MSI x370 + RAM Issues

IHOLDSHIFT

Prominent
Apr 20, 2017
4
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510
[TL;DR at bottom]

All,

I was in the process of setting up my computer after a recent build and came across some setup issues with my MSI x370 Pro Gaming Carbon MoBo and my 2x8GB G.Skill Ripjaw RAM DDR4 sticks mostly relating to their placement in the DIMM slots.

Before I go on, here's my full specs in case they prove to be relevant:

MoBo - MSI x370 Pro Gaming Carbon
RAM - 2x8GB G.Skill Ripjaws DDR4
CPU - AMD Ryzen 7 AM4
GFX - EVGA 1080 FTW
Cooling - Cooler Master Hyper T4

**And an explanation of what happened:**

Upon initial setup and startup I had my RAM slotted into the DIMM B1 and B2 slots, seeing on the MoBo appeared to group them as "first" not realizing it was pointing to the actual preferred slots of A2 and B2. Regardless, not knowing my mistake, I went through initial setup, bios, Windows install, and had gotten to installing my GFX Driver when I went to go restart. My computer wouldn't shut down, and then after a hard shutdown, the computer would not start up. I went in and started investigating I noticed that the RAM was not in the manual's preferred slots (A2/B2). I tried to change them and got post error tones (3 long); this started my process into troubleshooting the RAM sticks.


**The Troubleshoot:**

I started by trying each RAM stick individually in what the manual said was the preferred slot for 1 stick which was A2 and then tried to move each around to see if anything worked in other slots. I noticed though after the first test in the preferred slot one of the RAM sticks worked and the other did not. I will label them *[Green]* and *[Red]* for following purposes.


**The Green Stick:**

A2 - Works, get a setup screen
B1 - Error post
B2- Works, get a setup screen.
Interestingly enough when I toggle the stick from A2 and B2 or vice versa the computer actually skips the setup and directly loads my OS on the 2nd load. I.E. A2 first = setup, B2 second = OS and B2 first = setup A2 second = OS


**The Red Stick:**

A2 - Error
B1 - Error
B2 - Error


**The Duel Test:**

A2/B2 - Neither G/R or R/G works. Error tone for both.
A2/B1 - G/R WORKS and goes to setup. Bios shows both RAM with their full capacity.
A2/B1 - R/G Error
B1/B2 - This was the initial setup and upon resetting them both G/R and R/G I got errors.

SO! In conclusion the only things that WORK with my RAM is the Green stick by itself in A2 and B2 and BOTH sticks when the Green is in A2 and the Red is in B1.



**[TL;DR]**
- First setup with RAM in B1/B2 DIMM Slots worked, but did not work upon restart
- Testing RAM I found that 1 stick worked by itself in A2 and B2
- The other stick did not work independently at all
- Both sticks together DID work when slotted in A2/B1, but only when the "good" stick was in A2.

My questions are as follows:

What's the difference between the preferred DIMM setup with A2/B2 and the one that works with my RAM at the moment A2/B1? Are there cons to it? Or can I run A2/B1 without issue?



***UPDATE*** Ran a Memory Diagnostic Test and it came up clean with no errors.

Is this possibly a RAM stick being faulty due to the fact that one of them does not work independently and ONLY seems to work in one config?

Everything I looked up referred to being able to make the A2/B2 work, so I want to make sure I don't mess with anything I don't know about by just going forward with what works.


Thanks!!!!
 
Solution
I know what he is saying, msi is having issues getting there new mobos to sync correctly with the amds ryzen lineup.
I'm going to say its not the cpu that is at fault, alot of other people have similiar problems to yours.
https://www.google.com/search?q=amd+technical+support&oq=amd+technical+support&aqs=chrome.0.0l3.8876j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

This should be their main technical support number, if not call the corporate office ask the rep to let you speak to technical support.
If they say why do you need to speak the technicians, you mention to them the msi technicians recommended you call them.
You're going to be playing phone tag for half the day so have your patience ready and have your usps 2-3 day shipping label ready to go.


I just got off the phone with MSI and they seem to think there may be an issue with the BIOS and the AMD AM4 CPU since there have been a lot of issues with the compatibility with AMD and RAM setups with their new AM4 units. MSI's website is down at the moment but he suggested to download the latest BIOS and if the problem persists to try calling AMD and then back to MSI if there doesn't seem to be a fix. He didn't seem to think it was the Motherboard simply because when the RAM is in A2/B1 everything seems to work fine and typically the communication with RAM is handled by the CPU.

This is all new to me so I have to imagine what he's saying is true haha
 
I know what he is saying, msi is having issues getting there new mobos to sync correctly with the amds ryzen lineup.
I'm going to say its not the cpu that is at fault, alot of other people have similiar problems to yours.
https://www.google.com/search?q=amd+technical+support&oq=amd+technical+support&aqs=chrome.0.0l3.8876j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

This should be their main technical support number, if not call the corporate office ask the rep to let you speak to technical support.
If they say why do you need to speak the technicians, you mention to them the msi technicians recommended you call them.
You're going to be playing phone tag for half the day so have your patience ready and have your usps 2-3 day shipping label ready to go.
 
Solution