Question Help! B1 + B2 suddenly not working after installing new RAM.

[Hypnautic]

Hi there! I have an issue that is driving me crazy, I can’t work my way through what’s happening. Could really use some advice.

recently took advantage of some Prime deals to buy some Corsair Vengeance 2x16 DDR4 RAM. My build was working off of 2x8gb, in slots B2 + A2 for the last few years. Once I got the new kit I removed my old sticks and replaced them with new sticks in B2/A2. I then put my old sticks in B1/A1. I did this with the PC completely removed from power and wearing an anti static wristband.

I powered on the PC it cycled about 3-4 times of powering for 1 second, the mobo would beep, power off and repeat. After a few runs it stayed powered on but wouldn’t POST or boot into BIOS, black screen.

Looking at the motherboard I saw that the DRAM LED was lit orange, and the MemOK Memory LED was lit. The PC stayed powered on but wouldn’t get past this.

I removed the new sticks, put the old sticks back to their previous setup in B2/A2. This time it didn’t do the restart cycle, just went straight into the black screen not POSTing with DRAM and MemOK LEDs.

I replaced the CMOS, cleared with the jump pins. This time it would restart once before getting stuck again with DRAM lit up but MemOK was not lit.

I tried various slot configurations before finding that if either B1 or B2 had RAM in it the system would not POST (with any of the 4 sticks). But if I used any of the new sticks in A1 or A2 or A1+A2 it would boot right into BIOS with no issues.

I updated BIOS still can’t use the B slots. This makes no sense to me, I didn’t touch the CPU I had static protection, I was VERY gentle each time I seated. I don’t see any bent pins.

The way MemOKs LED stayed lit despite me replacing the RAM originally had me curious, if the training had been interrupted and that caused an issue. But I’m not sure.

Strangely I’ve heard other ppl have a similar issue on Z-390s but never saw a solution and they were with new builds.

Anyone have any ideas?

-ASUS ROG Strix Z-390F
-i5 9600k
-Corsair Vengeance 2x8 3600mhz
-Corsair Vengeance 2x16 3600mhz

 

[Lutfij]

I then put my old sticks in B1/A1.
You shouldn't mix and match ram kits.

Work with the new ram kit in slots A2 and B2, only, without adding the other ram kit. If you wanted more ram, you should've bought two of the new ram kits and populated all 4 slots on the motherboard.

BIOS version for your motherboard?

 

[Hypnautic]

Thanks Lutfij. Is that just general advice or do you think that could have caused the issue?

I’m unable to post with any configuration that includes a B slot. Including the new kit in B2/A2 by themselves, or the old kit in B2/A2 by themselves. Or with just B1 or just B2 filled. Any configuration that has a stick in either B slot will cause the PC to get stuck on DRAM while trying to POST.

If I do A1 or A2 or A1/A2 with either kit it boots.

I just updated BIOS, didn’t notate what the previous version was unfortunately . New version is:

ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING BIOS 2004
Version 2004
8.13 MB** **2021/11/29

Appreciate your help

 

[Hypnautic]

@Lutfij I Realized I didn’t tag you in my reply.

Do you have any other ideas or tips by chance?

 

[Colif]

Forums tell people if someone has replied. He might be busy

if both old and new sticks won't work in either B slots... did you reset cmos before trying old ones?

A2 has to be used for at least 1 of the sticks so that explains why B1 & B2 didn't work.

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1151/ROG_STRIX_Z390-F_GAMING/E14842_ROG_STRIX_Z390-F_GAMING_UM_V2_WEB.pdf?model=ROG%20STRIX%20Z390-F%20GAMING

it shouldn't be bent pin on CPU but you could look...

Its starting to look like its the motherboard itself.

All sticks work by selves in A2? Just confirming its not a bad stick at play.

 

[Hypnautic]

Thanks @Colif! Yes forgot to add that I replaced CMOS battery and cleared with jumper to be safe. Each time I would rearrange the sticks I would remove the sticks, clear CMOS by connecting the 2 pins at bottom of mobo, and then place the sticks in the configuration.

