MSI Z170A new build - possible ram fault

[TheManicMan]

Hello.
I've been building for some time on and off (don't do it for money so do It only when needed).

Been putting together a new build for someone. they kinda missed up cause at first it was to be a simple motherboard swap (ha-ha ¬_¬) but he didn't check things out before he brought the board so new ram was needed and a new processor.. and he got new power cause the old one he claimed was taxing too much oh well.

the build isn't going well. to cut it short, the CPU light flashes a tiny bit on the MSI Z170A (Gaming Pro Carbon they call it ¬_¬) debug led but the DRAM light is on most of the time. when I take out the ram, only the DRAM light goes off so it seams to be the new ram is faulty. I tried the different ram slots (it suggests only using number 2 for one stick of Ram. annoying it's a 8gb stick more then two gig sticks and I don't have any spare DDR4 to test it with and DDR4 isn't cheap.. having to send this ram back and get a new one is possible I think, but I'm trying to see if anything else might be the matter first.

I have bread boarded with no difference. I have reset the CMOS. the Beeping is one long beep, pause, long beep so again, believe it's the RAM..

Any ideas or does this just seam like it's passed Riley's Duck test? (If the bird walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then call it a duck).

 

[alexoiu]

An option would be RMA-ing both board and CPU...

 

[TheManicMan]

An option would be RMA-ing both board and CPU...

sigh.. it's a minor annoyance but do you think it's damaging to the stage where that is needed?..

EDIT: reading on similar cases on here.. seams that I might be able to change the voltage as its possible the motherboard isn't giving it enough.. that would explain why it works all the time on a second boot, but not cold booting..

to repeat, the new game is PC4-19200 DDR4, with a voltage of 1.2volts. (Crucial CT8G4DFD824A). I'll check the BIOS to see what it's giving the ram right now get back to you tomorrow.

 

[TheManicMan]

Erm.. okay.. this is now very confusing.. I checked the voltage level, it was set to auto running a BIT lower then the ram states (it was running 1.84v when ram says 1.2v). boosting that up doesn't seam to have had any effect but I see a problem.. and I've tested it and It.. it seams to fix it..

I was told the old power supply was underpowered for the graphics card.. fair enough, it was a 500W. So he gave me a new 850W to put in (an Artic blue+ AD-e850Ae A15/A6).. I put unconnected that and plugged in the old 500W (FSP PSP500-60HHN).. and. erm. it seams to work..

I've tried cold booting and.. fine now.. mm.. the graphics card fans aren't spinning right now though.. with the newer supply it did.. so i'm not 100% conviced it's powerful enough but.. this is.. somewhat interesting that a 500W seams to be powerful enough but a 850W isn't?

the graphics card is working, by the way.. I'm gonna have to stress test this.. see if that 500W is good for the job.. come to think of it.. if it has the 6+2 pin connected, and it powers, I can't really see why not? the graphics card, by the way, is a Geforce GTX 960. States the card power is 120W recommended system power 400W so.. how was it underpowered?.. the guy I'm doing this for doesn't know a thing about computers and brought some parts ahead of time.. sigh..

EDIT: erm.. after a couple of tests, I double checked connected with the 850W.. still moaned, checked again, turn the unit upside down (well, I can be either way really.. I just tried the way i'm more use to, and now tried the way the box showed.) and.. it worked.. tried a few times, tried cold and warm boots.. no problem...

now acting all confused.. there might still be an issue but the 850W seams to want to work a set way... ehuh.. if it works, who am I to moan?

So thanks.. He'll pick it up some time and i'll see if I get much feedback from him