G.Skill Trident X Dual Channel Won't Work

[SpetsnazBeaver]

I recently built a new PC after my old HP died. These are the parts:

Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5
Intel Core i7 4790K
G.SKILL Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 2400 CL10 1.65V
ASUS GTX660-DC2O-2GD5
EVGA SuperNOVA 850 B2
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
StarTech PCIe Wireless Adapter
5x120mm case fan, 1x230mm case fan

So I put the whole thing together, and went to boot up for the first time and it didn't POST. My monitor stayed blank and my mobo speaker gave continuous short beeps with a power cycle. I found this meant a power error. However this seems to be false. I managed to isolate (at least I hope/think so) the issue to the RAM.

Something about the RAM is causing the problem. I'm fairly certain the RAM sticks themselves are fine. My RAM slots are labelled as follows:

CPU

DIMM 4 (Black)
DIMM 2 (Grey)
DIMM 3 (Black)
DIMM 1 (Grey)

I have tested both sticks one at a time in slots 1 and 3 and that POSTs fine but 2 and 4 individually (i guess that makes sense since 1 or 3 should be filled first) and the 1,2 and 3,4 pairs don't POST, giving me the blank screen and short continuous beeps with power cycle.

I tried turning on XMP and it seems to have autodetected the stick specs.
I have changed DRAM voltage to 1.66V (it goes up by increments of 0.02V).
I have also tried loosening the cpu cooler and tightening it again screw tight.
I have now installed Windows with just the one stick and wondering if i should update the BIOS?

How do I get the 2 sticks to work together? Doesn't make sense why the dual channel setup doesn't work.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

1. Always check stability at the default selected RAm speed befor enabling XMP.

2. Put in same color slots. On the Gigabyte Z97 SOC Force, manual said the 2nd and 4th from the CPU. I tried to check your manual but their server is boinky atm.

"Sorry, the page you are looking for is no longer available or has been moved.
Please try the following:"

"Server Error in '/' Application"

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

1. Always check stability at the default selected RAm speed befor enabling XMP.

2. Put in same color slots

1. Did you even read my description. I can't check anything with the 2 sticks inserted since it doesn't post. I enabled XMP after it didn't post with the 2 sticks. I am currently writing from the exact PC with the issue. Running 1 stick atm just fine.

2. Thank you Captain Obvious you have helped in no way. Did you read my RAM slot diagram and subsequent testing descriptions?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Next time try reading the manual. If you put in the wrong slots and try to boot you can mess things up and then no matter what you do, it won't help. So it would have been good to know if you put in the same slots first and had problems or if you did it wrong and then the problems surfaced. What I'd recommend that you do for the next step would have depended on knowing that. I had a similar problem recently with a bad stick of 2400 CAS 10. When a replacement pair was sent, it wouldn't boot either. There's a simple solution but given your demeanor, i think I'll go help someone more appreciative.

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Next time try reading the manual. If you put in the wrong slots and try to boot you can mess things up and then no matter what you do, it won't help. So it would have been good to know if you put in the same slots first and had problems or if you did it wrong and then the problems surfaced. What I'd recommend that you do for the next step would have depended on knowing that. I had a similar problem recently with a bad stick of 2400 CAS 10. When a replacement pair was sent, it wouldn't boot either. There's a simple solution but given your demeanor, i think I'll go help someone more appreciative.

Sorry, I'm just extremely tired of this problem. This is my third post and people keep talking about the slot colours like I'm colorblind or stupid and didn't do much beyond that. The very first insertion was into gray slots 1 and 2 as per the manual's recommendation. This resulted in the aforementioned error. I'm fairy certain both sticks are fine as I've checked them in all slots individually (even single stick didn't work in slots 2 and 4).

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Your BIOS is "befuddled" from the initial install.

1. Open manual and see where they want 1 stick to be installed. Id look for you but the server is down and I can't d/l manual.

2. Reset CMOS using the method described in the manual (BIOS section).

3. Boot with just the 1 stick located as per Step 1. Set BIOS to defaults.

4. Save and Exit, shut down

5. Put in 2nd stick

6. Boot

7. Check BIOS for proper recognition of both sticks.

8. Install OS, check system stability

9. Shut down and try XMP

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Your BIOS is "befuddled" from the initial install.

1. Open manual and see where they want 1 stick to be installed. Id look for you but the server is down and I can't d/l manual.

