Question Half of RAM detected

[Greg7261]

Hello all, i have recently gotten ram problems and im not sure what to do. Have 2 sticks of 24gb ddr5 ram with a very high oc freq. Only one of them is seen in task man and when i check in bios, i see that it detects both sticks but says that one of them has 0gb capacty. i think its the slot because i have switched the sticks and got the same result. Is it a mobo or a ram issue?
Cpuz shows this:
https://ibb.co/5vZGnRZ

thx for reading

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

Please pass on a link to your ram kit. Also, which two slots are you running the rams on your motherboard?

 

[Greg7261]

Hello, I'm not at home right now so I'll post what I can.

CPU: i9 14900k OEM
CPU cooler: Arctic cooling liquid freezer 2
Motherboard: MSI tomahawk Max wifi
(Updated BIOS yesterday but idk ver num
Ram: a 48gig 2 stick kit link: https://viper.patriotmemory.com/products/xtreme5-ddr5-performance-ram)
SSD/HDD: 4tb Acer predator Gm7
GPU: rtx 3080 aorus waterforce
PSU: Super flower leadex VII 1000w (is 3 months old)
Chassis:Thermaltake p3 tg pro
OS:Win11
Monitor: probably irrelevant but a 240hz 1440p oled

Ram is seated in slots a2 and b2 I think. They are the recommended config but the ram in a2 shows in cpuz as having 0gb

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Greg7261]

BIOS also shows capacity of ram in a2 to be 0gb and some otherwise it is OK.
The issue persists if I switch sticks in slots a2 and b2 around.
Is this a faulty dimm or a software problem?

 

[geofelt]

One common reason for such ram issues is a bent pin in the cpu socket.
It is all too easy to do if you did not drop the chip in cleanly, had to smoosh the processor around a bit to get it seated.

 

[Greg7261]

One common reason for such ram issues is a bent pin in the cpu socket.
It is all too easy to do if you did not drop the chip in cleanly, had to smoosh the processor around a bit to get it seated.

I have been using my computer for some time now and I think it was at 48gigs before. Can it happen spontaneously?
Will check my CPU and come back in a few days

Ps. When inserting the CPU, I placed it from a height of 3-5 mm and it sat correctly so I'm not sure if that's the cause

 

[geofelt]

If it was once working with 48gb, I think it very unlikely that any damage would occur if you did nothing.
Test your ram with one stick in whatever slot works.
Run memtest86+
It boots from a usb stick and does not use windows.
You can download it here:

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.

If one stick passes, try the other stick.
If the second stick passes, the issue is likely to be the motherboard.

Your ram will have a lifetime warranty.
If you think the ram is defective, contact Patriot for a replacement kit.

 

[Greg7261]

If it was once working with 48gb, I think it very unlikely that any damage would occur if you did nothing.
Test your ram with one stick in whatever slot works.
Run memtest86+
It boots from a usb stick and does not use windows.
You can download it here:

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.

If one stick passes, try the other stick.
If the second stick passes, the issue is likely to be the motherboard.

Your ram will have a lifetime warranty.
If you think the ram is defective, contact Patriot for a replacement kit.

Thx a ton! will get back to you after testing

 

[Greg7261]

I created a bootable usb and when i placed a single ram stick in a2, the pc didnt boot even when using the other one. It works fine with a stick in b2 so im starting to think that maybe the slot a2 is broken or that i may have somehow bent a few motherboard cpu pins.
Is there a way to find out which one it is without removing the cooler as i dont have thermal paste on hand and use my computer daily?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Is there a way to find out which one it is without removing the cooler as i dont have thermal paste on hand and use my computer daily?

No. You'll have to remove cpu from the socket and inspect cpu pins very carefully.
Take a high resolution photo of the socket and post here.
(upload to imgur.com and post link to the photo)

What is full model name of your motherboard?
Try all the other ram slots (one at the time).
It may be possible to use slots A1, B1 for dual channel ram operation.

 

[Greg7261]

No. You'll have to remove cpu from the socket and inspect cpu pins very carefully.
Take a high resolution photo of the socket and post here.
(upload to imgur.com and post link to the photo)

What is full model name of your motherboard?
Try all the other ram slots (one at the time).
It may be possible to use slots A1, B1 for dual channel ram operation.

would it be possible to run the computer without a cooler? limited of course as i will be able to buy thermal paste on monday and ill need to use it for work this weekend.

Here is a link to the motherboard: msi tomahawk mobo

Will try running in a1 and b1 in a sec. will edit this post asap

Edit:
Still 24gig ram, checking which slot affected

 

[geofelt]

No.
The motherboard will not likely start without a cooler anyway.
And, even if you could, you can damage the cpu chip.
Be patient until you get the paste.
Any paste will do.

