Purchased a MSI Z170a with SLI and I7-6700 on Craigslist; Dimm Slots 1 & 2 aren’t updating.
Purchased a MSI Z170a with SLI and I7-6700 on Craigslist; Dimm Slots 1 & 2 aren’t updating.
I recently purchased a gaming PC equipped with an MSI Z170a, an i7-6700 processor, and two 8GB of Corsair RAM. The system is running smoothly in Dimm slots 3 and 4, confirming the RAM is functioning correctly. However, when I move the RAM to slots 1 and 2, it fails to post. The Debug LED alternates between the CPU and RAM indicators. I also have additional RAM that has previously worked well, but it doesn’t connect in slots 1 and 2. After attempting a reset—pressing power for 30 seconds while power off and removing the CMOS battery—I still encountered issues. Once the CPU cooler was reinstalled and the processor replaced, the system booted in slots 2 and 4, though it remained unstable. If you’re considering swapping the CPU now, your suspicion seems reasonable. The bent processor theory from a forum member aligns with my experience. Given that, I’d recommend testing with a new CPU first to avoid further complications.
You didn’t remove the processor, but you’re wondering if the pins might be bent. Try laying the CPU upside down on a flat surface and checking if the green PCB with gold contacts has a flat or curved base. Also, confirm whether your BIOS is current.
Your ram is supposed to go in 2&4 not 1&2 or 3&4. So if there is so much trouble in the correct slots you may wanna check the socket for dirt, the cpu pins for dirt and reseating the cpu.