Question Tried to install new RAM and now can't get into BIOS ?

[RyryAwry]

So. I built my PC back in 2015/16, working with an Asus Z-87A motherboard and four Ripjaws 8GB DDR3 sticks. I built it with 16GB of memory, but recently wanted more, so I bought two more of the exact same stick I used the first time. I turned everything off, popped the new ones into my secondary slots (the black ones not the tan ones), but when I turned my computer back on to get into the BIOS, it would turn on for one second, then back off ad infinum. I took the new memory back out and left my original 16GB in, and now it will power up and stay on, but nothing is showing up on any of my monitors, not even the BIOS.

What I've tried:

• - Rebooting via the DRAM LED Mem OK button
• - Rebooting via the DRAM LED Mem OK Button after taking out and replacing the motherboard battery, jumping the pins and then putting them back, and holding the power button
• - Doing the above after disconnecting my SSD
• - Doing the above after disconnecting my SSD and HDD
• - Leaving both drives disconnected and booting via the Directkey button
• - Booting from both the DRAM button and DirectKey button with monitors plugged into both the HDMI and VGA ports directly coming out of my motherboard and no hard drives connected
• - Booting from DIrectKey with my original RAM installed in the secondary RAM slots (black instead of tan

edit: also none of the normal ways to get into my BIOS (Del key, F2, F8) have been working

Consistently through all of this the DRAM LED has been on or blinked and then stayed solid, so I'm almost positive it's a RAM *something*, and i can still use the DirectKey and DRAM buttons on the motherboard so it is receiving signals. I am not an expert so maybe that just means power can reach them and the board is cooked, but I'm at a loss. Do I need a new motherboard? Is it something else?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Do I need a new motherboard? Is it something else?

List full specs of your system.

Does your CPU have iGPU?
If yes, then remove discrete card from system (assuming you have one) and
connect monitor to video outputs on motherboard.

 

[RyryAwry]

It's a little hard to pull the full specs since the computer is unresponsive except for being able to turn on and off, and I've lost the original parts list,,
I've got a
- GTX 970
- 16GB DDR3 Ram in 2 8GB sticks
- Corsair RM750 Power supply
- Asus Z87-A motherboard
- 250 GB SSD
- 1TB HDD
- intel i7 - 47[something] (the goo is obscuring it and i dont have any more immediately on hand to replace it with if i wipe it off); I am not sure where to look for if I have a discrete card, the motherboard manual only mentioned enabling it.

Would this card stop an external monitor from getting readings when connected to the motherboard? I have tried connecting monitors to the video outputs on my motherboard already.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I am not sure where to look for if I have a discrete card, the motherboard manual only mentioned enabling it.
Would this card stop an external monitor from getting readings when connected to the motherboard? I have tried connecting monitors to the video outputs on my motherboard already.

GTX 970 is a discrete graphics card.
To enable video outputs on motherboard, GTX 970 has to be physically removed from system.

 

[RyryAwry]

To enable video outputs on motherboard, GTX 970 has to be physically removed from system.

Thank you for the explanation; I removed the graphics card, unplugged the power, pulled the motherboard battery, jumped the pins, replaced the battery and re plugged in the power and attempted to boot via the DirectKey and I am still not getting any outputs. Is there anything else I could do?

 

[RyryAwry]

Also noted that the DRAM LED will blink slowly, then the CPU LED will blink once, alternating with the DRAM blinking getting faster every time the CPU LED blinks until it's just solid. Does this mean anything.

Also tried a new Motherboard battery; did not seem to do anything.

Also tried a new VGA cable, did not seem to do anything.

Edit: left it on for about 5 minutes and it turned itself off without me touching anything, not sure if this means anything.

Also noticed that the recommended RAM for my system is rated(?) for 1.35V, and the ones I installed are rated for 1.5V. Could this .15 (cumulatively 0.6V) difference have cause it to overdraw power, where the previous .3V discrepancy wasn't an issue??

 

[SkyNetRising]

Did you remove CPU from socket?
You may have bent/broken some cpu socket pins in the process.

Can you show photo of cpu socket?
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

If socket is fine, then try staring your pc with single ram module installed. Try it in different ram slots.

