Using three of the four DIMM slots because of a possible broken slot or DIMM
Using three of the four DIMM slots because of a possible broken slot or DIMM
Hey everyone, after dealing with BSODs for a while, it seems like either the DIMM or RAM slot might be faulty. No BSODs when using slots 2 and 4 (starting from the CPU socket), but an immediate BSOD appears when using slots 1, 2, and 4. Using slots 2, 3, and 4 with the same sticks as before still causes BSODs so far. In all cases, I can't fill every slot—either because a slot is dead or a RAM stick isn’t working. I have a matching set of four 8GB GSkill Aegis 3000MHz modules. I’d prefer 24GB over 16GB, but other discussions are unclear about this approach. Generally, mixing and matching RAM isn’t recommended, and I wouldn’t expect it to run in single channel. Buying a new motherboard isn’t appealing either, since I’m running a Ryzen 1600 and don’t want to invest in a system that might fail soon. B550 doesn’t support it, and I might upgrade the GPU later, so spending money on a motherboard that could be obsolete in a year doesn’t seem wise. EDIT: Before anyone says it: I’m testing the RAM at 2133MHz to rule out a speed-related BSOD. I know first-gen Ryzen models aren’t fond of that much speed.
Try it out and check how it performs. The worst case is a BSOD followed by pulling the third stick out. It should generally function. Modern CPUs offer flex mode, allowing them to alternate between dual and single channel in mixed configurations based on the RAM sticks used. It's not as optimal as full population, but it usually works. On the flip side, I've encountered problems with mixed memory where the system would freeze when switching from dual to single channel, but this happened only with mismatched sticks, not with an odd number of matching ones.
I noted in my previous update that I'm already testing them at 2133MHz, but they kept triggering BSODs.
I noticed this setup would only use two sticks initially. Flex mode handles it automatically, so performance changes aren't guaranteed for three sticks. This will likely require testing and adjustments. I believe the CPU memory controller might be overly strict, prompting the board to reject it—possibly due to a mismatch. Even with matching part numbers, PCB revisions can differ and cause problems. Just try it as you see fit until you're ready to upgrade. Good luck!