Windows won't boot with 8gb ever since Radeon 6950 was installed

[Pkirkby]

Hi, I got a problem with my ram ever since I installed my new Radeon 6950 card. I can only use 6gb of ram (1 in slot 1, 1 in slot 3 and 1 in slot 4) I can't seem to have all four sticks in at once, and I don't think it's actually the slot itself malfunctioning. Also, the ram is all the same, and worked perfect before the new GFX card, and they are all functioning properly.

This happened instantly after I installed my new card, and hasn't worked since. I have 600w power supply so I don't think it has anything to do with the power supply.

I need some serious help here, because I've been up and down forums all over the internet and can't find a fix. Any help appreciated, thanks.

 

[Maguscreed]

is there any configuration in which ram does work in slot 2 right now?

 

[Pkirkby]

No, last I checked this was the only way I could get it to work, I know it sounds like a damaged slot, but I really don't think it is. Is there a good way to test that?

 

[Britton30]

Yes, put 1 stick in slot and try booting.

 

[Pkirkby]

Right...lol. I'll do that when I get the chance and get back to you asap, thanks.

 

[Maguscreed]

It could also be a result of a need to update the bios.
You may want to look into that as well
(assuming the above suggestion works)

 

[Pkirkby]

Yeah, I think I did that a while back when I first got the problem, I suppose I should try again, what's the best way to do that?

 

[TVeblen]

If you still have the old video card you can test the (bad?) slot by reinstalling the card and all the RAM. If all four sticks work with the old card then you can reasonably assume the slot is good.

But it certainly sounds like a power issue. There are many kinds of power issues.

It would help greatly if we knew:

• Brand and model number of old card and new card.
• Brand and model number of the power supply
• Brand of the BIOS (AMI or Award or Phoenix).

It could be that you just need to increase the voltage to the RAM slots to overcome a motherboard shortfall.
It could also be that the power supply is defective and is cutting out on increased demand.

Tests will be needed to determine which.

 

[Pkirkby]

Okay, so I've determined that slot 2 probably doesn't work, since I put 1 stick in it by itself and my computer doesn't even boot. Here are my specs:

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Gigabyte Motherboard P55A-UD3P
600w power supply, not sure of the make.
My video card is a radeon 6950

Now I'm just looking at my system info and it says total installed memory: 6GB, physical memory: 4GB, available memory: 2.36GB. So I'm guessing that I'm just running with 4GB of ram, rather than 6GB. Is that because the ram must be paired to work properly?

 

[TVeblen]

No, the RAM will 'work properly' regardless of the configuration. If you install 1GB of RAM in one slot the system will recognize and use 1GB of RAM in Single Channel Mode. If you add another 1GB stick the system will recognize and use 2GB of RAM in Dual Channel Mode. If you add a 3rd 1GB stick the system will recognize and use 3GB of RAM in Single Channel Mode.

Single channel mode uses all of the installed memory using the normal system bus bandwidth. Dual channel mode simple doubles the bandwidth. It does not affect the amount of memory installed, reported, or used.

Your motherboard manual recommends

"If only one DDR3 memory module is installed, it is recommended to install it in the DDR3_1 or DDR3_3 sockets."
​

That means the system may not boot with only one stick installed in Slot DDR3_2 by design. You can test this by populating DDR3_1, DDR3_3, and then DDR3_2.

 

[Pkirkby]

Well I've determined that 1 stick of ram will work by itself in slot 1 and slot 4, my computer did not boot with it in slot 3, and the computer actually powers down and reboots (and repeats) if I put it in slot 2 .

Is this a sign of incorrect voltage going to my DDR3_2 slot? If so, how can I adjust it correctly?

 

[Pkirkby]

Also I'll mention that I've downloaded and extracted the latest bios for my MB and it didn't help anything.

 

[writhziden]

Well I've determined that 1 stick of ram will work by itself in slot 1 and slot 4, my computer did not boot with it in slot 3, and the computer actually powers down and reboots (and repeats) if I put it in slot 2 .

Is this a sign of incorrect voltage going to my DDR3_2 slot? If so, how can I adjust it correctly?

No, I think it is what TVeblen was referring to; it is by design that it works that way.

 

[Pkirkby]

Yeah, by design I understand that, just was mentioning that it wasn't working that way. I was just curious though why no ram will work in DIMM slot 2, if it's incorrect voltage how do I fix it? And does that sound like the problem.

 

[writhziden]

Yeah, by design I understand that, just was mentioning that it wasn't working that way. I was just curious though why no ram will work in DIMM slot 2, if it's incorrect voltage how do I fix it? And does that sound like the problem.

Is there any way for you to go back to how the hardware was configured pre Radeon 6950? I would be curious to see if it is the graphics card causing the problem or if the motherboard developed a short during the installation of the card.

 

[Pkirkby]

No, I don't own the old card anymore, it could be a short, but I was hoping someone would tell me more about the voltages to each slot, what are they supposed to be and how do I fix it assuming that is the issue.

 

[TVeblen]

You adjust the voltages in your BIOS settings. I do not use a modern AWARD BIOS, so I can't help you with the exact settings, but you normally increase the voltage to the DRAM Core or DRAM Bus in very small increments and test between each change.

It is always a good idea to do a little reading in some overclockers forums to get a feel for what you are doing.

You could also make a new post here in SevenForums in the "Overclocking & Case Mods" forum to try and get a step by step. Tell them your motherboard brand and model number and the specs on the RAM modules (or brand and model number) so they know what they are dealing with.

 

[Pkirkby]

Okay, I've made a mistake, DIMM_2 and DIMM_4 don't work with a single piece of ram, which is to be expected from what we've read in the manual, and it does work in DIMM_3 but DIMM_1 must be shorted or something, because with a single piece of ram in it, it just keeps shutting the PC down. Also, for some reason it is not recognizing the third stick, and only showing me as having 4GB when I should at least be getting 6GB.

So would it be safe to say that DIMM_1 is pooched, and affecting the motherboards ability to use more than 2 sticks?

 

[TVeblen]

Yes, it does sound like it, based on what you've told us.
But I still can't see why adding a video card would trash a RAM slot, unless you cracked something. Is that a possibility?

So it will not boot with a single stick of RAM in Slot DDR3_1? You should try each stick, one at a time, in Slot DDR3_1.

 

[Pkirkby]

Yeah, I think I've tried it, but I will try again. Shouldn't be anything wrong with the sticks themselves, I've tried them all everywhere, but you never know. I guess anything could have happened, I don't see how I could have damaged it, but that's my luck. For some reason I thought I saw somebody with similar problems, but I dont know, I'm about to give up and buy a new MB.