 

[RyryAwry]

Just to clarify, I should take both the CPU and graphics card out before trying to start it with a single RAM installed? I did not remove the CPU, only the graphics card (taking the fan off was sufficient to see that it was the intel i7 so I did not entirely remove it)

 

[SkyNetRising]

Just to clarify, I should take both the CPU and graphics card out before trying to start it with a single RAM installed?

No. If didn't remove CPU, then don't touch it.
CPU socket pins are fragile. You have to be very careful with them.
You can remove graphics card.

 

[RyryAwry]

Graphics card removed, CPU left untouched.
Attempted to start PC with DirectKey with Ram in Slot B2, let it sit for 20 seconds with no response, attempted to restart with the DRAM Button, let it sit for 60 seconds, no response
Repeated with Slot B1
Repeated with Slot A2
Repeated with Slot A1

No output from the VGA slot, no change in behavior of any of the LEDs.

 

[RyryAwry]

My USB ports are not giving enough power to light up my keyboard, but there is enough to give power to a bluetooth dongle I have for a game controller. Potentially the VGA port is also not receiving enough power to output a signal? I have checked all my power connections

 

[sitehostplus]

So. I built my PC back in 2015/16, working with an Asus Z-87A motherboard and four Ripjaws 8GB DDR3 sticks. I built it with 16GB of memory, but recently wanted more, so I bought two more of the exact same stick I used the first time. I turned everything off, popped the new ones into my secondary slots (the black ones not the tan ones), but when I turned my computer back on to get into the BIOS, it would turn on for one second, then back off ad infinum. I took the new memory back out and left my original 16GB in, and now it will power up and stay on, but nothing is showing up on any of my monitors, not even the BIOS.

What I've tried:

• - Rebooting via the DRAM LED Mem OK button
• - Rebooting via the DRAM LED Mem OK Button after taking out and replacing the motherboard battery, jumping the pins and then putting them back, and holding the power button
• - Doing the above after disconnecting my SSD
• - Doing the above after disconnecting my SSD and HDD
• - Leaving both drives disconnected and booting via the Directkey button
• - Booting from both the DRAM button and DirectKey button with monitors plugged into both the HDMI and VGA ports directly coming out of my motherboard and no hard drives connected
• - Booting from DIrectKey with my original RAM installed in the secondary RAM slots (black instead of tan

edit: also none of the normal ways to get into my BIOS (Del key, F2, F8) have been working

Consistently through all of this the DRAM LED has been on or blinked and then stayed solid, so I'm almost positive it's a RAM *something*, and i can still use the DirectKey and DRAM buttons on the motherboard so it is receiving signals. I am not an expert so maybe that just means power can reach them and the board is cooked, but I'm at a loss. Do I need a new motherboard? Is it something else?

Either you cooked the ram, or the motherboard. Since none of the ram chips work, I'm guessing it's the motherboard.

Only way to know for sure is to find a friend who has a computer you can test the ram in or have a computer shop put the ram into another machine to see if it boots.

If that proves bad, you just need to buy new ram.

If the ram proves good, you will need a new motherboard that can accept your current CPU/ram combo and swap.

TBH, at this worst-case scenario, I think it's an excellent time to look at upgrading the entire guts of the machine. Think of it like this: if the motherboard went out, how much longer do the rest of the parts have? It's had a good 6- or 7-year run, don't you think it's finally time for something new?

 

[RyryAwry]

Either you cooked the ram, or the motherboard. Since none of the ram chips work, I'm guessing it's the motherboard.

TBH, at this worst-case scenario, I think it's an excellent time to look at upgrading the entire guts of the machine. Think of it like this: if the motherboard went out, how much longer do the rest of the parts have? It's had a good 6- or 7-year run, don't you think it's finally time for something new?

Weh... Like on a practical level I know you're right, but I really wanted the retirement to be voluntary, not mandatory.. Sad days..

also i have NO spending money ha HAH but I'll start looking around, probably order a backup motherboard in the interim; cheaper than a whole new build. Thank you for the advice 🙏

 

[sitehostplus]

Weh... Like on a practical level I know you're right, but I really wanted the retirement to be voluntary, not mandatory.. Sad days..

also i have NO spending money ha HAH but I'll start looking around, probably order a backup motherboard in the interim; cheaper than a whole new build. Thank you for the advice 🙏

You're welcome. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you all the best. 😺