Computer is restarting or not responding - RAM test failed, what should be done next?
Computer is restarting or not responding - RAM test failed, what should be done next?
I’m a total beginner with computer stuff, so keep that in mind lol.
About two years ago someone built me a PC. It’s been working fine until recently.
I’m using Windows 11, a Prime B650M motherboard, a 1200 watt power supply, 32 GB DDR5 G-Skill RAM, a Fractal Meshify XL tower, a Ryzen 9 5900X CPU, and an RTX 3060 Ti.
In the past week I’ve noticed the system restarts itself multiple times, and sometimes even when powered on, my monitor shows nothing but a blank screen, the mouse and keyboard don’t respond, and I have to press the tower restart button.
The first advice I received was to run memtest, which resulted in a failure. You can check the details here: https://imgur.com/a/oTxgHR3
View: https://imgur.com/a/oTxgHR3
What should I do next to diagnose and fix the issue? It looks like one of the RAM sticks might be faulty. Should I run more tests, swap one stick out, and retest? If I find a bad stick, what should I buy as a replacement—16 GB RAM? Thanks!
1200 watt PSU details
What model is this power supply?
Prime b650m mobo
Is this the correct motherboard?
PRIME B650M-A｜Motherboards｜ASUS Global
This unit boasts impressive specifications such as a 6-layer PCB, DDR5 support, PCIe 5.0 M.2, Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C®, BIOS FlashBack™, and DisplayPort/VGA/HDMI. It also features addressable Gen 2 headers, Aura Sync, Fan Xpert 2+, which will enhance performance.
Visit www.asus.com for more info.
Are you using this system? If yes, pairing it with a Ryzen 5 9600x might not be ideal due to the VRM design.
Do you perform extensive software testing, try removing one stick and retesting, or follow a similar process?
Yes, isolating individual components helps identify the root cause.
Could one of the RAM sticks be faulty?
If you suspect a defective stick, what would be a suitable replacement size (16GB)?
Please reach out to the person or technician who assembled your system and ask for a review. Mention your troubleshooting steps so they can assist further.
If the RAM units are the issue, most kits come with a lifetime warranty—so long as the product is still in production, you’re covered for replacement or repair.
Consider contacting G.Skill via email to get their perspective if direct support isn’t available.
Yeah, it’s the b650m-a ax ii.
I had a college student who worked at a small parts and repair shop build it for me. It was all new components, but I got a good price because he was essentially buying wholesale.
That also means I don’t have proof of purchase for the RAM. The sticks have serial numbers and “Dec 2024” on them, so I might still try contacting G Skill to find out what they can do.
I’m currently running memtest on the first stick. If only one fails, I’m pretty sure it’s the problem. My worry is if both fail, too.
Also, how could I figure out if the issues are from a mono or CPU and not the RAM?
Yeah, it’s the B650M-A AX II model.
What BIOS version is installed on your motherboard?
Also, how can I figure out if the issues stem from a mono or CPU problem rather than RAM?
You can test by placing your processor on another compatible motherboard with the correct BIOS. If the issue continues, the Integrated Memory Controller might be affected.
Don’t forget to mention the PSU make and model.
Enter BIOS settings and turn on A-XMP/DOCP features. Your current RAM speed is 6000MHz with a 1.1V voltage, which is below the typical 1.25V or 1.35V needed for 6000MHz OC mode. Activating A-XMP will adjust the DDR voltage accordingly. Refer to CPU-Z screenshots for memory and performance details.
You should still proceed with this step, even if you encounter the memtest error. It seems you want to ensure everything is handled properly, regardless of the outcome.
Updates: performed memtest on the sticks one by one and both passed. Meanwhile, I turned off EXPO in the BIOS and reran memtest with the dims enabled.
Here are CPU-Z screenshots from before:
I disabled EXPO.
https://imgur.com/a/bQlQBpd
See also: https://imgur.com/a/bQlQBpd
I got another pass when I combined the sticks without EXPO enabled. I'm trying again with EXPO active. Uncertain about how to adjust the voltage settings in the BIOS.
BIOS High-Level Settings/Intelligence Enhancer/Complex memory parameters
DRAM VDD current
DRAM VDDQ current