Upgrading RAM causes Loop

[flip2433]

Hey Everybody!

 

This is my first time upgrading a computer, so it's hopefully just me beeing a derp.

 

My setup (build for me about 4 years ago by a computer store):

 

MSI Z77A G45

Intel i7 3770k

2x4GB G.Skill Ripjaws F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH

Gigabyte GTX 970 OC 4GB  ( put in by the same computerstore to replace the original 560ti more then a year ago )

LC-Power LC6650GP2 V2.3 650W PSU

some cheap case which only supports 150mm coolers

a DVD drive

WD Green 1TB as a boot drive

 

The performance is not that good anymore. As it is very expensive to get a new computer, I decided to upgrade my current one.

 

The general plan is:

 

* get 16gb of RAM by adding 8  (I'm running out of ram in some voxel-games)

* get an aftermarket cpu cooler to enable overclocking

* get case fans to solve temp issues, as the case had no fans untill now

* get an 500gb ssd as a boot drive

* get a HDD, because I'm actually running out of space on the old one

 

Because I want to reinstall Win10 when I get the SSD and I'm fairly buissy at the moment I only did the cpu-cooler, the case fans and the ram for now.

To install the backplate of the cpu-cooler I had to take apart the whole computer, because the case is really tight. I'm actually surprised it still runs, keeping in mind this was the first time I worked on a desktop computer

 

After putting 2 casefans, the cpu cooler ( Thermalright Macho 120 SBM ) and the ram in, the computer did not work any more. Fans startet spiining for about 6 sec then 2 sec dead and starting again in a never ending loop. No access to bios and nothing on the screen.

After removing the two new ram dimms and checking everything twice it now runs fine again, which brings me to my problem: the RAM.

 

To be shure it works I bought the same RAM I already had, the only difference is the production date on the dimms ( 2012 vs 2017 )

 

My testing resaults:

 

The original setup was ( representing the 4 slots to the right of the CPU ):

OLD, EMPTY, OLD, EMPTY

After the upgrade:

OLD, NEW, OLD, NEW  -->  infinite loop

I put it back to what it was before

OLD, EMPTY, OLD, EMPTY  -->  working fine

So I thought the new RAM is broken an tired

NEW, EMPTY, NEW, EMPTY  --> working fine

So I thought, maybe the slots on the motherboard are dead, so I tried

EMPTY, NEW, EMPTY, NEW  -->  working fine

Which had me thinking. All dimms seem to work, all Slots seem to work. Maybe they changed the ram over the years so the old and the new ones won't work together. So I tried:

OLD, EMPTY, NEW, EMPTY  -->  working fine, running stable as I am writing here

Which has me thinking old and new ram is working fine together as well leaving the question:

 

What is the problem here?

Why does it loop if all 4 slots are populated?

I'm currently out of ideas, I'm hoping you can help me.

 

By the way, I was always working on an ESD-safe surface wearing a wrist-strap the whole time, everything connected to GND via 1Meg.

 

Well, thanks for your help in advance

 

( If some of the text sounds weird, I'm sorry, English is not my first language. )

 

[SageOfSpice]

It's possible that one module is just dead. Had you tried both modules individually on their own to ensure that they work before trying to mix them?

[RS2007GOD]

Needs TLDR lmao anyway without reading it I'd say clear cmos and try and stick at a time. If you haven't got a clear cmos button remove the small battery on the mobo with psu power lead disconnected. This will reset bios to factory and hopefully work. Done this many times with awhile heap of boards usualy works wonders.

[Radiant]

check if the ram has scratches on the contacts and make sure everything is VERY clean... i think you connected all right so its either that or the ram is bad and you should send it back.   btw before you do anything else, you REALLY need to get a quality psu (be quiet, evga etc)

[LabRat]

is the mounting bracket insulated from the motherboard tray and from the motherboard itself ( small insulators included with screws, etc. ) ( or plastic on the insulator itself was installed )?

the 8gigs you added was an 8gig stick or 2 fours, and was it the same exact stuff with the same timings?

 

[flip2433]

So some testing later...

Thanks for the answers

 

Testing single dimms: Putting one in at a time always boots into Win10, so they all  work

Everything is clean, nothing is scratched, the slots are cleaned out with air.

 

Resetting the CMOS did not help, still looping with all 4 dimms in

 

@LabRat

I had 2x4GB wich said F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH on it and I bought another set of 2x4GB wich also says F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH on it, only the numer under the barcode is different and it says Feb 2017 instead of 2012.

I don't exactly know what you mean with the mounting bracket but if you're refering to the cpu-cooler, there is an insulator-sheet between the backplate and the motherboard and there are insulated standoffs used in the front as well.

[0x1e]

You should check your QVL to see if that ram is supported with 4 sticks.

Are you running the latest bios?

 

Did you clear your Cmos and then put all 4 in and see what happens?

[LabRat]

try each stick separately and move them from slot to slot.

but yes, they may say they are the same but not work nicely together.

[flip2433]

@0x1e

QVL says 4 dimms, so thats good

The bios is the last one that was published

Clearing CMOS did not help

 

@LabRat

I tired each one seperately and it always worked and I also moved a pair of two from 1,3 to 2,4 and it always works.

They work together, ONE new stick paired with ONE old stick boots up and detects 8GB.

The only thing that doesn't work is all 4 together.

[LabRat]

might be a voltage problem.in the old days adding extra ram sometimes the voltages needed to be bumped ever so slightly.

[flip2433]

@LabRat

How much should I increase the voltage, how much is still safe?

[LabRat]

0.05/0.1.. i'm not in your bios. i can't tell you what i would do.............. but very tiny amounts at a time is what i always did. ( i rarely if ever over clock anymore ) ( ruined too much stuff and for what I was doing it really didn't matter much ) ( it's highly over rated )......... anyways.......

is your memory voltage set to auto right now? ( check bios on that ).

you could also start fresh and reset cmos and go from there.

when I did over clock I always found out the least amount of voltage it would take for both my cpu and ram to do it's "normal" tasks. then I would over clock from there.

[flip2433]

Well, I now tried only 3 sticks, just because I never did before, doesn't work as well.

 

Boosting the RAM-Voltage from AUTO at 1.5 to over 1.55 did not help as well, maybe something on the board is dead which is responsible for handling between the two sets of dual channel sticks, it has never been run with 4.

 

I'm not really comftable with bumping the voltage up more. I want to upgrade the PC and ceep using it. I can return the ram and live with 8GB for another two years, but I don't want to destroy the existing hardware.

[LabRat]

reset cmos now.

[flip2433]

Isn't turning xmp off again and putting the voltage back to AUTO enough?

But I did it anyways

 

[flip2433]

Thanks for the help guys, I apreciate it.

I returned the RAM, I hope I will have more luck with parts in the future.