PC fails to start with both new and existing RAM modules.
PC fails to start with both new and existing RAM modules.
roughly two to three weeks back I encountered an issue with my PC where the power supply failed completely, forcing me to order replacements. I kept making more swaps just to be cautious. Eventually, during gameplay—especially with Black Ops 3 Zombies—I noticed strange behavior: the screen would go black and the machine would shut down abruptly without fully powering off. Sometimes I could restart it manually but not by pressing the power button or using the reset switch.
At that time my specs were: Case: Cooler Master MasterBox E500L Mainboard: Gigabyte Aorus B550 Elite (previous mainboard) | MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus (current mainboard) PSU: Cooler Master Reactor 750W 80+ Gold (the one that failed) | CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8 cores @ 3.6 GHz | RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHZ | GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ti | SSD: Samsung EVO 860 EVO 500GB | I tried running diagnostics like stress tests with Cinebench and Furmark, but nothing failed. Even after cleaning the SSD and reinstalling Windows, it didn’t work. Eventually, I switched to a different PSU and a new mainboard, which fixed everything.
My brother who works with PCs suggested testing RAM compatibility, using stress tools, and checking BIOS settings. He also mentioned issues with XMP profiles, BIOS MHZ adjustments, and voltage changes. None of these resolved the problem.
When I asked a friend who fixes PCs, he recommended running tests like memory checks, CPU stress tests, and GPU load analysis. But nothing helped. I even tried swapping RAM sticks in different configurations, but the issue persisted.
Now I’m unsure what to do next and feel quite stuck. I’m hoping for advice from others who might have faced similar problems.
No bent pins were found, and none were missing. Before inserting the CPU, I checked it carefully. It was read properly and recognized by both the task manager and MSI DragonCenter.
You're experiencing problems with dual-channel configuration on two different motherboards using distinct RAM configurations. This suggests the CPU might be the limiting factor. Could anyone suggest alternative PCs for testing the RAM setup or recommend another CPU model compatible with your motherboard?
I tried it on my dad's computer and installed the RAM I already had, so I used the Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x8GB 3200MHZ and replaced it with the 16GB stick (probably called "Viper" or similar). Now his PC isn't working either. It didn't work with my old RAM either, and neither did it with his old one. He's checking it out and taking the machine apart to see what's wrong. I also tried it on my own PC, but both single-channel and duo-channel setups aren't functioning now. My new RAM still works as a single channel, though it doesn't perform well in duo mode.
I noticed a video discussing an unusual RAM problem. If you adjust the CPU heatsink clamps, it gets resolved. That seems like a mechanical fix. It might not be connected to electronics, and your computer issue likely has an electrical cause.
I tested it using A-XMP, but it didn’t work. Disabled A-XMP and tried AUTO frequency – still no success. At 3600MHZ, 3400MHZ, and 3200MHZ it failed too. It seems stuck at the CPU lid, not reaching the DRAM or Boot lid. I’m probably waiting until next month to replace the processor and see if the issue was internal. My guess is it’s a hardware fault now that my PC restarts and logs a fatal error after installing new RAM. Reported by component: Processor Core Error Source: Machine Check Exception Error Type: Cache Hierarchy Error Processor APIC ID: 0/1/6/14 (multiple APIC IDs noted) CPU and GPU temperatures stayed between 65-70°C.
You are using two distinct kits. The XMP profile won't apply. Set the first kit to 3200MHz in memory slots A2 and B2, while the second is placed in slot A1 B1. Adjust the BIOS to auto-frequency. Ensure DRAM voltage is also set to auto. Check if the system boots. After that, download aida64. In the AIDA utility, navigate to Motherboard -> SPD. Review the supported timings for both kits. It may list options like 3200MHz @ 16-18-16-36 and 3600MHz @ 16-18-18-38. Select the slower kit's lowest speed—here it is 3200MHz. Test those settings unless they fall much lower, such as 14-14-14-34. If needed, share the timings and we can analyze them together.
Perhaps I should have been more specific. I’m not running both kids at once, nor all four slots. I’m using just the 2x16GB 3600MHz kit, but only with one stick it will work. Before I adjusted the MHZ, I also installed both RAM sticks and booted into BIOS so both frequencies and voltages matched. It’s true—I didn’t focus on the timing of each stick individually. Now I’ll double-check and take some photos of the BIOS.