Question Troubleshooting new RAM, Can't run both new sticks together

[Diamond55]

Hello all,

I frequent this website, and often find answers. But my current issue is odd enough, that I have created an account to ponder my first question with you all!

So my pc's RAM has been bogged down recently, when playing games. Always maxed out. So I decided to upgrade from 16 (8x2) gb to 32 (16 x 2). It arrived today! So excited. It is identical to my current RAM just about. My old RAM was Corsair Vengeance Pro 16gb 3200 MHz, 16-18-18-36. My NEW RAM is Corsair Vengeance Pro 32 gb 3200 MHz, 16-20-20-38. First off, (And I only add this part, as it could potentially could have caused a problem that I'm not aware of), they look identical. And in installing the new RAM. I put one 16 gb stick, and one 8 gb stick in by accident! Didn't notice till I turned the pc back on. Simple mistake. Anyway, the pc turned right now, told me it recognized new RAM, and wanted to restart to accomodate. I did so. PC started up just fine afterwards. Thats when I noticed that I only had 24 gb of RAM, and started listing off expletives of how ignorant I was haha.

So, I turned it all back off. Took the ONE 8 gb stick out, put in my new 16 gb (making extra sure this time). And was a happy camper. Until I turned the pc on. Then it didn't boot. It will start up for a half second, all interior lights and fans come on (keyboard, mouse, monitors don't turn on though), and then it will shut off. It does this 4 or 5 times, and then decides to FULLY start. In which by that, I mean that it remains on. Fans spinning, Interior lights lit up. But blank screen. No post. No keyboard or mouse lights. Hmmmm. I thought. I had a few initial thoughts.

1. Maybe my XMP didn't like it swapping from 24 to 26 gb and couldn't account for it correctly?
2. Maybe the individual stick of RAM is bad?
3. Maybe its a PSU problem??

So, I started by taking out all my new RAM. And I put my old RAM back in. My pc started up immediately. Works just fine, just like it used to. No hitches on startup. Didn't even go into BIOS or have to restart. WEIRD, I thought. So then, I decided to troubleshoot some more. I figured that, at this point. That single stick of RAM was bad. So I put the BAD 16 gb RAM stick in the slot that the GOOD 16 gb RAM stick was in (First slot). And left my 8 gb stick in the same 3rd slot. And you know what? Computer started right up. Like nothing. Showed up 24 gb RAM. So the BAD RAM wasn't bad?

So now, I'm scratching my head. I decided to keep what I thought was the BAD 16 gb stick in the first slot, and try and put the "GOOD" 16 gb stick in the 3rd slot. PC wouldn't BOOT!! Alright, so maybe the slot is bad? So, to round everything off, and try and make extra sure, I put the "GOOD" 16gb stick in the 1st slot. And I put one of my old 8 gb sticks in the 3rd slot. PC starts right up. I am currently typing to you now on it.

I don't know what is causing this issue. I have seen both sticks operate and show in my CPU-Z program, separately. But my pc, for some reason, won't run them together. It has to be 2 8 gb sticks, or 1 16 gb, and 1 8 gb sticks. It doesn't like 2 16 gb sticks.

Any idea on what could be causing this? Is it an XMP problem?

 

[rgd1101]

full system spec?
latest bios?

 

[Diamond55]

full system spec?
latest bios?

Thanks for a quick reply!

full system spec?
latest bios?

Hello,

Thanks for the quick reply!

Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 850W Gold
MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon mobo
I9 9900K
Asus 2070 Super

As for the BIOS, I haven't ever updated since the time I got the system, about 3 years ago maybe?

HOWEVER, I fixed it! Well, the system fixed itself. Sort of..

I have spent the last 2 hours putting the RAM in different combinations, trying to troubleshoot more. And, when I happened to put the 2 x 16 gb sticks in the secondary slots (For non primary RAM sticks), the system obviously came up and was like "Hey! This isn't optimal for your RAM to be here! You should put it back in the other two slots!" And then it booted up like normal afterwards.

After that, I took both 2 x 16 sticks out, put them back in their appropriate slots, and the system booted right up, like nothing. I have shut the system down and restarted it 3 times now. Boots up in a few seconds as per usual. CPU-Z clocks my RAM in at 32 gb, running fine.

Explain that!!!!

I have no idea how that did anything. My only thought is that it was my BIOS hanging up. I don't know. And putting them in the wrong slots jogged it. But it is working now! Either way, I'm curious on what your thoughts are on what was going on?

 

[geofelt]

You are fortunate to get it all to work.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
The internal workings are designed for the capacity of the kit.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards, can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when more sticks are involved.
Ram must be matched for proper operation.

To verify that the ram is sound,

Run memtest86 or memtest86+
They boot from a usb stick and do not use windows.
You can download them here:

MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

MemTest86 is the original self booting memory testing software for x86 and ARM computers. Supporting both BIOS and UEFI, with options to boot from USB.

www.memtest86.com

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

www.memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.

Running several more passes will sometimes uncover an issue, but it takes more time.
Probably not worth it unless you really suspect a ram issue.