PC will run with 2 sticks ofor ram but won't boot with only 1

[JackM3]

I have recently been dealing with a memory issue where half my ram is being reserved for hardware in windows. I decided to check to see if one of my sticks wasn't working by placing one stick in slot 1 and keeping the other out. I tried both of them thinking that maybe one was faulty but they both won't boot the system. My PC runs the memory in dual channel but when it only has one stick it won't work. My memory is G.Skill Ripjaw X 2x4GB Please help.

 

[geofelt]

Some motherboards are very specific as to which slots must be used if not all the slots are to be filled.
Check your motherboard manual.

Memtest86+ is the gold standard for testing ram.
You should be able to complete a full pass with NO errors.

 

[elbert]

Picky motherboard but yes some need a full bank fill to work. Check for bios updates but if the motherboard was designed for full bank fill may not help.

 

[aquielisunari]

I have recently been dealing with a memory issue where half my ram is being reserved for hardware in windows. I decided to check to see if one of my sticks wasn't working by placing one stick in slot 1 and keeping the other out. I tried both of them thinking that maybe one was faulty but they both won't boot the system. My PC runs the memory in dual channel but when it only has one stick it won't work. My memory is G.Skill Ripjaw X 2x4GB Please help.

Picky motherboard but yes some need a full bank fill to work. Check for bios updates but if the motherboard was designed for full bank fill may not help.

What is full bank fill?

 

[scout_03]

did you install them in the specific slot as tell by board user manual .

 

[elbert]

Motherboards have a bank 0 and possible a bank 1. Each bank has 2 DIMM slots for your RAM. So full bank is 2 sticks of RAM.

 

[aquielisunari]

Motherboards have a bank 0 and possible a bank 1. Each bank has 2 DIMM slots for your RAM. So full bank is 2 sticks of RAM.

same for quad channel and dual channel? Never heard that term and I doubt a novice user asking about RAM has either. Thanks for the answer

My thumbs down was due to the confusing/advanced terminology. Yours was because? I was asking for clarification?

 

[elbert]

Na simply because if asking a question and expect an answer be nice.

 

[aquielisunari]

Na simply because if asking a question and expect an answer be nice.

So you thumbed down because I wasn't being nice? The use of thumbs down is not an emotional one. Well it shouldn't be. Nothing personal here. Neither nice or not nice. yes some need a full bank fill to work seemed murky and confusing. Hence my thumbs down. To each their own. Your reason was strictly emotional and off topic. Oh well. We all have the right to our opinion. Glad you offered yours.

Sorry OP. I was trying to understand Elbert. Sorry to go off topic there.

Some information from you would help to clarify your question hopefully leading to a quicker resolution.

https://www.piriform.com/speccy/download can offer info you might not know if you click on RAM on the summary page it will show information about which banks(aka DIMM slots) are populated(which slots have RAM in them).