G Skill RAM Dual channel problems.

[Will S]

Ok, so I bought a "new" PC on Christmas from a friend. Great deal, little dirty but nothing some air duster can fix.

 

[System- Asrock 970 Exteme4 motherboard, AMD FX(tm)-8350 8 core 4.0ghz, G.Skill DDR3 1866 (2x4gb), evga gtx750 ti, 2 Kingston SSDs (1x60gb & 1x250gb), a Seagate 1tb, and a corsair cx 500w power supply.]

 

When I got it, i let my dad take it clean it, wipe the drives put a new OS and basic stuff. When I got it back I was told that the dual channel was not working. Also that he tried everything to fix it. I tried every channel on the board and can not get the machine to run in dual channel. It only can use 3.96gbs out of the 8gbs. I've watch LTT for awhile and figured the best place to ask first is here. 

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

[TempestCatto]

Is that what is detected in BIOS, or are you using a 32bit OS? You could try running memtest to see if maybe you have a stick that is going bad. Also try booting with one stick at a time and see what's detected.

[Will S]

Just now, TempestCatto said:

Is that what is detected in BIOS, or are you using a 32bit OS? You could try running memtest to see if maybe you have a stick that is going bad.

64bit and bios detects both sticks of ram.

[TempestCatto]

1 minute ago, Will S said:

64bit and bios detects both sticks of ram.

Is it the BIOS, or the OS saying you can only use 3.96gbs out of the 8gbs. Try booting one stick at a time. 

[Will S]

1 minute ago, TempestCatto said:

Is it the BIOS, or the OS saying you can only use 3.96gbs out of the 8gbs. Try booting one stick at a time. 

Windows detects both but only says I can use 3.96.

 

I'll try the one at a time

[BobVonBob]

You have a 64 bit Windows version correct? I believe ~4GB is the limit for 32 bit Windows.

 

Never mind you answered that already.

Edited January 20, 2019 by BobVonBob
Whoops

[Will S]

6 minutes ago, TempestCatto said:

Is it the BIOS, or the OS saying you can only use 3.96gbs out of the 8gbs. Try booting one stick at a time. 

Update- one of my chips is bad. First one I tried postcoded. Second one the PC fired up and ran fine.

[Will S]

Just now, BobVonBob said:

You have a 64 bit Windows version correct? I believe ~4GB is the limit for 32 bit Windows.

64bit

[TempestCatto]

11 minutes ago, Will S said:

Update- one of my chips is bad. First one I tried postcoded. Second one the PC fired up and ran fine.

You should be able to RMA still. G.Skill is really good for that. I had to that to another FX based system I have a few years ago now. They gave me no problems.

[Will S]

1 minute ago, TempestCatto said:

You should be able to RMA still. G.Skill is really good for that. I had to that to another FX based system I have a few years ago now. They gave me no problems.

Im gonna be honest i dont really know how. I know the very basics of how to get to bios and look for things but not what needs to be changed.

[TempestCatto]

https://www.gskill.com/en/warranty

That should give you instructions on where to find RMA (RMA stands for Return Merchandise Authorization). G.Skill has life time warranties on all their RAM. You would fill out a form, they would accept, and you'd ship back your RAM kit, then they'll send you a new one. At least, that was my experience, it was pretty painless. 

Also, you will need proof of purchase (so the receipt from when it was bought ages ago). 

 

EDIT: Here is a link to the RMA form, still read the warranty page I linked to, it has useful info in it. https://www.gskill.com/en/rma

[Will S]

3 minutes ago, TempestCatto said:

https://www.gskill.com/en/warranty

That should give you instructions on where to find RMA (RMA stands for Return Merchandise Authorization). G.Skill has life time warranties on all their RAM. You would fill out a form, they would accept, and you'd ship back your RAM kit, then they'll send you a new one. At least, that was my experience, it was pretty painless. 

Also, you will need proof of purchase (so the receipt from when it was bought ages ago). 

 

EDIT: Here is a link to the RMA form, still read the warranty page I linked to, it has useful info in it. https://www.gskill.com/en/rma

ah... well thats out because this is a second hand PC. Has less then 150 hours on it, thats why im mad about it.

[TempestCatto]

1 minute ago, Will S said:

ah... well thats out because this is a second hand PC. Has less then 150 hours on it, thats why im mad about it.

Well since he's a friend, ask him if he has the proof of purchase. He might be able to RMA it for you instead.

[Will S]

Just now, TempestCatto said:

Well since he's a friend, ask him if he has the proof of purchase. He might be able to RMA it for you instead.

Alright, well thank you so much for helping. Ill probably just see about buying the same chip and replacing it that way... only if he cant RMA it.

Thanks