Having Trouble Turning on PC

[spicyboiii]

Hey all,

So recently I've started having a few concerns with my computer that I want to solve. I'll start off with a little backstory and my build:

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Cxf7BZ

 

The other day, I decided I wanted to upgrade the RAM on my computer. I opened the case, cleaned out the dust with compressed air, then took out the RAM sticks to figure out what model they were (for compatibility issues). After putting them back in, I noticed that my computer wouldn't turn back on. After some trial and error (including switching the ports that were holding the sticks), I figured out that my computer wouldn't turn on unless I was directly pressing on one of the RAM sticks while holding the power button. I had a few concerns about this, since now every time I shut down my computer and want to turn it back on, I have to open up the case and press on the RAM sticks while pressing the power button. I checked System Information to see if one of the sticks was loose but it showed the full physical memory of both sticks (8 gb). I've also noticed that it doesn't matter what configuration I put my RAM in, I still have to press on one of them to turn my computer on. For example, I tried putting stick 1 in port A1 and stick 2 in port B1 and had to press on stick 1 to make it work. I also tried putting stick 1 in port B2 and stick 2 in port A2 and this time around I had to press on stick 2 to make it work. What is the cause of this, and is there any way I can fix this?

 

On a related side note, I've seen forum posts stating that if I want to upgrade my RAM, I should get another set of 2x4 gb sticks rather than swapping my current sticks to 2x8 gb sticks. Any recommendations? I was planning to get the 2x8 versions of the sticks I'm currently using but the whole startup issue has me worried that maybe the ports for holding the RAM are bad and I'll get the same issues even if I upgrade.

[Guest]

Sounds like they aren't seated all the way.

Must hear a click at both ends. 

Must be in slots A2 and B2 if only using 2 sticks.

[spicyboiii]

I think that they are all the way in, I made sure that I heard two clicks every time I put them back in. I'm using DDR4 RAM sticks, and when I put them in I hear a small click and a large click. I think this is because the ports only have 1 clip to hold the sticks in.

Is there any other possible explanation for why this could happen, or am I really just not putting it in all the way?

[Guest]

1 minute ago, spicyboiii said:

I think that they are all the way in, I made sure that I heard two clicks every time I put them back in. I'm using DDR4 RAM sticks, and when I put them in I hear a small click and a large click.

Is there any other possible explanation for why this could happen, or am I really just not putting it in all the way?

Well.... shut the system down. 

Remove them. Inspect the slots and make sure they all look the same. Maybe there's damage in one of them or debris at the bottom of the slotted socket pushing the memory up.

If all looks clear, seat the memory again. 

 

That's All I got there. 

[spicyboiii]

7 minutes ago, ShrimpBrime said:

Well.... shut the system down. 

Remove them. Inspect the slots and make sure they all look the same. Maybe there's damage in one of them or debris at the bottom of the slotted socket pushing the memory up.

If all looks clear, seat the memory again. 

 

That's All I got there. 

I just tried removing them and they look all clear. This time around I noticed that pressing down on either of the sticks would let me turn the computer on, so I don't think it's an issue with how they're seated. I also wanna say that once I turn it on it stays on.

If it helps, I figured out the pressing down on RAM thing because whenever I did it, my mouse and headphones would light up. Is there any way not having pressure on the RAM sticks would affect the power somehow? Maybe it's a motherboard issue? I'm not really well versed in computer building so I don't have a clue as to what I can do other than tape down a RAM stick, but that doesn't sound like a very good idea to me.

[Guest]

Could be a motherboard issue. There's always a chance there.

I would check surrounding hardware. 

Perhaps reseat the CPU and heat sink. Yes both.

Double check the 2 pin power to the motherboard. Reseat that as well. 

I would also check the standoffs on the motherboard. Be sure they all line up with the holes and there's not a stray.

 

You do have an interesting issue, definately hardware related

[spicyboiii]

3 hours ago, ShrimpBrime said:

Could be a motherboard issue. There's always a chance there.

I would check surrounding hardware. 

Perhaps reseat the CPU and heat sink. Yes both.

Double check the 2 pin power to the motherboard. Reseat that as well. 

I would also check the standoffs on the motherboard. Be sure they all line up with the holes and there's not a stray.

 

You do have an interesting issue, definately hardware related

Man I'll be honest, I have no idea what I did, but somehow I got it fixed. I was pressing down on the motherboard a bit when I noticed that the lights on my mouse and headphones were both staying on. Maybe something connected to the motherboard was slightly loose or something and I somehow nudged it back in place?

 

I'm not sure what could've possibly caused these issues, but thank you for all the help! I still wanna avoid this issue in the future when I plan on upgrading my RAM, so if you wouldn't mind helping me a bit more I'll throw in a few more details to get to the bottom of this.

 

I couldn't put my computer in sleep mode without it seemingly cutting the power to all whole system. I say this because whenever I did, the lights to my keyboard/mouse/headphones would go out and I would have to do the whole RAM pressing nonsense and reboot the computer.

It also seems like maybe pressing on the RAM sticks might've been unrelated, and the whole time I needed to be pressing down on the motherboard a little bit.

This all leads me to think that it was an issue with the motherboard, possibly with how it's connected to the power supply. I'm attaching a photo of how everything is set up just in case that somehow helps solve this.

 

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, spicyboiii said:

I'm attaching a photo of how everything is set up just in case that somehow helps solve this.

 

Thank you so very much for this photo. 

I have modified it for technical purposes.

 

So to clearify my statement earlier about the standoffs. 

My fear is you look to be missing screws in places and there's a line of stand-offs along the bottom.

 

Circled in red are missing screws and possibly missing stand-offs.

The Green are screws that look to be proper placement.

 

You get to rebuild your PC.

 

[spicyboiii]

Will do, I guess this gives me a chance to clean up the wiring haha. It does make sense to me though seeing that I can wiggle my motherboard around a bit. I might just end up doing the rebuild tonight with all the extra free time I have.

Just to clarify before I start taking it apart, how many standoffs should be attached to the motherboard? Or would that depend on the model?

 

Thanks again for all the help!

[Guest]

1 hour ago, spicyboiii said:

Will do, I guess this gives me a chance to clean up the wiring haha. It does make sense to me though seeing that I can wiggle my motherboard around a bit. I might just end up doing the rebuild tonight with all the extra free time I have.

Just to clarify before I start taking it apart, how many standoffs should be attached to the motherboard? Or would that depend on the model?

 

Thanks again for all the help!

You want to place the stand-offs where I've circled the holes. There are some screws I missed or can't see. Be sure there are no other stand-offs that aren't needed left in holes that may damage the backside of the motherboard. 

That's all good luck!