Troubleshoot motherboard and RAM.
March 9, 2011 9:41 AM Subscribe
Wondering if I am definitely dealing with a bad system board or if there is any other possibility. (more inside)
I have a Gigabyte GA-81PE1000 system board and the following scenario. I'm trying to figure out if there's any chance it won't require a system board replacement.
4 slots for ddr sdram: A,B,C,D
4 sticks of PC3200 ddr sdram: 1,2,3,4
I ran memtest on sticks 1-3 in slot A with no errors. I put stick 4 in slot A and the computer won't boot. I move it to slot B and run memtest and get no errors.
I can't figure out why this could happen. The RAM seems to be okay and the slot seems to be okay with every stick except 4..
I have a Gigabyte GA-81PE1000 system board and the following scenario. I'm trying to figure out if there's any chance it won't require a system board replacement.
4 slots for ddr sdram: A,B,C,D
4 sticks of PC3200 ddr sdram: 1,2,3,4
I ran memtest on sticks 1-3 in slot A with no errors. I put stick 4 in slot A and the computer won't boot. I move it to slot B and run memtest and get no errors.
I can't figure out why this could happen. The RAM seems to be okay and the slot seems to be okay with every stick except 4..
Oh, wait, I misunderstood. Please disregard what I wrote above.
posted by Netzapper at 9:48 AM on March 9, 2011
posted by Netzapper at 9:48 AM on March 9, 2011
It sounds like the system is booting - there are a few possibilities. The first one is a bad board. I would try to switch the RAM around i.e. move 2 to slot 4 and 4 to slot 2.
The other one is, is your board configured correctly? A quick google search revealed that this board is highly customizable so it is possible that a setting may be wrong in the BIOs that is causing it to be inactive or not recognized.
Finally, are you using the same brand of RAM? Similar to what Netzapper was saying, i've also seen boards be picky depending on what slots that are in and what brands are in the mirror slot. Maybe just me, and some bad luck - but I would also try this.
posted by lpcxa0 at 9:51 AM on March 9, 2011
The other one is, is your board configured correctly? A quick google search revealed that this board is highly customizable so it is possible that a setting may be wrong in the BIOs that is causing it to be inactive or not recognized.
Finally, are you using the same brand of RAM? Similar to what Netzapper was saying, i've also seen boards be picky depending on what slots that are in and what brands are in the mirror slot. Maybe just me, and some bad luck - but I would also try this.
posted by lpcxa0 at 9:51 AM on March 9, 2011
Have you tried booting with half the ram in and leaving slot 4 out of the equation?
posted by Felex at 9:55 AM on March 9, 2011
posted by Felex at 9:55 AM on March 9, 2011
And likewise, have you tried booting with just 1 stick in slot D?
posted by samsara at 10:04 AM on March 9, 2011
posted by samsara at 10:04 AM on March 9, 2011
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posted by Netzapper at 9:46 AM on March 9, 2011