First build woes

[krwodzicki]

Hey all,

Building my first rig and running into some real issues. The goal for the build is a server running ZFS for storage and things like Plex; build list below.

The issue I'm running into is with the ram. I started by installing all 4 sticks, but only 2 wold show up in my mobo; slots B1 and B2. After some playing around, I noticed sticks would show up in A1 and B2. I then started testing the individual sticks of ram using slot B2; I would install a single stick in B2, get to bios, remove, install a different stick, etc. Found that one of the 4 sticks would just get stuck in a restart loop, and another would sometimes get to bios. So, getting replacements for those. The real issues comes down to installing the 2 working sticks (for now).

The install guide recommends putting the DIMMS in A2/B2 first, but if I do that, get stuck in restart loop. As I said before A1/B1 gets to bios. So, took a single stick and test it in each slot. A1/B1/B2 all get to bios, but with a single stick in A2, I get stuck in a restart loop.

My understanding of dual channel ram is that 2 of the slots are on one channel and the other 2 are on another. So, if there is an issue with the CPU, I would assume two of the slots just wouldn't work? But I could be wrong.

All that to ask, do you all think this is a CPU or mobo issue? I was very careful putting in the CPU as it was my first install. Gently placed it down and it dropped right in. Did the very light wiggle has Linus has mentioned in many videos, and slowly lowered the arm down. So, unless it was defective, I don't believe there is any issue with the CPU and I really don't want to take it out to look haha.

Any and all advice is welcome.

Thanks!!!


*Edit* Forgot parts

MOBO : Asrock X570m Pro4
CPU     : Ryzen 5 5600x

RAM    : Nemix ME23400-628 16GB PC4-2933 2Rx8 ECC UDIMM
 

[Uptivuptiz]

If the system gets stuck in a boot loop with only one of the slots on the motherboard that would suggest that the motherboard is defective, yes.

While troubleshooting did you try different sticks in the same slot? Also have you tried to clear the CMOS?

[RONOTHAN##]

9 minutes ago, krwodzicki said:

A1/B1/B2 all get to bios, but with a single stick in A2, I get stuck in a restart loop.

This certainly means a dead RAM slot. If it was a dead CPU channel, 2 slots wouldn't work. I'd RMA the board and get a new one. It's pretty rare to get both dead RAM and a dead RAM slot, but I guess you just got lucky. 

[krwodzicki]

6 minutes ago, Uptivuptiz said:

While troubleshooting did you try different sticks in the same slot? Also have you tried to clear the CMOS?

I can't say for sure if I have, but throughout my testing I'm pretty sure I have put different, working, sticks in the apparently broken A2 slot. I have also reset the CMOS a few times shorting the pins and once by taking out the battery for a few minutes, holding power, etc.

 

 

8 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

This certainly means a dead RAM slot. If it was a dead CPU channel, 2 slots wouldn't work.

That's what I thought....guess I gotta get some new thermal paste too for when I reinstall the CPU.

Been a great first build so far haha

Thanks!

[krwodzicki]

Quick update for anyone who may have a similar problem.

I did some more testing using MemTest86 on each of the 4 DIMMs one-at-a-time using a "working" slot. The result? All the sticks passed with flying colors.

I was still leery of a problem with the motherboard, so I decided to just return the Nemix ram and get some Kingston DIMMs off the QVL list. I had oped for the Nemix ram originally because figured it would just work, and was a few hundred dollars cheaper than the QVL DIMMs I had found from minimal searching. However, after a little deeper search I was able to find QVL DIMMs for about the same price (thanks TigerDirect). Went from 4x16GB Nemix to 2x32GB Kingston

 

Point of the story, put the QVL DIMMs in the A2/B2 (recommended) and they showed right up in the BIOS and passed MemTest86 with no errors.

Moral of the story, get ram from the QVL list.

Updated Specs:
 

MOBO : Asrock X570m Pro4
CPU     : Ryzen 5 5600x

RAM    : Kingston KSM26ED8/32ME 32GB 2Rx8