I have a 2021 ASUS ROG Strix G17 G73-3-QSA with a Ryzen 9 5900HX, RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, and two 16 GB memory modules. Before a repair shop replaced the CPU and GPU thermal paste, both RAM slots worked and the laptop detected all 32 GB. After servicing, one slot stopped detecting memory.
I tested both modules separately: each works normally in Slot A, but neither is detected in Slot B. I have already reseated the RAM, reset the BIOS, updated the BIOS, tried different configurations, and contacted ASUS Support. There is no obvious burn mark or physical damage, although the technician said some thermal paste had accidentally gotten onto the motherboard and was cleaned off.
The laptop now runs with a single 32 GB module, but gaming performance is noticeably worse than it was with dual-channel memory. I suspect something happened during the service, possibly involving the RAM socket, a solder joint, a memory trace, the CPU memory channel, or heatsink mounting pressure.
Could a board-level repair specialist diagnose and fix this without replacing the entire motherboard? What should a technician test, and is there anything else I can safely check myself first?
2 Answers
The symptoms point to a memory-channel problem rather than a bad RAM stick. On this platform, the two slots depend on separate connections between the socket and the CPU's memory controller, so one channel can fail while the other continues working.
Ask the shop to inspect the failed slot and surrounding components, test its supply and ground connections, check the signal paths to the CPU, and verify CPU socket contact and cooler mounting pressure. They should also test with known-good compatible memory and confirm the BIOS reports the same failure consistently.
There may not be anything useful left to test through software. You can power the laptop down, disconnect the battery if accessible, inspect the slot for bent contacts or contamination, and test the modules again with the machine fully off, but avoid forcing the modules or applying cleaning chemicals. A single 32 GB module will work as a workaround, though dual-channel performance will be lower. Replacing the motherboard may ultimately be cheaper than specialist diagnostics, depending on local repair and used-board prices.
Because both memory modules work in one slot and neither works in the other, the modules themselves are very unlikely to be the problem. The fault is probably in the failed socket, its solder joints or traces, the memory channel leading to the CPU, or the CPU's integrated memory controller.
A board-repair specialist should inspect the slot under magnification, check for lifted or cracked pins and damaged traces, measure the slot's power and signal lines, and verify continuity between the slot and the CPU. They should also check whether the heatsink was mounted with excessive pressure, since uneven pressure can flex a laptop motherboard or affect CPU contact.
This requires microsoldering and diagnostic equipment, so an ordinary computer shop may only recommend replacing the motherboard. Look specifically for a technician who performs board-level laptop repairs. Since the failure appeared immediately after servicing, it is also worth asking the original shop to inspect or cover the damage, although proving the cause may be difficult.
The laptop was taken in only for thermal-paste replacement, and it worked normally before the appointment. The technician told me that a small amount of paste had landed on the motherboard during the work. I have not been able to find a board-level specialist nearby, so I am currently using one 32 GB module despite the major performance loss.