No Video Display due to bad memory?

[kegerator]

When I start up my computer the monitor stays blank. I have replaced the graphic card and the motherboard battery. I have also tested the hard drive and even reinstalled Windows XP onto it.
I can get the monitor to come up after a cold boot if I reseat the RAM. I usually can only get one of them to work at a time (I am using (2) 2GB RAM sticks). I have cleaned the RAM using an eraser and reinserted them and now can get both sticks to work and the monitor to boot and even reboot.
The problem re -occurs when I start from a cold boot. The monitor again will not display until I reseat the memory. Is this a sign of bad memory, motherboard or possibly PSU?

 

[charmer]

Pls write what is your PC spec, be as specific as you can.

But overall it definitely looks like a bad memory, did you try all your sticks 1 by 1 ? coz if you did there is a small chance that all of them are bad so it might be your mobo.

 

[kegerator]

Pls write what is your PC spec, be as specific as you can.

But overall it definitely looks like a bad memory, did you try all your sticks 1 by 1 ? coz if you did there is a small chance that all of them are bad so it might be your mobo.

It is a ASUS Maximus Formula II motherboard, (2)corsair CM2X2048-8500C5D RAM, EN8400GS silent/HTP/256M/A grapics card, NeoPower 550 PSU.

I have tested the RAM individually as well. Each one will work if I re-seat them, either into the 1,3 slots or the 2,4 slots. When a cold reboot happens video goes dead again until they are reseated.
I have tried blowing out the RAM sockets with compressed air and cleaning the RAM sticks with an eraser as well. Problem persists however.

 

[charmer]

Pls write what is your PC spec, be as specific as you can.

But overall it definitely looks like a bad memory, did you try all your sticks 1 by 1 ? coz if you did there is a small chance that all of them are bad so it might be your mobo.

It is a ASUS Maximus Formula II motherboard, (2)corsair CM2X2048-8500C5D RAM, EN8400GS silent/HTP/256M/A grapics card, NeoPower 550 PSU.

I have tested the RAM individually as well. Each one will work if I re-seat them, either into the 1,3 slots or the 2,4 slots. When a cold reboot happens video goes dead again until they are reseated.
I have tried blowing out the RAM sockets with compressed air and cleaning the RAM sticks with an eraser as well. Problem persists however.

Ok so it does not seem to be your mobo.
when did it happen the 1st time ?
did you get a BSOD lately (if so, do you remember the cause) ?
Did you do any BIOS changes or tryed to OC something?

It might be a voltage issue so pls check your bios for 2.1V per stick and at latencies of 5-5-5-15

 

[kegerator]

No overclocking involved, reset BIOS to default and I am not 100% but I do not think there was a BSOD. I am fixing this for a friend but he did not mention any BSOD and I'm pretty sure I asked him about it.

checked using PC Wizard 2012

latency is 5-5-5-15
voltage : SSTL 1.8v
voltage level: 2.1v
supported voltages : 3.3v

I tested this with only one stick inserted

 

[charmer]

ill throw a long shot here and PSU's aren't my specialty but have you tested another one? it might be a power issue or delivery (u did mentioned a cold boot earlier)

 

[kegerator]

ill throw a long shot here and PSU's aren't my specialty but have you tested another one? it might be a power issue or delivery (u did mentioned a cold boot earlier)

I have now ordered a PSU from my local computer store and will pick it up later this evening while returning the other components I thought it may have been. I will let you know if this fixes it.
I have a feeling it will fix it since it works just fine as long as it is not starting from a cold boot. Even from a cold boot when it does not start, I can pull the second RAM stick out and it will start up.

 

[charmer]

ill throw a long shot here and PSU's aren't my specialty but have you tested another one? it might be a power issue or delivery (u did mentioned a cold boot earlier)

I have now ordered a PSU from my local computer store and will pick it up later this evening while returning the other components I thought it may have been. I will let you know if this fixes it.
I have a feeling it will fix it since it works just fine as long as it is not starting from a cold boot. Even from a cold boot when it does not start, I can pull the second RAM stick out and it will start up.

Hopefully, but it could be the mobo failing to deliver the necessary voltage to the modules.

This got me curious so an update will be great

 

[kegerator]

OK, replaced the PSU and same thing........... I'm going to pull the RAM from my kids computer and try it in this one. Hopefully it will still not be the MoBo. I will update this shortly.

Put the old PSU back in and pulled the (2) 2GB corsair RAM sticks out.
Replaced the RAM with ones from my kids computer (1) 2GB Kingston and (1) 2GB offbrand. It started right up!!!! Gonna shut it down for 30 min anfd try again.

 

[kegerator]

It is definitely the memory.
I took the corsairs and put them into my kids' computer and it would not display a screen. Pulled one stck and it worked. Exact same behavior in 2 seperate machines. I will now be replacing the (2) 2GB Corsair RAM.
Also after waiting for about 15 minutes between boots, I started up the first computer again with zero issues

 

[charmer]

It is definitely the memory.
I took the corsairs and put them into my kids' computer and it would not display a screen. Pulled one stck and it worked. Exact same behavior in 2 seperate machines. I will now be replacing the (2) 2GB Corsair RAM.
Also after waiting for about 15 minutes between boots, I started up the first computer again with zero issues

Glad it worked out ! thx for updating me

 

[kegerator]

It is definitely the memory.
I took the corsairs and put them into my kids' computer and it would not display a screen. Pulled one stck and it worked. Exact same behavior in 2 seperate machines. I will now be replacing the (2) 2GB Corsair RAM.
Also after waiting for about 15 minutes between boots, I started up the first computer again with zero issues

Glad it worked out ! thx for updating me

One more note. That particular Corsair RAM was stock clocked at 1066. When I was able to boot to set up I changed it to 800. It seemed to boot finr after that. From what I understand, the more RAM you put install the lower the clock speed needs to be to br able to remain stable. So on a hunch I lowered it and so far it seems to be working without replacing it.

 

[charmer]

at this speeds it could be noticeable but if it works for you then it doesn't matter.

Just don't use this PC for any editing or heavy ram using programs.