PC doesn't post with 2 RAM sticks after CPU upgrade

[stronbox]

My PC is a pre-built, if that is a factor for anything.
MOBO: AsRock H310CM-HG4
CPU: i3-9100f
RAM: 2x Team Group T-Force Vulcan 8GB DDR4 2666Mhz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER
My PSU's wattage is 500W

Some time ago, I decided to upgrade from an i3-9100f to an i5-9400f. After the new CPU arrived, I installed it and found out it would not POST with the 2 RAM slots occupied. It only gives any sort of display with 1 RAM stick. I figured the i5 I bought was defective and was causing issues with the memory channel, so I sent it back and got a replacement, but, when I went to install the replacement, the problem still persisted. After switching back to the i3-9100f, the PC would POST just fine with the 2 RAM sticks.

So far I have tried:
- Clearing the CMOS
- Trying different RAM configurations (the PC only POSTS with the i5 if the RAM stick is in slot B1)
- Trying different RAM sticks
- Reseating the CPU
- Switching CPU coolers
- Updating the BIOS

[191x7]

The used 9400f probably has a dead memory controller.

[stronbox]

12 minutes ago, 191x7 said:

The used 9400f probably has a dead memory controller.

The 9400fs were all brand new. The problem is that both the one I bought initially and the replacement had the same issue, so it's very unlikely both of them had a dead memory controller.

[191x7]

22 minutes ago, stronbox said:

The 9400fs were all brand new. The problem is that both the one I bought initially and the replacement had the same issue, so it's very unlikely both of them had a dead memory controller.

Interesting then.

 

Are you using the latest bios? I know you've mentioned upgrading the bios, but I want to make sure its 4.20.

https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H310CM-HG4/index.asp#BIOS

 

Motherboard socket fine, checked for bent pins?

[stronbox]

9 minutes ago, 191x7 said:

Interesting then.

 

Are you using the latest bios? I know you've mentioned upgrading the bios, but I want to make sure its 4.20.

https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H310CM-HG4/index.asp#BIOS

 

Motherboard socket fine, checked for bent pins?

BIOS is 4.20, I checked the socket and there aren't any bent pins. PC boots just fine with 2 RAM sticks if I switch back to the i3.

[191x7]

12 minutes ago, stronbox said:

BIOS is 4.20, I checked the socket and there aren't any bent pins. PC boots just fine with 2 RAM sticks if I switch back to the i3.

Can you verify the RAM as being faultless, maybe run memtest86+?

[stronbox]

4 minutes ago, 191x7 said:

Can you verify the RAM as being faultless, maybe run memtest86+?

I've already tried 3 different sticks of RAM on all slots in different configurations. All of them work on B1, but none work on A1 with the i5. I'll try running memtest tomorrow.

[An0maly_76]

1 hour ago, stronbox said:

BIOS is 4.20, I checked the socket and there aren't any bent pins. PC boots just fine with 2 RAM sticks if I switch back to the i3.

Does sound like a flaky memory controller. My Ryzen build would do these freaky random no-video POSTs with certain RAM sticks though, and it did seem to be more prevalent with two installed. Try checking your RAM against the board manufacturer's QVL. It's possible the 9400F doesn't like the RAM, even though the 9100F does.

 

Also, a tech YouTuber, Greg Salazar, does videos on weird problems like this. He ran into an interesting issue where the BIOS on the board was a beta with certain support removed, preventing recognition of the installed processor. He rolled back the BIOS and it worked. So maybe try going back a version or two?

 

ADDED: @stronbox, I noticed something interesting in the support list, the 9400F has P0, R0, and U0 versions of these processors supported. Maybe the one you have is not one of these?

 

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by An0maly_76
Revised, more info

[stronbox]

45 minutes ago, An0maly_76 said:

Does sound like a flaky memory controller. My Ryzen build would do these freaky random no-video POSTs with certain RAM sticks though, and it did seem to be more prevalent with two installed. Try checking your RAM against the board manufacturer's QVL. It's possible the 9400F doesn't like the RAM, even though the 9100F does.

 

Also, a tech YouTuber, Greg Salazar, does videos on weird problems like this. He ran into an interesting issue where the BIOS on the board was a beta with certain support removed, preventing recognition of the installed processor. He rolled back the BIOS and it worked. So maybe try going back a version or two?

 

ADDED: @stronbox, I noticed something interesting in the support list, the 9400F has P0, R0, and U0 versions of these processors supported. Maybe the one you have is not one of these?

 

 

I tested the first CPU on an older BIOS version back when I was troubleshooting it, and it didn't solve the problem.
Interestingly enough, I checked the QVL and, yeah, my RAM module isn't listed in there, which is odd, considering all of them are the same model that came with my computer.
I couldn't find any information about whether the i5 is a P0, R0 or U0, though. Do you know where I would be able to find it? I bought it off Amazon, and it doesn't seem to be listed in the details.

