System failed to start after attempting to install an extra RAM Stick - Have I broke something?

ANDREW GREEN · 25 Feb 2019 at 10:56

So I put an extra stick of DDR4 8GB in the corresponding Dim slot. Initially it seemingly won't go deep enough. Restart PC and the BIOS can't see the new stick. Turn off and try again.

People say you need to apply decent pressure. So I do this time and I'm not sure it's deep enough or not. The motherboard bends slightly though. Now both slots in and I turn back on, it keeps coming on and off without reaching the option of going into BIOS.

I turn off the PC again, remove new RAM. Turn it back on, the exact same problem, it's turning on and off and not even getting to the motherboard front page.

Then power down for a few minutes sure I've bricked my system. Then it powers up and it's working now. Still wondering if I've done long term damage and wondering what happened.

EDIT current ram was overclocked in the BIOS to it's normal rating on the packet of 3000mhz.

EdwardTobia · 25 Feb 2019 at 16:28

ANDREW GREEN said:
So I put an extra stick of DDR4 8GB in the corresponding Dim slot. Initially it seemingly won't go deep enough. Restart PC and the BIOS can't see the new stick. Turn off and try again.

People say you need to apply decent pressure. So I do this time and I'm not sure it's deep enough or not. The motherboard bends slightly though. Now both slots in and I turn back on, it keeps coming on and off without reaching the option of going into BIOS.

I turn off the PC again, remove new RAM. Turn it back on, the exact same problem, it's turning on and off and not even getting to the motherboard front page.

Then power down for a few minutes sure I've bricked my system. Then it powers up and it's working now. Still wondering if I've done long term damage and wondering what happened.

EDIT current ram was overclocked in the BIOS to it's normal rating on the packet of 3000mhz.

Hi mate,

Are the sticks the same model/brand? if not then they likely run using different timings, if so you may need to manually fiddle around with the speeds, voltages and timings to find a sweet spot that suits both modules...

MaXxBoulton · 26 Feb 2019 at 07:36

People say you need to apply decent pressure.
I'm not sure it's deep enough or not

Mmmm lol

8 Pack · 26 Feb 2019 at 12:34

Default your Bios before installing new RAM. Then try... All sticks need to be same spec both speed, timings, IC etc etc ....

MadMan-JaMeS · 26 Feb 2019 at 14:47

8 Pack said:
Default your Bios before installing new RAM. Then try... All sticks need to be same spec both speed, timings, IC etc etc ....

Thread Hijack slightly.

Is there a way to check on the sticks ? Right now i have 2 x 4gb in my computer and my dad is upgrading his so he'll have 2 x 8gb going spare. I wanted to throw them into mine to give me 24gb

I thought i could just throw them and in and it'd be fine.

James

MaXxBoulton · 26 Feb 2019 at 15:35

Yes all ram works. You have to fine the kit or stick that's slowest and put the in channel A then the system will run all the ram as the slower settings.
If you do it the other way round the system will try to run the slow ram at the faster speeds and you can have boot problems

ANDREW GREEN · 27 Feb 2019 at 09:35

Ok so after removing the small battery from the motherboards CMOS for 30 second, it now boots and works fine. I hate incompatibility. And it seems adding ram isn't always as simple as plug and play. Lesson learned

EdwardTobia said:
Hi mate,

Are the sticks the same model/brand? if not then they likely run using different timings, if so you may need to manually fiddle around with the speeds, voltages and timings to find a sweet spot that suits both modules...

They were the exact same part/speed/timings but I can only think the RAM in slot 1 had been set to run at a slightly higher speed meaning it wouldn't boot