Installed new RAM, now my video card doesn't work!

[twhite89]

Hello,

I tried to install the new RAM that I got from Newegg today. The ram I'm trying to install is:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

When I boot up my computer with all 4 sticks of RAM inserted properly, I first come across a 'CMOS Checksum Error' during the POST. I can bypass that by pressing F2 (default settings>continue) and continue loading my operating system, Windows 7 64bit.

Heres the main problem, my computer no longer recognizes my graphics card! It doesn't show up in device manager and it wont let me install the Nvidia drivers manually. It does, however, show that I have 8gb of memory installed. If I only have 2 sticks of RAM installed at a time, then everything runs normally. Once I try to add a third stick, the problem begins.

Here is my current setup:

MSI 770-C45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Quad-Core 3.2GHz Socket AM3 Processor
EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
CoolerMaster 700W PSU

I have tried taking out the CMOS battery and clearing the settings, but that doesn't help. I have downloaded the latest BIOS settings from the MSI website, but I can't boot onto my USB thumb drive in order to flash it, figuring that part out is beyond my knowledge. I have also tried to adjust the RAM voltage through the BIOS but the option is grayed out and wont let me select it.

I'm really not sure what is going on here, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Taylor

Update: I wonder if it could be a problem with my PSU, all these components are 5 years old. How would I test it?

 

[twhite89]

So now I noticed that my computer wont boot at all with ONLY the new RAM. If I insert all 4 sticks, however, I can boot and it shows 8gb of memory, but it doesnt recognize my videocard.

Im just going to send these sticks back to newegg and try to order a different pair. Would I be safe going with a DDR3 1333, or whatever is a step down?

 

[Lee-m]

As a rule you shouldnt be mixing two different types/brands of ram, so that might be the issue. From reading your post it seems like thats what your going.
If your returning the ram (seems like the best idea), replace them with a 4 stick kit to upgrade.

Its an odd issue tho, I havent seen this one before. Really the machine should just a) refuse to boot, or b) display some stability issues. Never seen a gfx card go missing due to system ram lol

Kinda sounds like the ram is faulty or has issues with your motherboard if you cant boot up with just the new ram.

 

[rm5081]

Before you return or purchase your RAM, you don't seem to really know what configuration of ram are acceptable to your motherboard.
Please read your Motherboard manual, and be 100% sure what RAM sizes, speeds, and configurations your motherboard will accept. You can't guess at it, you have to be sure, or you will waste your time and money.