra power. Located next to, near or around the cpu socket.
If the read light is on the motherboard it`s telling you to connect up the power block to the eight pin from the psu to the mobo, it means a lack of 12v extra feed to the mobo.

Check that both the ram sticks are seated in the slots fully down, and you have not placed them in backwards as there is a key in each memory slot stopping the incorrect fitting. both memory sticks should be level.
Like I said a red light on the mobo means you need to connect the four or eight pin power from the psu to the mobo ok. with Asus boards it is always related to a lack of power.

Hey shaun thanks for the response. The extra 8 pin power supply was/is connected and im still having the same issues. RAM is listed as compatible and currently is in slots designated by the manual. (A2/B2) however i have tried all permutations of RAM slots.

 

[SquidNinja]

I'm having the exact same problem; display is black, ram led is red, but everything is powered up just fine with no warning beeps. Just put my rig together, and I can't for the life of me figure out why this isn't working.

 

[spaulding]

I'm having the exact same problem; display is black, ram led is red, but everything is powered up just fine with no warning beeps. Just put my rig together, and I can't for the life of me figure out why this isn't working.

I am having the same issue as well. I have built 5 other machines with the exact same configuration and no issues. I'm not sure what is up but I am getting no video and a lit DRAM led on the motherboard

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Same situation myself - albeit with a z87-a using 2* Transcend 8gb TK 963EBF3 (which were working fine on an amd board.

 

[Shaun o]

You need to be in Advanced mode in the bios options first if in UEIF.
If you have an Asus board please check in the bios that under the memory setup page.
And you have the option to set D.H.O.C.P mode that it is selected.
Make sure that the option of EEC mode memory is disabled sometimes factory default of bios has it enabled., if the memory is just DDR with no EEC feature.the result is a red light on the Asus board when memory testing.

The same way works in reverse, if the memory does have EEC mode and bought by mistake the option must be enabled in the bios or the result will also be a red memory test light.

Check the bios, on what mode or speed it has auto detected for the timings and the voltage settings.
To what the sticker information of each of your ram sticks details in timing and cas setting to voltage.
If not correct set them to manual. the first three values in the memory timings options are your timings.
And should be set exactly relating to the speed the memory is running at the rating on the stick is normally classed as the highest memory speed timing settings or the memory in XMP mode.

When you set the bios to D.H.O.C.P mode .
If you look you will have an extra option where you can manual set the speed of the ram and select what the maximum speed of the ram works at relating to XMP mode Intel or Amd profile reported by the ram as the speed table from the ram modules.
Manual selection. There is another box below it that should also report the same speed you manually selected reporting the same value for the memory speed.


Make sure on an AMD FX system that your HT is set to 2000MHZ and the North bridge speed is also set to 2000Mhz.
If you also have switches for over clocking mode, you must make sure they are enabled on an Amd board for example on a MA99X Max 2 evo motherboard or above if they exist, both when enabled should be lit up green by an Led light on the motherboard.

One is to aid D.H.O.C.P. The other controls E.P.U or power management, phase and power control for Vrm phaze changes. in other words variable power tuning and voltage control plus low power management.

You can also have a momentary press button next to the four ram slots of the board that will force the bios to so a self test of the ram on first power up for quick memory detection and config set up depending on your motherboard, mostly found on New Asus boards.

Save all of your setting before exiting your bios, UEIF bios.
If it post`s and you get no red light on your Asus board. then your half way there.

On your next reboot of the system enter the bios again.
Set your HT link speed to 2600Mhz, this is the normal HT speed for most FX based Cpu`s.

Your Noth bridge settings should run, or be set to the speed your memory is set to run at, anything above will cause a red memory test light.
If you are over clocking with an FX based cpu change the multi, and if the system crashes in windows or you get any sort of memory error it is more related to the fact you are pushing your cpu too hard and need to bump its core voltage up slightly. 0.250 inc till stable in windows and under a load test, cpu burn in test.