2. Reset CMOS using the method described in the manual (BIOS section).

3. Boot with just the 1 stick located as per Step 1. Set BIOS to defaults.

4. Save and Exit, shut down

5. Put in 2nd stick

6. Boot

7. Check BIOS for proper recognition of both sticks.

8. Install OS, check system stability

9. Shut down and try XMP

Alright I'll give it a try and report back once that's done. Might be a little while since I've already installed Windows and am formatting (with health checkup) myself a nice 1.5TB partition outside of C. It's at 35% so it'll probably be another hour. So to clarify. Reset Cmos/Pull battery, set BIOS to factory default settings with the one stick, save and reboot adding the second stick, if everything is stable, enable xmp. Thanks a lot and sorry for my frustration, you're the one person whose given me a solution I haven't heard before. Hope it works. I hope it's not CPU related. The socket seemed fine and I was handling the CPU carefully so I hope no pins got bent (apparently that's another cause of no dual channel). Thank god I'm using Intel, I'm afraid of AMD and their chipside pins.

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Your BIOS is "befuddled" from the initial install.

1. Open manual and see where they want 1 stick to be installed. Id look for you but the server is down and I can't d/l manual.

2. Reset CMOS using the method described in the manual (BIOS section).

3. Boot with just the 1 stick located as per Step 1. Set BIOS to defaults.

4. Save and Exit, shut down

5. Put in 2nd stick

6. Boot

7. Check BIOS for proper recognition of both sticks.

8. Install OS, check system stability

9. Shut down and try XMP

By the way, checking the manual right now and it doesn't specify the slot for a single module setup. Only 2 and 4 module. It says Channel A is slots 2 and 4 while channel B is slots 1 and 3. 2 module setup is listed to be either 2 and 1 or 4 and 3. In my testing though slots 4 and 3 caused the same problem with one stick that was caused by a 2 stick setup. Again my RAM slot diagram is:

[CPU]

-4-
-2-
-3-
-1-

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Well you want to use both channels..... usually its like A1 / B1 and A2 / B2

2nd and 4th from CPU is the usual "preferred", my guess being the pick that to stay as far away as possible from coolers.

 

[Tradesman1]

Try loosening the 212 EVO then snug it down, not overly tight, just snug, if the cooler is too tight in a corner or side it can throw the CPU out od level so it doesn't have full contact with all socket pins. This cancause problems with the MC (memory controller) reading all the slots fully (also possible is debris or thermal compound in the socket or bent pins

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Try loosening the 212 EVO then snug it down, not overly tight, just snug, if the cooler is too tight in a corner or side it can throw the CPU out od level so it doesn't have full contact with all socket pins. This cancause problems with the MC (memory controller) reading all the slots fully (also possible is debris or thermal compound in the socket or bent pins

I already did that. 75% through formatting the hard drive, will try Jack's solution after. Really hope the pins are fine. Not that I was looking for it but when I was installing the cpu the socket seemed fine.

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Well you want to use both channels..... usually its like A1 / B1 and A2 / B2

2nd and 4th from CPU is the usual "preferred", my guess being the pick that to stay as far away as possible from coolers.

Which slot should I use starting out with the one stick after clearing CMOS?

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Well you want to use both channels..... usually its like A1 / B1 and A2 / B2

2nd and 4th from CPU is the usual "preferred", my guess being the pick that to stay as far away as possible from coolers.

I did what you recommended. Pulled the CMOS battery, waited several minutes before putting it back in, booted into bios with one stick and saved at default settings, put the second stick in and got the same error as before. Looks like Channel A (slots 2 and 4, grey and black closest to cpu) is dead. Should I take off the cooler and reseat the CPU? The PC operates just fine with one stick, working in WIndows, installing updates and all. I tried the cooler loosening and screw tightening method but that didn't work. Am I correct in leaning towards this being a motherboard issue?

 

[Tradesman1]

Well you want to use both channels..... usually its like A1 / B1 and A2 / B2

2nd and 4th from CPU is the usual "preferred", my guess being the pick that to stay as far away as possible from coolers.

I did what you recommended. Pulled the CMOS battery, waited several minutes before putting it back in, booted into bios with one stick and saved at default settings, put the second stick in and got the same error as before. Looks like Channel A (slots 2 and 4, grey and black closest to cpu) is dead. Should I take off the cooler and reseat the CPU? The PC operates just fine with one stick, working in WIndows, installing updates and all. I tried the cooler loosening and screw tightening method but that didn't work. Am I correct in leaning towards this being a motherboard issue?

