7700X, possible bad memory controller?

[Droosk]

Hey all. Long time LTT viewer and lurker, but just registered for some feedback. I'm building a machine for productivity and rendering, and just tried to check for POST and running into a problem. Unfortunately, the platform is so exceptionally new, that there isn't much info on the net yet. So hopefully you all can help!

 

Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI Socket AM5

 

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X

 

Memory: CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) Model CMT64GX5M2B5200C40, I have two of these kits for a total of 128gb across 4 sticks.

 

Putting all 4 sticks in, no POST. Orange light on DRAM debug light. Took all sticks out, and started going through the slots one at a time. A1 and B1 will not post with a stick of ram inserted. A2 and B2 does post. I believe this likely means a bad memory controller in the 7700X, yes? Any other insights?

 

Thanks!

[Blue4130]

1 hour ago, Droosk said:

Hey all. Long time LTT viewer and lurker, but just registered for some feedback. I'm building a machine for productivity and rendering, and just tried to check for POST and running into a problem. Unfortunately, the platform is so exceptionally new, that there isn't much info on the net yet. So hopefully you all can help!

 

Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI Socket AM5

 

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X

 

Memory: CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) Model CMT64GX5M2B5200C40, I have two of these kits for a total of 128gb across 4 sticks.

 

Putting all 4 sticks in, no POST. Orange light on DRAM debug light. Took all sticks out, and started going through the slots one at a time. A1 and B1 will not post with a stick of ram inserted. A2 and B2 does post. I believe this likely means a bad memory controller in the 7700X, yes? Any other insights?

 

Thanks!

It usually means that there is an issue with the cpu mount. Pull the cpu and check the pins and reinsert. WAY more likely than a bad memory controller.

[Droosk]

6 minutes ago, Blue4130 said:

It usually means that there is an issue with the cpu mount. Pull the cpu and check the pins and reinsert. WAY more likely than a bad memory controller.

Yeah, already did that. Pins in the socket are all perfect, brand new.

[thewelshbrummie]

Could be the memory controller but it could be a mounting pressure issue. And I mean too much is also a possibility as well as not enough. That said it's worth trying to boot the computer with BOTH A2 AND B2 populated.

 

Greg Salazar's videos on troubleshooting are a great watch - this one in particular is a computer with the issue you've described:

It's worth watching the whole thing but the 17 minute mark is where mounting pressure becomes the likely cause - apparently CPUs can appear to be seated correctly but still don't post in dual channel mode if mounting pressure isn't correct. If you have a spare CPU cooler, try that instead. You can't rule out a memory controller fault on the CPU but I agree that it's less likely to be that vs a too much or too little mounting pressure from your CPU cooler.

 

Doesn't matter that it's an AM4 build vs your AM5 - it's a possibility on any platform and worth checking.

 

To counter my own argument, this video is 2 videos later in the troubleshooting series:

Which is indeed diagnosed as a dead memory channel. Though Greg himself mentioned that it's only the 2nd time he's seen it - and on a system that has been used a bit.

 

It could be either but it's worth trying a different cooler first before RMAing your CPU in case it's a mounting pressure problem.

[Slave2school]

14 hours ago, Droosk said:

Hey all. Long time LTT viewer and lurker, but just registered for some feedback. I'm building a machine for productivity and rendering, and just tried to check for POST and running into a problem. Unfortunately, the platform is so exceptionally new, that there isn't much info on the net yet. So hopefully you all can help!

 

Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI Socket AM5

 

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X

 

Memory: CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) Model CMT64GX5M2B5200C40, I have two of these kits for a total of 128gb across 4 sticks.

 

Putting all 4 sticks in, no POST. Orange light on DRAM debug light. Took all sticks out, and started going through the slots one at a time. A1 and B1 will not post with a stick of ram inserted. A2 and B2 does post. I believe this likely means a bad memory controller in the 7700X, yes? Any other insights?

 

Thanks!

