Hey everyone! I recently upgraded my PC by adding a second set of Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 3200MHz RAM. I found a good deal on Amazon for the same sticks I bought four years ago. However, after installing the new RAM in slots 1 and 3, my computer won't post, and the CPU light on the motherboard stays on. If I remove the new sticks, the PC boots fine, but inserting the new sticks alone causes the same issue. I've noticed that while the specs are the same, the labels on the new RAM are slightly different. I'm not sure if that could be affecting compatibility. I'm looking for any troubleshooting tips or insights into what might be going wrong. I'd hate to think these new sticks are faulty since I can't replace them if that's the case. Thanks for any help!
4 Answers
You might want to reset your BIOS. Also, try testing each stick individually in slot 2 to see if one of them is causing the issue. If you find a stick that doesn’t boot, it might be faulty. If they all work fine on their own, then slowly ramp up the RAM settings to see if that helps. DDR4 is generally pretty forgiving, but it's always good to check.
It sounds like one of the new sticks might be bad. Prices can be tempting, but that might be why you got a deal. If you're able to, I’d return them to get a new set that’s known to work well together.
Mixing RAM kits can often lead to problems like this. Even if the specs match, incompatibilities can occur, especially with different CAS latencies. I'd suggest not using these new sticks together with your existing ones to avoid boot failures. You might want to consider returning them if possible.
Another option is to clear your CMOS. This often helps with memory-related boot issues and can reset the motherboard to default settings, possibly resolving conflicts.
Good call! Just to clarify, what's the best way to reset the BIOS? Just looking for a quick explanation, thanks!