______________

Yep, give it a try, take a good look at the pins while there

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Well you want to use both channels..... usually its like A1 / B1 and A2 / B2

2nd and 4th from CPU is the usual "preferred", my guess being the pick that to stay as far away as possible from coolers.

I did what you recommended. Pulled the CMOS battery, waited several minutes before putting it back in, booted into bios with one stick and saved at default settings, put the second stick in and got the same error as before. Looks like Channel A (slots 2 and 4, grey and black closest to cpu) is dead. Should I take off the cooler and reseat the CPU? The PC operates just fine with one stick, working in WIndows, installing updates and all. I tried the cooler loosening and screw tightening method but that didn't work. Am I correct in leaning towards this being a motherboard issue?

______________

Yep, give it a try, take a good look at the pins while there

Of course there's a ton of pins so it might be hard to tell but from what I saw they look fine. The CPU itself looks good too. After removing the CPU and reinserting it though, I have the same problem. Looks like Channel A slots (grey 2 and black 4) are DOA unless you have any other solutions.

 

[Tradesman1]

May just be got a bad mobo 🙁

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

May just be got a bad mobo 🙁

So nothing else to do? Go back to the store and switch MOBO and CPU too just in case, maybe get them to test it with the sticks in store? I bought thi at a brick and mortar NCIX

 

[Tradesman1]

That would be a good idea

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

That would be a good idea

Welp, just coming back from the shop. Turns out I did overtighten the cooler and exposed the wires going to Channel A RAM slots, shorting the channel. Putting in the stock Intel cooler re enabled the channel. I have very thin non conductive sticker type washers. Should I put them over the holes and install the cooler more carefully? Would that be a good solution or is the board buggered? All RAM slots seemed to work fine when the shorting issue was resolved with the stock cooler.

 

[Tradesman1]

Can try that, have done similar, this happens often with third party coolers Glad we found the problem

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Can try that, have done similar, this happens often with third party coolers Glad we found the problem

Don't want to jinx this but seems the washer solved the issue. 2 sticks dual channel and PC isn't complaining. Will try XMP now, report results and get back in a day or two of stressing the machine out. Tradesman you are a godsend!!!

Update: XMP seems to work as intended

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Welp, just coming back from the shop. Turns out I did overtighten the cooler and exposed the wires going to Channel A RAM slots, shorting the channel. Putting in the stock Intel cooler re enabled the channel. I have very thin non conductive sticker type washers. Should I put them over the holes and install the cooler more carefully? Would that be a good solution or is the board buggered? All RAM slots seemed to work fine when the shorting issue was resolved with the stock cooler.

This is a common problem with the Hyper 212. .... I have done 3 rebuilds with this cooler. In one case I was able to get it going again just by loosening the screws..... in the other two, one actually cracked the board .... not unusual with the lower priced Asrock boards.... they tend to be thin. The other I can only imagine the circuit traces within the board itself were broken.

 

[SpetsnazBeaver]

Welp, just coming back from the shop. Turns out I did overtighten the cooler and exposed the wires going to Channel A RAM slots, shorting the channel. Putting in the stock Intel cooler re enabled the channel. I have very thin non conductive sticker type washers. Should I put them over the holes and install the cooler more carefully? Would that be a good solution or is the board buggered? All RAM slots seemed to work fine when the shorting issue was resolved with the stock cooler.

This is a common problem with the Hyper 212. .... I have done 3 rebuilds with this cooler. In one case I was able to get it going again just by loosening the screws..... in the other two, one actually cracked the board .... not unusual with the lower priced Asrock boards.... they tend to be thin. The other I can only imagine the circuit traces within the board itself were broken.

To reitirate, seems the washers solved the issue. 2 sticks dual channel with XMP enabled running for a couple hours now and PC isn't complaining. I'll get back in a day or two of stressing the machine out. I'm guessing the only damage was the non-conductive coating then? The thin washers seem to have stopped shorting and CPU temps in mid 20s low 30s seem to show that the height reise for the cooler didn't affect cooling performance. Should I be safe now or keep worrying the shorting will come back?

 

[Tradesman1]

Should be fine 😉

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Could you see the circuit traces ? In the one that was baffling me, there was no scratching of the surface, tho I have seen that happen.... in that case it was a burr on the bottom of the washer tho.

I have 2 , maybe 1 ... think my son gave one away, Hyper 212's sitting around here from users who upgraded for that reason. TIM vendors say the ideal mounting pressure is 60-70 pounds; hard for those w/o a few builds under their belt to judge that correctly ... and when there's no stop mechanism, very easy to over tighten.