The plan doesn't seem to be feasible.
The plan doesn't seem to be feasible.
I tried all possible solutions... searches online didn't help. Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd. H170-Gaming 3 (U3E1) 16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR4 @ 1066MHz works fine for my needs. I bought two brand new identical RAM sticks and it failed. I changed the BIOS but nothing happened. One, I kept the old RAM in A2 and B2 for six years. Two, I added the new RAM to A1 and B1 and the system would just loop. I let it run ten times. Three, I tested the new RAM alone in A2 and B2 – it worked. Four, I tried the new RAM in A1 and B1 – also fine. Five, I updated the BIOS. Six, cleared CMOS. Seven, set optimal settings in BIOS. Eight, when I said it wouldn’t work, it kept looping. I let it run for an hour. Nine, all slots and RAM functioned properly. Ten, but the board won’t accept four sticks. I think my motherboard BIOS needs adjustment – I can’t find anything about memory support since my board is H-170 and lacks XMP. I downloaded the manual and read it carefully, but nothing specific about this issue. Please help, I have a new PC and use it as a backup. Thank you. P.S. I also had four identical DDR4 4GB RAM sticks, but they didn’t work either – two pairs failed in the same way. Why?
Just because they look alike doesn’t guarantee they’re the same. In standard packaging, especially basic JEDEC slots like 2133MT/s, RAM with identical part numbers can still be different chips. After six years, it’s likely these are separate memory ICs. Each chip uses its own memory controller settings for booting, which means even a small range of values can cause compatibility issues—even at low speeds. Two DDR4 sticks might not work together, despite both being 2133MT/s, because their die and manufacturers differ. You can check with software like Thaiphoon Burner to compare the SPDs and see if the dies match. Updating your BIOS might improve compatibility, and rearranging memory modules per channel (old in A1/A2, new in B1/B2, etc.) can sometimes help, though it doesn’t always work.
Did you review the QVL on the Gigabytes Support site? When I assembled my setup last spring, I installed a pair of Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB modules. They performed excellently, so when I earned points for all my components, I decided to purchase another set. It turned out my B550 MAG Gaming Plus supports almost any DDR4 RAM, but the higher the speed, the smaller the chip size it can handle. My system struggled with four 16GB 4000 MHz DDR4 modules, yet functioned adequately with two. Before confirming compatibility, I consulted MSI to ensure I had the right parts and ended up with what I have today.
I'll verify option 1+1 and observe the outcome, but it won't help unless I can use all four. Luckily, I can return the RAM. Thank you for your prompt reply. P.S. I originally had four outdated DDR4 memory sticks of 4GB each, and they also failed... so it MUST be a motherboard problem.
Spoke with the seller at the offline store who checked my specifications online. He compared them to his own and found a mismatch. I had four old DDR4 sticks, each 4 GB, but they didn’t work either. It seems the issue is with the motherboard. Why won’t four dimms function? Thanks for your reply and safe travels!
It’s not uncommon for early DDRX motherboards to face challenges with 2 DIMM per channel setups. I haven’t encountered cases where they fail to boot at all, except for DDR5 Z690, which still boots most of the time albeit very slowly. My initial thought is a BIOS-related issue, so testing different BIOS versions might help. Since I’m unfamiliar with this board or similar models, I can’t recommend specific revisions.
I previously received the most current bios from 2009 and haven’t seen any updates since then. I prefer not to experiment with new bios right now in case they damage my system. If I can’t resolve this myself, I’ll forward it to my tech support next month for further assistance after upgrading my hardware. Thank you for your follow-up. This forum was my last option because I couldn’t find a solution online and tried everything possible. Now I’m just wondering why 4dims won’t work... It’s really frustrating!