Do not try to go above 1.7v with the core as you will see very rapid heat up quickly. Your better off settling for a slighter lower Multi, and voltage.
Save and exit the bios, Ueif bios once again.

Best of luck I hope for some of you it resolves the problem for you.

 

[andrey_1]

You need to be in Advanced mode in the bios options first if in UEIF.
If you have an Asus board please check in the bios that under the memory setup page.
And you have the option to set D.H.O.C.P mode that it is selected.
Make sure that the option of EEC mode memory is disabled sometimes factory default of bios has it enabled., if the memory is just DDR with no EEC feature.the result is a red light on the Asus board when memory testing.

The same way works in reverse, if the memory does have EEC mode and bought by mistake the option must be enabled in the bios or the result will also be a red memory test light.

Check the bios, on what mode or speed it has auto detected for the timings and the voltage settings.
To what the sticker information of each of your ram sticks details in timing and cas setting to voltage.
If not correct set them to manual. the first three values in the memory timings options are your timings.
And should be set exactly relating to the speed the memory is running at the rating on the stick is normally classed as the highest memory speed timing settings or the memory in XMP mode.

When you set the bios to D.H.O.C.P mode .
If you look you will have an extra option where you can manual set the speed of the ram and select what the maximum speed of the ram works at relating to XMP mode Intel or Amd profile reported by the ram as the speed table from the ram modules.
Manual selection. There is another box below it that should also report the same speed you manually selected reporting the same value for the memory speed.


Make sure on an AMD FX system that your HT is set to 2000MHZ and the North bridge speed is also set to 2000Mhz.
If you also have switches for over clocking mode, you must make sure they are enabled on an Amd board for example on a MA99X Max 2 evo motherboard or above if they exist, both when enabled should be lit up green by an Led light on the motherboard.

One is to aid D.H.O.C.P. The other controls E.P.U or power management, phase and power control for Vrm phaze changes. in other words variable power tuning and voltage control plus low power management.

You can also have a momentary press button next to the four ram slots of the board that will force the bios to so a self test of the ram on first power up for quick memory detection and config set up depending on your motherboard, mostly found on New Asus boards.

Save all of your setting before exiting your bios, UEIF bios.
If it post`s and you get no red light on your Asus board. then your half way there.

On your next reboot of the system enter the bios again.
Set your HT link speed to 2600Mhz, this is the normal HT speed for most FX based Cpu`s.

Your Noth bridge settings should run, or be set to the speed your memory is set to run at, anything above will cause a red memory test light.
If you are over clocking with an FX based cpu change the multi, and if the system crashes in windows or you get any sort of memory error it is more related to the fact you are pushing your cpu too hard and need to bump its core voltage up slightly. 0.250 inc till stable in windows and under a load test, cpu burn in test.

Do not try to go above 1.7v with the core as you will see very rapid heat up quickly. Your better off settling for a slighter lower Multi, and voltage.
Save and exit the bios, Ueif bios once again.

Best of luck I hope for some of you it resolves the problem for you.

I didn't find this D.H.O.C.P mode in my bios

and i have the same problem http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2849651/z97-dram-led-solid-red.html

 

[whosnkn]

You need to be in Advanced mode in the bios options first if in UEIF.
If you have an Asus board please check in the bios that under the memory setup page.
And you have the option to set D.H.O.C.P mode that it is selected.
Make sure that the option of EEC mode memory is disabled sometimes factory default of bios has it enabled., if the memory is just DDR with no EEC feature.the result is a red light on the Asus board when memory testing.

The same way works in reverse, if the memory does have EEC mode and bought by mistake the option must be enabled in the bios or the result will also be a red memory test light.

