Question Motherboard doesn't POST when same brand/model RAM is installed, but works with mixed brands.

[nathanvelez]

ISSUE: PC used same ram since 2020, now it doesn't want to boot with the same set.

SPECIFICATIONS:
CPU: Ryzen 5 3400G
MB: MSI A320M-A PRO (Updated to Latest Ver. AMI BIOS 7C51v18 - 2023-05-09)
RAM: Kingston HyperX 8x2 (2 sticks of Kingston HyperX DDR4-2666 8GB HX426C16FB3/8 - Verified Compatible with MSI)
GPU: Integrated GPU
PSU: Seasonic S12III (SSR-550GB3 550W 80+ Bronze)
ACC/MISC: Case Fans and Chassis Controls but I disconnected them to simplify things

FACTS: (Chronological Order)
- Current BIOS version is AMI BIOS 7C51v14 (ver. 2020-12-09)
R1: Replaced CMOS Battery (Brand new, verified working, and full voltage) BLACK SCREEN, NO EFFECT
R2: BIOS Reset (Full disconnect with battery out and everything) BLACK SCREEN, NO EFFECT
R3: Reseat Ram, Clean RAM Slots with Isopropyl Alcohol BLACK SCREEN, NO EFFECT
R4: Tried using different RAM (8x2 Crucial Ballistix DDR4 3200 BL8G32C16U4RL) TEST PASSED, BOOTED NORMALLY TO WINDOWS

- Updated BIOS to the latest version AMI BIOS 7C51v18 (ver. 2023-05-09)
R5: Tested old ram (8x2 Kingston HyperX DDR4-2666 8GB HX426C16FB3/8) TEST FAILED, BLACK SCREEN
R6: Tested different ram (8x2 Crucial Ballistix DDR4 3200 BL8G32C16U4RL) TEST PASSED, BOOTED NORMALLY TO WINDOWS
R7: Tested old and different ram at same time (SLOT 1 8x1 Kingston, SLOT 2 8x1 Crucial) TEST PASSED, BOOTED NORMALLY TO WINDOWS
R8: Tested old and different ram at same time (SLOT 2 8x1 Crucial, SLOT 1 8x1 Kingston) TEST FAILED, BLACK SCREEN

R9: Reseated CPU, no pins bent. Ensured proper tightness/torque for the stock heatsink. SAME RESULTS AS ABOVE
R10: Reseat Power Cables, Clean all contacts, disassemble, and rebuild the entire PC. TEST FAILED, BLACK SCREEN

QUESTION: I am so lost... What could I possibly do next other than ask the client to replace RAM? Is there anything else or is it inevitable to start replacing the RAM?

 

[Lutfij]

Clean RAM Slots with Isopropyl Alcohol
Just an FYI, you didn't need to clean the slots that way, all you needed to do was clean the gold contacts on the sticks of ram with an eraser, wipe clean and then repopulate the slots on the motherboard.

It's possible the Kingston ram is the root cause of the issue though I don't understand why you're worried about anything, as it stands your Ryzen platform would benefit from the DR4-3200MHz ram kit as opposed to the Kingston's lower clocked ram kit.