 

[Greg7261]

I have tested the ram in all positions. here are my findings:

A1 or A2 are needed for boot even if B1 or B2 are present
A1 and A2 are always both ignored
configs of A1 and B2 and A2 and B2 are accepted and 24 gigs is given

I remembered that i have an old thermal pad that i can use for now. Will check cpu today or tomorrow.
Thanks for the replies!
Edit: checking cpu now

 

[Greg7261]

So I removed the CPU and do not see any obvious pin defects. What do you think?
https://ibb.co/QmmdfZ2

20240224-201053 hosted at ImgBB

Image 20240224-201053 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

I'm sorry for using imgbb instead of imgur, but I cant create an imgur acc because they are over capacity for some reason
Edit: added second pic

 

[SkyNetRising]

So I removed the CPU and do not see any obvious pin defects. What do you think?

To find pin alignment problems, you have to make multiple photos from different angles.
Top down view is not ideal for that.
Anyway - I couldn't spot any pin issues in your photo.

BTW using imgur.com doesn't require imgur account.
Just press on <New Post> in left upper corner of the page.

 

[geofelt]

On the second photo at the very bottom right, it looks like paste or something is where some pins might be.

 

[Greg7261]

Found a bent

To find pin alignment problems, you have to make multiple photos from different angles.
Top down view is not ideal for that.
Anyway - I couldn't spot any pin issues in your photo.

BTW using imgur.com doesn't require imgur account.
Just press on <New Post> in left upper corner of the page.

I get this message when I open the site:

{"data":{"error":"Imgur is temporarily over capacity. Please try again later."},"success":false,"status":403}

I think it is a bent pin and not a blob of paste.
Will update this post with better images in a sec

 

[SkyNetRising]

would it be possible to run the computer without a cooler? limited of course as i will be able to buy thermal paste on monday and ill need to use it for work this weekend.

You can NOT run pc without cpu cooler.

You can run it without thermal paste though.
For a short time (couple days max) you can use tooth paste as a substitute.
But it will dry out fast. You have to replace it with real thermal paste ASAP.

 

[Greg7261]

You can NOT run pc without cpu cooler.

You can run it without thermal paste though.
For a short time (couple days max) you can use tooth paste as a substitute.
But it will dry out fast. You have to replace it with real thermal paste ASAP.

Have found a 0.8g of mx5 arctis so will use that for now

Here are some more pics

[URL='https://ibb.co/FW4bPrX']https://ibb.co/FW4bPrX[/URL]

20240224-205553 hosted at ImgBB

Image 20240224-205553 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

h[URL='https://ibb.co/nrbBw21']ttps://ibb.co/nrbBw21[/URL]

20240224-205829 hosted at ImgBB

Image 20240224-205829 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

My phone has a large zoom so I also added these. Ignore the white strands as I have already removed them and they happened while I was cleaning the cpu
Edit: a pin is missing in the photos. I can see the hole clearly. What can I do? Should I send the board back?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Those are obviously mangled pins.
Didn't see them in previous photos though. So they are new.

 

[geofelt]

The photo with the red on it does show damaged pins, and in a location that probably addresses ram.
Good call from SkyNetRising for added photos.
The first, even at high magnification did not show them.

If you feel comfortable, try to straighten the pins with a needle.
Be very careful, the pins are delicate.
If not comfortable, a jeweler would be able to do it.
No harm in trying, the motherboard can not be returned for a rma.

 

[Greg7261]

pin is missing in the photos. I can see the hole clearly. What can I do? Should I send

The photo with the red on it does show damaged pins, and in a location that probably addresses ram.
Good call from SkyNetRising for added photos.
The first, even at high magnification did hot show them.

If you feel comfortable, try to straighten the pins with a needle.
Be very careful, the pins are delicate.
If not comfortable, a jeweler would be able to do it.
No harm in trying, the motherboard can not be returned for a rma.

I think the pin broke off as I can comfortably fit the tip of a needle into the place of the missing pin. Would there be a way to create a makeshift pin?

 

[Greg7261]

I think I was wrong in thinking the pin was broken. I'll add some pics of what I have now. Will edit in a sec

Edit:

https://ibb.co/9gjdCZM

https://ibb.co/KyjH5md

 

[geofelt]

pin is missing in the photos. I can see the hole clearly. What can I do? Should I send

I think the pin broke off as I can comfortably fit the tip of a needle into the place of the missing pin. Would there be a way to create a makeshift pin?

I don't see how a ghetto pin replacement can work.
The best thing is to buy a replacement exact copy of your current motherboard so you don't run into driver or windows licensing issues. Use the current motherboard with limited ram so you can keep going
After the replacement is installed, decide what to do with the old.
One option might be to get a quote from MSI to replace the socket. Some 15 years ago, Gigabyte charged me $50.

 

[Greg7261]

I think I was wrong in thinking the pin was broken. I'll add some pics of what I have now. Will edit in a sec

I don't see how a ghetto pin replacement can work.
The best thing is to buy a replacement exact copy of your current motherboard so you don't run into driver or windows licensing issues. Use the current motherboard with limited ram so you can keep going
After the replacement is installed, decide what to do with the old.
One option might be to get a quote from MSI to replace the socket. Some 15 years ago, Gigabyte charged me $50.

Thankfully I think the disaster may have been avoided as I think it was a bent pin and I was just fat fingered. In my previous post are some updated pics. Do you think I can now try placing CPU again?
Thanks for all the responses btw!