HELP! Dead RAM slots?

[UrbanFreestyle]

Hi all, so i bought an MSI Z370m Mortar board on ebay from a seller that listed it as nearly new. It was missing the rear IO shield and when i finished building my machine i had no post.

Seems that it is having issues with the RAM slots.

I have an i5-8400 and Samsung 2666 8gb RAM sticks x2

From CPU side they run as A1, A2, B1, B2 and i get the following results:

A1 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

A2 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

B1 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

B2 - Post and boot to OS

A1+A2 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

A1+B1 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

A1+B2 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

A2+B1 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

A2+B2 - No post, CPU and DRAM flash alternately

B1+B2 - Post and boot to OS

 

I have reseated CPU, checked pins, adjusted heatsink pressure, Reset CMOS, Defaulted BIOS, Updated BIOS, CPU works fine in another machine with all 4 slots populated, RAM works fine in another board.

I think i have exhausted all posibilities and am looking at a dead board that needs returning or have i missed something?

 

[Bananasplit_00]

have you checked that this isnt just how the motherboard behaves normally? some boards are made so that you need to populate a certain slot before they will post

[UrbanFreestyle]

well when i boot with B1 + B2 it says this is not optimised and to move B1 to A2 but then it won't post

[LucasioG]

Are you sure that there isn’t some gunk in the socket? That could cause memory problems and as bananasplit said maybe thats how the board works from factory.

[RAM555789]

Try booting with only 1 stick. If that doesn't work document the evidence regarding the trouble shooting steps you have gone through, what the board did, then use Ebays return policy.

[Spotty]

2 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

have you checked that this isnt just how the motherboard behaves normally? some boards are made so that you need to populate a certain slot before they will post

Motherboard manual recommends using A2 first.

Spoiler

Definitely no damage to the CPU socket? Can you post a photo of the socket/pins?
Did the seller say why they were selling? If the seller listed it as working condition but it's not then you can always file a dispute.

[Bananasplit_00]

1 minute ago, Spotty said:

Motherboard manual recommends using A2 first.

  Reveal hidden contents

Definitely no damage to the CPU socket? Can you post a photo of the socket/pins?
Did the seller say why they were selling? If the seller listed it as working condition but it's not then you can always file a dispute.

well then there is something wrong, either traces, IMC or socket. look for any bent pinns and scratches on the motherboard OP

[UrbanFreestyle]

Just now, Spotty said:

Motherboard manual recommends using A2 first.

  Reveal hidden contents

Definitely no damage to the CPU socket? Can you post a photo of the socket/pins?
Did the seller say why they were selling? If the seller listed it as working condition but it's not then you can always file a dispute.

No post if just using A2, Will take pic of socket tonight as i dont have it with me at work. 

Ebay listing for the one bought is here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MSI-Z370M-MORTAR-Intel-Coffee-Lake-Micro-ATX-Z370-S-1151-DDR4-SATA3-Dual-M-2-Gbe/153342042804?epid=7024953228&hash=item23b3e5e2b4:g:ySwAAOSwJ3RcP21O:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

 

[UrbanFreestyle]

3 minutes ago, RAM555789 said:

Try booting with only 1 stick. If that doesn't work document the evidence regarding the trouble shooting steps you have gone through, what the board did, then use Ebays return policy.

i have, i listed the one(s) that work in my first post.

[Spotty]

3 minutes ago, UrbanFreestyle said:

No post if just using A2, Will take pic of socket tonight as i dont have it with me at work. 

Ebay listing for the one bought is here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MSI-Z370M-MORTAR-Intel-Coffee-Lake-Micro-ATX-Z370-S-1151-DDR4-SATA3-Dual-M-2-Gbe/153342042804?epid=7024953228&hash=item23b3e5e2b4:g:ySwAAOSwJ3RcP21O:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

 

Wait... You bought a open box/used MSI Z370M Mortar for 150 pounds? It's only 135 pounds brand new on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0784XHSP9/?tag=pcp0f-21

 

Quote

All our items in described conditions are in tested and verified by our logistic teams, in most cases you'll hardly notice the difference between our opened box items to equivalent new items, sometimes in Used items the product or box do not meet brand new item standard and might have some scratches or missing parts, but besides that you will own a great product and with a competitive price.

*Nevertheless if for some reason you are not happy with your order, we will always provide prepaid return it for a full refund or exchange.

The eBay page states they will provide prepaid return shipping and refund any open box item if you're unhappy with it, so I would do that. Use the money to buy a brand new one from Amazon, it's cheaper

[UrbanFreestyle]

will do! Kind of temted to go with a different brand as i have had this issue once before with a friend's PC

 

[Spotty]

1 minute ago, UrbanFreestyle said:

will do! Kind of temted to go with a different brand as i have had this issue once before with a friend's PC

 

Sure. If it's for an i5 8400 and you have no plan of upgrading the CPU to a "K" series CPU, you shouldn't need a Z370 motherboard. You could look at some cheaper B360 or H370 motherboards.