Check the bios, on what mode or speed it has auto detected for the timings and the voltage settings.
To what the sticker information of each of your ram sticks details in timing and cas setting to voltage.
If not correct set them to manual. the first three values in the memory timings options are your timings.
And should be set exactly relating to the speed the memory is running at the rating on the stick is normally classed as the highest memory speed timing settings or the memory in XMP mode.

When you set the bios to D.H.O.C.P mode .
If you look you will have an extra option where you can manual set the speed of the ram and select what the maximum speed of the ram works at relating to XMP mode Intel or Amd profile reported by the ram as the speed table from the ram modules.
Manual selection. There is another box below it that should also report the same speed you manually selected reporting the same value for the memory speed.


Make sure on an AMD FX system that your HT is set to 2000MHZ and the North bridge speed is also set to 2000Mhz.
If you also have switches for over clocking mode, you must make sure they are enabled on an Amd board for example on a MA99X Max 2 evo motherboard or above if they exist, both when enabled should be lit up green by an Led light on the motherboard.

One is to aid D.H.O.C.P. The other controls E.P.U or power management, phase and power control for Vrm phaze changes. in other words variable power tuning and voltage control plus low power management.

You can also have a momentary press button next to the four ram slots of the board that will force the bios to so a self test of the ram on first power up for quick memory detection and config set up depending on your motherboard, mostly found on New Asus boards.

Save all of your setting before exiting your bios, UEIF bios.
If it post`s and you get no red light on your Asus board. then your half way there.

On your next reboot of the system enter the bios again.
Set your HT link speed to 2600Mhz, this is the normal HT speed for most FX based Cpu`s.

Your Noth bridge settings should run, or be set to the speed your memory is set to run at, anything above will cause a red memory test light.
If you are over clocking with an FX based cpu change the multi, and if the system crashes in windows or you get any sort of memory error it is more related to the fact you are pushing your cpu too hard and need to bump its core voltage up slightly. 0.250 inc till stable in windows and under a load test, cpu burn in test.

Do not try to go above 1.7v with the core as you will see very rapid heat up quickly. Your better off settling for a slighter lower Multi, and voltage.
Save and exit the bios, Ueif bios once again.

Best of luck I hope for some of you it resolves the problem for you.

I didn't find this D.H.O.C.P mode in my bios

and i have the same problem http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2849651/z97-dram-led-solid-red.html

In the manual it says to use dimm slots a2 and b2. I moved them to a1 / b1 and it resolved my issue. It was able to post

 

[Z170-AR]

You need to be in Advanced mode in the bios options first if in UEIF.
If you have an Asus board please check in the bios that under the memory setup page.
And you have the option to set D.H.O.C.P mode that it is selected.
Make sure that the option of EEC mode memory is disabled sometimes factory default of bios has it enabled., if the memory is just DDR with no EEC feature.the result is a red light on the Asus board when memory testing.

The same way works in reverse, if the memory does have EEC mode and bought by mistake the option must be enabled in the bios or the result will also be a red memory test light.

Check the bios, on what mode or speed it has auto detected for the timings and the voltage settings.
To what the sticker information of each of your ram sticks details in timing and cas setting to voltage.
If not correct set them to manual. the first three values in the memory timings options are your timings.
And should be set exactly relating to the speed the memory is running at the rating on the stick is normally classed as the highest memory speed timing settings or the memory in XMP mode.

When you set the bios to D.H.O.C.P mode .
If you look you will have an extra option where you can manual set the speed of the ram and select what the maximum speed of the ram works at relating to XMP mode Intel or Amd profile reported by the ram as the speed table from the ram modules.
Manual selection. There is another box below it that should also report the same speed you manually selected reporting the same value for the memory speed.


Make sure on an AMD FX system that your HT is set to 2000MHZ and the North bridge speed is also set to 2000Mhz.
If you also have switches for over clocking mode, you must make sure they are enabled on an Amd board for example on a MA99X Max 2 evo motherboard or above if they exist, both when enabled should be lit up green by an Led light on the motherboard.

