What caused my RAM to fail?

[Lehogg]

PC specs:

CPU: Athlon x4 860k
MOBO: gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-wifi
RAM: Corsair vengeance pro 2400mhz
GPU:sapphire hd7790 1gb
PSU:corsair cx430m


So, I posted here a few days ago with the issue that my pc wasn't booting windows, I narrowed the issue down to my RAM. Turns out the PC runs with one of the sticks fine but using the other causes it to fail. I'm now curious as to what caused the problem, if this could have been down to me or just a fault with the RAM.

My RAM is/was corsair vengeance pro 2400mhz. One still works and the other does not (both from same dual pack) both RAM had been working fine for at least a month, the motherboard didn't seem to recognise the ram so I had enabled an XMP profile that had the RAM run at 2400mhz with the correct settings.

I have been using my PC to do some fairly low end gaming but did recently buy GTA V and had been running it online on low settings for the past few nights before the RAM stopped working.

I'm wondering if anything in the info I've provided could have caused the RAM to fail and more generally what does cause RAM to fail?

I would also like some advice on purchasing two new sticks to replace the old ones, any recommendations based on my system specs and how I use my pc?

EDIT: I do plan on upgrading my GPU and continuing to play GTA V

 

[Tradesman1]

Might have been starved of voltage, got a spike, with your PSU is rather weak, for a rig like yours, I'd want a good 500 Watt, and you show a 430, the CX430, the CX series is known for weak caps

 

[Lehogg]

Might have been starved of voltage, got a spike, with your PSU is rather weak, for a rig like yours, I'd want a good 500 Watt, and you show a 430, the CX430, the CX series is known for weak caps

Thanks for the advice, I've got a 500w cooler master PSU from an old build, I'll stick that in for now. I also have a fair few fans hooked up with a splitter on one of the sockets as the mobo only has two, I just wondered if using the splitter could be causing issues as well? If I'm overloading the socket?

 

[Tradesman1]

Shouldn't - but can try removing the splitter

 

[Lehogg]

Shouldn't - but can try removing the splitter

UPDATE: I've installed a cooler master 500w psu, decided to put both my sticks of RAM back in including the one that wasnt working and it now seems to be working fine? so has this simply been an issue of not enough power? I don't understand why it could work with one stick but not the other stick. Im confused as to what has actually gone wrong, although I am now happy its back up and running.

 

[Tradesman1]

As mentioned for your rig I would want a min of a good 500. The CX430 actually only has about 380 on the 12 volt rail so things are going to get starved for power, sounds like your DRAM wasn't getting full voltage and while DRAM doesn't need a lot - it needs it all to run as things are stored and constantly in flux/changing