New PC built. Just 1 slot RAM installed. What actions should I take?
New PC built. Just 1 slot RAM installed. What actions should I take?
Hi guys .
I just assembled a new PC .
R9 9950x
2x32 GB Gskill FlareX5 CL 30 6000
Asus X870 TUF gaming Plus WiFi
I reused an old SSD drive with Windows.
I updated the BIOS to the latest version. I plan to perform a clean installation of Windows soon.
I checked and only one slot - A2 is working.
What should I do? Is this related to the motherboard or CPU?
Can I just leave my PC with just one stick of RAM?
You may have damaged some pins in the CPU socket, influencing one of the CPU's Integrated Memory Controller channels. There could be dirt or debris inside the DIMM socket. Start by placing the other DIMM into the working A2 slot and check if the system powers up. Execute MemTest86 on each DIMM separately to verify their functionality. If one DIMM functions while the other does not, return it for replacement.
For more details, visit https://www.memtest86.com/.
If both DIMMs operate independently, gently remove the CPU and inspect the socket using a magnifying glass for any bent contacts.
CPU socket connections are delicate and prone to bending. Straightening them can be challenging and may cause failure. Bent or broken contacts typically fall outside standard motherboard RMA policies. This situation is considered a "user error," not a manufacturing defect.
Keep in mind, you'll be operating in Single Channel memory mode instead of Dual Channel, and the issue might remain unresolved. Good luck.
It turns out it was my mistake. I mistakenly ordered the wrong RAM package. I believed any CL 30 6000 would fit on AM5. It didn’t. With assistance, I reviewed the Asus motherboard’s supported RAM list and realized the memory I had wasn’t included. I ordered the correct one instead. This time I chose 32GB rather than 64GB. I need to return the incorrect set. Thank you. I’ll check again tomorrow when the new batch arrives.
Today the correct RAM kit from the manufacturer worked. However, it didn’t function properly. I tried using two sticks in A2 and B2 but the PC wouldn’t boot. After removing B2, it still wouldn’t boot even with BIOS enabled. I removed all RAM and replaced the unsupported one in the A2 slot, and the PC started working again. I’m trying to figure out what’s happening.
After removing the CPU and reseating the RAM, it's working now. It seems there might have been an issue with the CPU positioning. However, the pins are intact and look good.
Observed occasionally a kind of glitch on the monitor appearing randomly. Sometimes the screen would go black for a couple of seconds. It’s unclear what it is. I just updated the GPU driver. My GPU is the Rtx 4070ti with 12GB RAM. It still happens, though less often. I also adjusted the RAM settings to Expo 1 in BIOS. I’m unsure if this is related to the motherboard, the GPU, or RAM instability.
Any DDR5 RAM kits should fit any DDR5 AMD or Intel motherboards at their default settings. The main variations come from enabling expo or XMP, which can affect performance slightly. Even then, most differences are due to voltage requirements: AM5 controllers usually need a bit more power (1.4 V) compared to Intel (1.35 V). If you receive a kit that isn’t listed, just adjust the voltage manually and it should work fine. The supported RAM lists are simply marketing tools showing which motherboards have been tested with this RAM at its claimed speed and stability. They don’t guarantee compatibility if the kit isn’t included.