[Junkman]

I've had problems with various components of this computer over the last year or so, but still don't know which exactly. Whole thing went kaput about a year ago and I took it in to the shop and suggested the problem was the video card. They took a look and told me it was the mobo. Two weeks later the new one I had ordered arrived and I plugged it in and still no go, so I took it back and they looked again and sure enough, it was the video card. So I got a new one and problem solved.

Until some months later when problems began to arise once more. Computer failed (don't remember if it froze or just went dead) and wouldn't start up again; nothing happened when I pressed the power button, not even lights or fans. So I started removing components, and once I took the RAM out (I have 2 x 1 gig sticks) the power did come on and it beeped to tell me I didn't have any RAM connected. Putting one stick of RAM in fixed everything and got me booted up, so I figured one of my sticks of RAM was fried. Problem is when I tested the other one, it also worked. So I tried both, and the computer worked once, but then failed the next time I tried to boot.

So with lots of experimentation and moving things around, I find the computer will work with one stick but not two. Doesn't matter which stick, nor which of the 4 DIMM slots I put the stick in. It started up with both sticks a couple of times early on, but I haven't been able to get it to do that again.

Bought a brand new 850W Corsair PSU which should have plenty of power for my build, the problem persists. So PSU, mobo and GPU are all quite new and shouldn't be at fault. RAM itself seems very unlikely as either stick works fine alone. Also ran a couple of memory diagnostic programmes suggested by people on this site and they all checked out fine. I tried disconnecting the HD and DVD drive and no effect, so they should be ruled out as well. No other devices attached.

I'm kind of stumped as to where the problem could lie. What would prevent the computer from booting, even having the motherboard power up, when 2 sticks of RAM are connected? I've been operating with 1 stick for quite some time now, as I got so sick of dealing with this and was happy just to have my computer back, but it is slow with only 1Gb of RAM and I'd really like to sort this out once and for all. I've had other bad experiences with the only computer shop in town and would really rather not have to go back to them.

Please help And if I've forgotten to include any pertinent information let me know.

Athlon 64 X2 4600+
MSI K9A2 CF-F Socket AM2+ ATX Motherboard MS-7388
Corsair TX 850 PSU
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM (2 x 1Gb, currently 1x)
Radeon HD4870 GPU
WD2500AAJS 250Gb Hard Disk
Lite-on DVD R/W

[Advertisements]

First suspected issue I see is a possible bad memory module or a bad dimm slot.
Lets check the memory first one at a time.
If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A
You have already established the above so lets test each module by itself. by doing the next steps.
B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run. You may have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS to make it work right.

To change Boot Sequence in your BIOS

Reboot the system and at the first post screen (where it is counting up memory) start tapping the DEL button
This will enter you into the Bios\Cmos area.
Find the Advanced area and click Enter
Look for Boot Sequence or Boot Options and highlight that click Enter
Now highlight the first drive and follow the directions on the bottom of the screen on how to modify it and change it to CDrom.
Change the second drive to the C or Main Drive
Once that is done then click F10 to Save and Exit
You will prompted to enter Y to verify Save and Exit. Click Y and the system will now reboot with the new settings.


The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

[rshaffer61]

First suspected issue I see is a possible bad memory module or a bad dimm slot.
Lets check the memory first one at a time.
If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A
You have already established the above so lets test each module by itself. by doing the next steps.
B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run. You may have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS to make it work right.

To change Boot Sequence in your BIOS

Reboot the system and at the first post screen (where it is counting up memory) start tapping the DEL button
This will enter you into the Bios\Cmos area.
Find the Advanced area and click Enter
Look for Boot Sequence or Boot Options and highlight that click Enter
Now highlight the first drive and follow the directions on the bottom of the screen on how to modify it and change it to CDrom.
Change the second drive to the C or Main Drive
Once that is done then click F10 to Save and Exit
You will prompted to enter Y to verify Save and Exit. Click Y and the system will now reboot with the new settings.


The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

[Alzeimer]

Since you say that both ram work well when they are by themselves we can assume that they are both good (test them qith MEMTEST 86 to be absolutely sure)

Your board ram configuration for Dual Channel are:
Dim slots 1 + 2
Dim slots 3 + 4
Dim slots 1 + 2 + 3 + 4

If you tried 1 + 2 together and your system had problem did you try 3 + 4 only