Hi Everyone,
Just built a brand new gaming PC with the following specs:
Asus Z170I Pro Gaming Mini ITX Motherboard
HyperX Fury 16GB (2x8 GB) 2133 MHz DDR4 memory
i5 6600K at stock speeds with CoolerMaster Seidon V2 water cooler
Samsung EVO 850 500 GB SSD
Corsair CX450M 450W PSU
Fractal Design Define Nano S case
Will eventually buy a GTX1070
I'm having some really odd issues with RAM installation. Basically, the mobo has two slots for DDR4 memory and supports up to 32 GB total memory. When I slot both of my HyperX Fury sticks into the mobo and power on, the screen stays black (doesn't make it to post), and the DRAM and CPU error lights on the mobo alternate in shining every 30 seconds or so. Interestingly, when I remove memory from Slot B (so only Slot A is filled), the machine is able to post just fine and easily detects the installed memory stick correctly. When I slot the same functional memory stick into Slot B (leaving Slot A empty this time) it is unable to post and the DRAM/CPU lights flash again. I have tried this will both my memory sticks and they are both functional, so I doubt the RAM itself is at fault.
A good Samaritan on Tom's Hardware suggested that my CPU memory controller may be at fault, so I recently reseated the CPU/cooler and blew out the CPU and memory slots in case dust was to blame. I have also updated my BIOS to the most recent revision and tried enabling an XMP profile with while 1 stick is installed to see if this will allow me to use 2 when I reboot. Unfortunately my situation remains unchanged and I am not sure what is at fault. My guess is it's either the mobo itself that is faulty, or the CPU memory controller is misbehaving as was suggested to me, but I'm not sure how to determine definitively what is wrong.
For what it's worth, other than this odd RAM Slot B issue, the computer is fine and I have been able to install Windows 10 64 bit successfully using just one stick. It may also be worth mentioning that I got the mobo on Amazon Warehouse Deals to save a little cash...the product is supposed to be new with just a slight scuff to external packaging, but when I got it the internal packaging and user manual had been pretty roughed up and there was no CPU slot protector included on the mobo itself. One of the pins on the USB 3.0 connector was bent and I had to set it straight manually. None of this is definitively damning, but it's making me lean towards requesting a replacement from Amazon. I just don't want to do so until I have exhausted all troubleshooting options under my control.
Any help you guys can offer would be really appreciated in figuring out whats going on!