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[Mellon Head]

Sneakers?

Was the computer grounded? It doesn't matter that you were grounded to the PC, the PC chassis has to have a path to dissipate the static charge from your strap to ground. If the strap has no path to ground, you are at the same electrical potential as the chassis, but possibly at a different potential from the other components inside the chassis. The RAM in your hand can have a different charge than the chassis you are grounded to. This can be complicated when things aren't grounded properly.

Sneakers + Carpet + Ungrounded PC = Destroyed RAM (and possibly the motherboard.)

The best way to do anything inside your computer is to take off your shoes and socks, put the computer on the kitchen counter and plug it in (you're standing on the linoleum or tile, most kitchens don't have carpet.) Leave the power off, and touch the chassis before adding or removing any components, or touching the electrical components inside. And if you have a strap, attach it to the grounded case. It's not fool proof, but it will probably take 95% of the ESD danger out tof the situation.

 

[Mellon Head]

Does anyone have any constructive suggestions to help him determine this with certainty?

About the only thing I can think of is to try a single stick in all slots while observing some ESD precautions like the method I posted above. If the first stick didn't work, maybe the second will. It may be a slot problem, but it may also be the Phenom. Their memory controllers can be finicky and are easy to damage.

I think the best advice was the advice you gave, and that is to call tech support.