I had this happen on my x570 with that much ram. I had to install 2 sticks, boot, increase the voltage of the ram more than I should have and could only run all 4 sticks at 3200 speeds but it then worked. (This was some crap patriot viper 2x32 kits I was trying this with).I wonder if your situation is similar. I just upgraded to Am5 but only used 64gb this time and no issues myself. Send me your ram and I'll test it for you

[Droosk]

3 hours ago, thewelshbrummie said:

Could be the memory controller but it could be a mounting pressure issue. And I mean too much is also a possibility as well as not enough. That said it's worth trying to boot the computer with BOTH A2 AND B2 populated.

 

Greg Salazar's videos on troubleshooting are a great watch - this one in particular is a computer with the issue you've described:

It's worth watching the whole thing but the 17 minute mark is where mounting pressure becomes the likely cause - apparently CPUs can appear to be seated correctly but still don't post in dual channel mode if mounting pressure isn't correct. If you have a spare CPU cooler, try that instead. You can't rule out a memory controller fault on the CPU but I agree that it's less likely to be that vs a too much or too little mounting pressure from your CPU cooler.

 

Doesn't matter that it's an AM4 build vs your AM5 - it's a possibility on any platform and worth checking.

 

To counter my own argument, this video is 2 videos later in the troubleshooting series:

Which is indeed diagnosed as a dead memory channel. Though Greg himself mentioned that it's only the 2nd time he's seen it - and on a system that has been used a bit.

 

It could be either but it's worth trying a different cooler first before RMAing your CPU in case it's a mounting pressure problem.

 

Yeah, it's Greg that got me thinking controller. I've now reseated the chip 4 times, rotated the AIO block twice, tried multiple levels of mounting pressure on the spring screws. A1/B1 just don't want to work

 

I do have the system booted with A2/B2 populated no problem. Windows is installed, and I've done testing with it. Completely stable both with and without DOPC. It really is down to either the motherboard or the CPU. What I hate is that I spent SOOO much time cable managing this thing. I actually WANT it to be the CPU because that is significantly easier to return/replace lol

 

3 hours ago, Slave2school said:

I had this happen on my x570 with that much ram. I had to install 2 sticks, boot, increase the voltage of the ram more than I should have and could only run all 4 sticks at 3200 speeds but it then worked. (This was some crap patriot viper 2x32 kits I was trying this with).I wonder if your situation is similar. I just upgraded to Am5 but only used 64gb this time and no issues myself. Send me your ram and I'll test it for you

 

You actually had a channel be completely unresponsive? Again, even with just one stick in either A1 or B1, there is no POST.

[Sarra]

Could be an internal open in the CPU itself.

 

I would test it in another board if you can.

 

What happens if you populate A1 and A2?

 

Edit: Populate A2 and B2, update your BIOS, and try again with A1 and B1.

[thewelshbrummie]

On 10/24/2022 at 8:43 AM, Sarra said:

Could be an internal open in the CPU itself.

 

I would test it in another board if you can.

 

What happens if you populate A1 and A2?

 

Edit: Populate A2 and B2, update your BIOS, and try again with A1 and B1.

Since it's AM5 I doubt that the OP has a spare board.

 

@Drooskif there is a BIOS update, try that and see if it makes any difference. Also try the other 2 memory modules in A2/B2 just to rule out bad memory.

 

I'd be amazed if it fixes the problem but it's definitely worth trying. Assuming that fails, then I think you're out of options other than to RMA the CPU and go from there, since that's where the memory controller is on modern hardware. It could still be the motherboard but the CPU is the obvious place to start for reasons you've suggested (I've struggled to find anything else online for issues like this, other than a 5 year old reddit thread on a dual socket server board using LGA1366. That was the first socket that removed the northbridge and moved the memory controller to the CPU. Being Intel and a dual socket board means it's hardly comparable but it's an interesting read that may be relevant, particularly as the OP on that thread found that swapping the memory to work on the other CPU worked perfectly).