One is to aid D.H.O.C.P. The other controls E.P.U or power management, phase and power control for Vrm phaze changes. in other words variable power tuning and voltage control plus low power management.

You can also have a momentary press button next to the four ram slots of the board that will force the bios to so a self test of the ram on first power up for quick memory detection and config set up depending on your motherboard, mostly found on New Asus boards.

Save all of your setting before exiting your bios, UEIF bios.
If it post`s and you get no red light on your Asus board. then your half way there.

On your next reboot of the system enter the bios again.
Set your HT link speed to 2600Mhz, this is the normal HT speed for most FX based Cpu`s.

Your Noth bridge settings should run, or be set to the speed your memory is set to run at, anything above will cause a red memory test light.
If you are over clocking with an FX based cpu change the multi, and if the system crashes in windows or you get any sort of memory error it is more related to the fact you are pushing your cpu too hard and need to bump its core voltage up slightly. 0.250 inc till stable in windows and under a load test, cpu burn in test.

Do not try to go above 1.7v with the core as you will see very rapid heat up quickly. Your better off settling for a slighter lower Multi, and voltage.
Save and exit the bios, Ueif bios once again.

Best of luck I hope for some of you it resolves the problem for you.

I didn't find this D.H.O.C.P mode in my bios

and i have the same problem http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2849651/z97-dram-led-solid-red.html

In the manual it says to use dimm slots a2 and b2. I moved them to a1 / b1 and it resolved my issue. It was able to post

I have the Z170-AR mobo and the manual also states to use slots a2 and b2 although with my DDR4 2x8GB Kingston 2666 MHz memory this configuration does not boot even to post screen and the DRAM LED is a constant red. Using MEM-OK! didn’t resolve the problem but moving the memory to slots a1/b2 resolved the issue. Additionally if the XMP switch was not enabled, in bios the memory would only be registered as 2133 MHz.

 

[Vitor_0904]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWoh14DEo00

 

[Vitor_0904]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWoh14DEo00

 

[Vitor_0904]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWoh14DEo00

 

[uropigy]

I have the same problem with asus z 170 pro gaming and 16 gbs corsair 3000 mhz. Permanent red led dram. Ram1 in A1 slot and Ram2 in slot B1. The user manual recommended this, but display do not work.
I solve the problem so:
-ram A1/B2
- enter UEFI (only A1 slot works)
-select X.M.P profile
- save and turn off
- change A1/B1 configuration
- Be happy
Sorry for my bad english

 

[trex1490]

I have the same problem with asus z 170 pro gaming and 16 gbs corsair 3000 mhz. Permanent red led dram. Ram1 in A1 slot and Ram2 in slot B1. The user manual recommended this, but display do not work.
I solve the problem so:
-ram A1/B2
- enter UEFI (only A1 slot works)
-select X.M.P profile
- save and turn off
- change A1/B1 configuration
- Be happy
Sorry for my bad english

I've tried all of these things and the dram led always eventually goes back to solid red and it won't boot into the uefi. It was working fine then I took the side panel off and took one stick of ram out and put it back in. I've tried booting without that ram stick but the dram led always just stays red even when I press memOK. What could be wrong?

 

[Ronin625]

I have the same problem with asus z 170 pro gaming and 16 gbs corsair 3000 mhz. Permanent red led dram. Ram1 in A1 slot and Ram2 in slot B1. The user manual recommended this, but display do not work.
I solve the problem so:
-ram A1/B2
- enter UEFI (only A1 slot works)
-select X.M.P profile
- save and turn off
- change A1/B1 configuration
- Be happy
Sorry for my bad english

I've tried all of these things and the dram led always eventually goes back to solid red and it won't boot into the uefi. It was working fine then I took the side panel off and took one stick of ram out and put it back in. I've tried booting without that ram stick but the dram led always just stays red even when I press memOK. What could be wrong?

Have you solved the problem? I have the same issue like u