I upgraded to an Intel Core i5-14600KF and an ASRock H670M Pro RS so I could continue using my existing DDR4 kit, a G.Skill F4-3600C16-32GVKC. The memory has worked reliably for years in a Ryzen 7 5800X/X570 system and also in an i5-8400/Z370 system. It passes nearly 24 hours of MemTest86 with XMP enabled, although XMP requires manually setting the memory voltage to 1.40V.
The new CPU and motherboard work normally with borrowed memory, and every DIMM slot has been tested successfully with that kit. However, the old memory will not get past the DRAM diagnostic LED, even when using only one stick. I tried every slot, JEDEC speeds from 2133 to 3200 MT/s, Gear 2, different voltages including 1.35V, memory-training and timing options, and both current and older BIOS versions. I also tested with only the CPU and RAM installed, without a graphics card or storage drive.
Is there a compatibility issue between this particular memory kit and motherboard, or is there another setting or troubleshooting step I'm missing?
2 Answers
As a quick diagnostic, try using one confirmed-working borrowed DIMM together with one stick from the older kit. Testing different slot combinations may reveal whether the board can train with the old module at all, or whether the issue only appears when both sticks from the old kit are installed.
Normally, start with a single module in the motherboard’s recommended slot, usually the second slot from the CPU. If that works, the problem may be the slot order or dual-channel arrangement. In this case, though, since you already tested each old stick individually in every slot while borrowed RAM works, simple placement is unlikely to be the cause.
I can try that, although the old kit has already been tested one stick at a time in every slot and none of those configurations reached POST.