I tried all of these configurations below. Each configuration I attempted with old stick and new stick and it wouldn’t make a diff on outcome and cleared CMOS between each attempt

1 stick in B1 - doesn’t post
1 stick in B2 - doesn’t post
Stick in each B slot - doesn’t post

1 stick in A1 - Will power on, get to DRAM LED indicator light, reset w/ beep, then posts.
1 stick in A2 - same as above
Stick in each A slot - same as above

B1, A1,A2 - Doesn’t post
B2, A1, A2 - Doesn’t post
All 4 slots filled - doesn’t post

B1, A1 - doesn’t post
B2, A2 - doesn’t post
B1, B2, A2 - doesn’t post

I also tried some of these with MemOK! turned off. I did notice that the original presentation when I first installed the new RAM was different than testing after I replaced battery

When I first installed the sticks, it did about 4 -5 quick resets each with a beep. Then it got stuck, the MemOK led light was on AND the Dram light was on.

According to my mobo manual, the MemOK LED is only on when it’s training. I then completely power off (didn’t clear CMOS) and out my old RAM back in B2/A2. Immediately on power on the MemOK light came on, and it got stuck on DRAM

I then powered off and turned off MemOK via the switch. Weirdly after booting the MemOK LED stayed lit. It’s almost as if the very first time I powered off after installing, it was still training the new stick and I might have interrupted it when I didn’t see it booting. Maybe MemOK got stuck applying a profile and that’s the issue?

The only way I could get the MemOK light to go off was clearing the CMOS. After that it never turned back on for any subsequent boot.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'd RMA the board. If none of the four sticks will work when ONLY that stick is installed, in either the A2 or B2 slot, then it's either a board or CPU issue. Pull the CPU and make absolutely certain that not even one SINGLE pin on the motherboard was in any way damaged, bent or otherwise malformed, and it may take some form of magnification sometimes to be able to tell, like a magnifying glass, phone with zoom or high powered reading glasses. If there are no bent pins, or even if there are, either way, that's a board issue.

Also make sure the CPU cooler is EVENLY tightened on all sides. A cooler that is tighter in one corner or side than the rest may "cock" in the socket and make it act like it has bent pins. Has to almost certainly be either bent pins, cooler or board unless something unusual like a standoff in the wrong place under the board or screw got trapped there during assembly, unless you somehow have for DIMMs that are all bad, which is extremely unlikely.

 

[Hypnautic]

Thanks @Darkbreeze, I bought and installed the board in Sept 2020 so I think I’m past the point to RMA by now unfortunately.

Even though based on the symptoms CPU bent pin seemed likely I wasn’t considering it because I hadn’t touched the CPU or AIO since install 2020. But I just remembered when you brought up the cooler that when I installed new fans about a month ago I noticed that one of the 4 screws of my CPU cooler was about halfway out.

The B channels were working after that but maybe that’s because they were already installed. I’ll open it all up and take a look at the pins, thanks for the advice!

 

[Barakello]

Thanks @Darkbreeze, I bought and installed the board in Sept 2020 so I think I’m past the point to RMA by now unfortunately.

Even though based on the symptoms CPU bent pin seemed likely I wasn’t considering it because I hadn’t touched the CPU or AIO since install 2020. But I just remembered when you brought up the cooler that when I installed new fans about a month ago I noticed that one of the 4 screws of my CPU cooler was about halfway out.

The B channels were working after that but maybe that’s because they were already installed. I’ll open it all up and take a look at the pins, thanks for the advice!

Hello There , I have a similar issue with Z490 gigabyte gaming x. Have you found a solution yet?

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Hello There , I have a similar issue with Z490 gigabyte gaming x. Have you found a solution yet?

You need to create a thread for your own issue. That way more users may be able to help you. Also this post is from 2023, no necro