[An0maly_76]

9 minutes ago, stronbox said:

I tested the first CPU on an older BIOS version back when I was troubleshooting it, and it didn't solve the problem.
Interestingly enough, I checked the QVL and, yeah, my RAM module isn't listed in there, which is odd, considering all of them are the same model that came with my computer.
I couldn't find any information about whether the i5 is a P0, R0 or U0, though. Do you know where I would be able to find it? I bought it off Amazon, and it doesn't seem to be listed in the details.

I know my i7-2600's 'SR00B' designation was in the print on the CPU lid. Most Intel CPUs are the same way, perhaps it's there?

 

ADDED: @stronbox-- I found this, indicating that PRODUCTION versions were P0, R0, and U0. Which would suggest there might be some pre-production sample / prototypes out there? I know you said these chips were supposed to be brand-new, but stranger things have happened.

 

https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/CPUs/Intel/Core_i5/i5-9400F.html

 

Given the unlikelihood of that though, I'd say maybe ASRock fumbled this one in saying the 9400F was supported. I went through the same crap with MSI. Their site showed my B450M Bazooka supported a 5900X, then only told me after I bought the 5900X that the BIOS update for it could fry my board. Their site no longer shows 5900X support for that board, incidentally.

Edited January 17, 2023 by An0maly_76
Revised, more info

[An0maly_76]

@stronbox- Well, THIS is interesting...Apparently the P0 / R0 / U0 isn't what's printed on the lid... Screenshot of CPU code and page info below the link, not sure which is which.

 

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i5/Intel-Core i5 i5-9400F.html

 

 

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by An0maly_76
Revised, more info

[stronbox]

Just now, An0maly_76 said:

@stronbox- Well, THIS is interesting...Apparently the P0 / R0 / U0 isn't what's printed on the lid... Screenshot below, not sure which is which.

 

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i5/Intel-Core i5 i5-9400F.html

 

Managed to find it in the Intel specs, the i5 I bought is a U0, which should be supported by the MOBO.

[An0maly_76]

28 minutes ago, stronbox said:

Managed to find it in the Intel specs, the i5 I bought is a U0, which should be supported by the MOBO.

Then I would venture one of two theories:

 

1. There's something the BIOS update for the 9400F, or perhaps the 9400F itself, doesn't like about that RAM.

 

2. ASRock goofed and their support info is wrong.

 

Another remotely possible theory is that your board is old enough that the BIOS update for the 9400F cannot work as intended.

Edited January 17, 2023 by An0maly_76
Revised, more info

[stronbox]

23 minutes ago, An0maly_76 said:

Then I would venture one of two theories:

 

1. There's something the BIOS update for the 9400F, or perhaps the 9400F itself, doesn't like about that RAM.

 

2. ASRock goofed and their support info is wrong.

 

Another remotely possible theory is that your board is old enough that the BIOS update for the 9400F cannot work as intended.

Yeah, I'll try to contact them tomorrow to see if the board info is right. According to the update description for the BIOS, they enabled Intel Platform Trust Technology by default. Could that be a possible cause for some memory channel issue? The thing I'm confused about in this situation is that it doesn't look like the i5 doesn't like the RAM specifically, since it still runs with 1 stick in B1, but it seems to dislike the A1 slot. I'm not exactly sure on what's going on, but I hope AsRock can provide some answers.

[An0maly_76]

12 minutes ago, stronbox said:

Yeah, I'll try to contact them tomorrow to see if the board info is right. According to the update description for the BIOS, they enabled Intel Platform Trust Technology by default. Could that be a possible cause for some memory channel issue? The thing I'm confused about in this situation is that it doesn't look like the i5 doesn't like the RAM specifically, since it still runs with 1 stick in B1, but it seems to dislike the A1 slot. I'm not exactly sure on what's going on, but I hope AsRock can provide some answers.

You might get a magnifying glass and see if any dust or foreign material might be in the slot. I can't say as to the Platform Trust thing. But I have seen RAM-related issues similar to this due to incompatibility or instability.

 

One other thing, have you checked to see whether enabling / disabling XMP changes anything? My Patriot RAM, for some odd reason, required manual timings and will not let the machine POST at the rated 3200 speed. I've had to run it at 2400.

[stronbox]

17 minutes ago, An0maly_76 said:

You might get a magnifying glass and see if any dust or foreign material might be in the slot. I can't say as to the Platform Trust thing. But I have seen RAM-related issues similar to this due to incompatibility or instability.

 

One other thing, have you checked to see whether enabling / disabling XMP changes anything? My Patriot RAM, for some odd reason, required manual timings and will not let the machine POST at the rated 3200 speed. I've had to run it at 2400.

Yeah, I've tried enabling and disabling XMP on one of the sticks, but I didn't see a difference. I'll try to enable XMP for all of the sticks and check their clock speeds to see if they're matching with their default timings, maybe that's causing an issue? I'll also see if I can get myself a magnifying glass to check the socket, I might've missed a bent pin or some dust in the socket.