How to fix RAM slot ?
How to fix RAM slot ?
Recently, while playing, I encountered 0xc2 bsod. After running a memory test with the Windows tool, it indicated poor memory performance. I swapped the RAM between slots and it functioned properly, but when I powered it on, it froze at the login screen. Removing one stick resolved the issue, allowing everything to boot. Also, once all four slots were installed, the computer would turn on—though sometimes it would restart indefinitely without starting, though I believe that happened later. The screen remained black, with no BIOS logo visible, and RGB lighting worked on the case, motherboard, RAM, and keyboard. It seemed the mouse wasn't being detected. I attempted booting with three sticks, which reported dual-channel issues but still managed to start. Then I tried another slot with the same three sticks, but it wouldn’t boot. This suggests the RAM slot on the motherboard might be faulty. There might be a solution, though. Perhaps updating my UEFI beforehand would help. In theory, installing an earlier version could work, but since I need rebar—a new GPU that may have been damaged because BSODs occurred during installation—I might also consider installing the beta version. Alternatively, there could be a simpler fix available. Ideally, I’d like to use all four slots to maximize RAM usage.
It's more probable that one of your DIMMs is defective or possibly one of the two Integrated Memory Controllers in your 8700K is faulty.
If a DIMM socket is damaged, you should consult a skilled technician to replace it. This isn't a simple process without the right tools and expertise.
When you have two pairs of DIMMs instead of a single set of four, your memory won't be compatible, even if both kits share the same part number. Mismatched RAM can sometimes cause issues.
I would suggest turning off XMP and returning to the JEDEC standard speeds of 2133 or 2400MT/s. The system could stabilize better if the XMP rate exceeds what your CPU/mobo combination supports.
To determine if any of your DIMMs are faulty, start by booting the computer with MemTest86 via USB and inspect each DIMM individually. Perform a complete test (about an hour per DIMM). If any faults appear, relocate the faulty DIMM to another slot and retest. This will help confirm whether your RAM and DIMM slots are functioning correctly.
https://www.memtest86.com/
It has been functioning well for over seven years without any problems with xmp. I acquired another pair about a year ago. Still, I'll keep running ram on each dimm to verify everything works properly. Running a full hour test on each stick will take a very long time, but I'm prepared to do it to uncover the real cause.
Inspect the CPU socket for bent or broken pins.
Capture several high-resolution images from various perspectives and share them here. (Upload to imgur.com and include the link)
Damage to the RAM slot is uncommon, but bent/broken CPU socket pins occur frequently.
The signs in both cases are quite alike.
The CPU has remained untouched for quite some time. There were no issues at all. After building it seven years ago, I noticed some beeps, removed the GPU (now switching to igpu while my new one arrives), and now it's just RAM. I'll investigate first—lacking thermal grease, and I'm expecting a bit more heat. From what I experienced during gaming, around 65 degrees was normal, possibly a little higher, but the CPU can manage up to 100°C. It's probably fine.
Not sure about counting dimm slots, but from left to right, 1 and 2 ran for 1 hour (two full passes), no issues. Dimm 3 had 1 error at pCPU 2 pass 0 test 6. Pass 2 is complete with no more errors, so I'll test the same stick on dimm4 to check if it fails too. Since it failed on pass 0 test 6, I expect it to fail after about ten minutes given the bad RAM. But it's possible the second stick is also faulty, so I'll update. It's important to note this is one stick from one batch, while the remaining one is from another batch, so... We'll see.
Ram3 in dimm4 is functioning properly so far, completed one full pass without issues. I'll wait for the second pass to finish updating before testing the last stick on dimm3, and then whenever I have time, I'll check the final setup by inserting everything at once.
If you encounter issues in MemTest86, note the DIMM with a pen to identify potential faults, avoiding confusion between good and bad units. It's simple to confuse high-quality DIMMs with inferior ones. If the system isn't critical, I occasionally disable XMP, retest, and if the DIMM meets 10 full funs, I retain it in the machine; otherwise, I replace it. If the system is vital, I upgrade with new RAM.
I rarely mix DDR3 DIMMs from the same maker but different batches, particularly at 1,333MT/s versus 1,600MT/s ratings. I managed to handle two unmatched pairs of DDR4 (16GB each) Corsair Vengeance running at 3,000MT/s XMP without problems.
I avoid mixing two DDR5 DIMMs unless necessary. That's why I installed two 32GB units in 2022 and stopped adding more. Still, using four matched DDR5 DIMMs from one kit can lead to reduced XMP speeds compared to just two. The CPU's IMCs face greater stress with four units.
TLDR: Any errors in MemTest86 suggest a faulty DIMM—replace if feasible.
Because the issues appeared after just a short time, I checked each ram stick in every slot once, and now I've confirmed all four are functioning properly for one complete pass. Although it might not be sufficient, I'm still going to test them again after two full passes. If everything is fine, I'll leave it overnight for a thorough test.
Regarding the computer not turning on... It's my fault. I had a large cooler (noctua nh-d15s) and replacing the ram caused problems, so I removed the sticks and didn't push one fully in. That was the issue. Still, doing the memtest was a wise move. I discovered that some dimms only worked in certain slots.
I've been using all four sticks with xmp enabled for eight minutes without any errors so far. I'll provide an update after about 1.5 hours or once the two passes are done.
New update. One error at 11th minute.
pCPU 3 Pass 0 Test 6. Does that mean I need to order a new stick of ram? Can I order just one? Or do I need to order 2 or 4? Of course, I'll report back after 2 passes, but the fact that 1 stick at a time worked fine for 1 full pass but 4 sticks don't... That sort of scares me a bit...
...and after 1 hour, 37 errors, all seem to be on pCPU 3, 35 at pass 0, 2 on pass 1. Pass 1 is at 46% so should be done fairly soon, maybe in 30 minutes or so.
In 1:10 96 errors, and in 1:23 through running the passes, 102 errors. Since the two sticks are working fine, I'm sticking to those and ordering 2 more to replace what seems to be dead dimms. I sincerely hope it's the ram, not slots. Since nobody replies here anymore, I will assume this is the ram that is bad, because the same two sticks are working fine with only 1 inserted at a time. If you have any other assumptions such as memory controller being bad... I'm all ears since I'm planning to buy more ram tomorrow