I have a PC with an Intel i7-12700K, DDR4-3600 memory, and an MSI Z690 Tomahawk motherboard. It has worked for about four years, but now it will only POST with one RAM stick installed. One stick works in both the A2 and B2 slots, while the other stick only works in B2. Installing both sticks causes the system to fail POST and the DRAM warning light to turn on. I have reseated the components, replaced the CPU, disabled XMP, and tried changing the BIOS version, but the behavior remains the same. What should I test next, and is the likely cause a faulty RAM stick, motherboard slot, or memory channel?
3 Answers
The simplest explanation is that one of the memory sticks has failed. Test each stick by itself in the same known-good slot, preferably B2, using default BIOS settings. If one stick consistently fails there while the other works, replace the memory kit. If both sticks work individually but not together, then investigate the motherboard slots, BIOS settings, and CPU socket contact.
The slot behavior may point to a motherboard memory-channel issue rather than just bad RAM. Try each module separately in A2 and B2, then test a known-good kit if possible. Also inspect the LGA1700 socket for bent pins and make sure the CPU cooler is not overtightened, since poor socket contact or uneven cooler pressure can disable a memory channel. If both modules pass individually but dual-channel operation still fails, the motherboard or socket contact is more suspicious.
Since the problem started after the BIOS update, clear the CMOS and load the BIOS defaults before testing again. Keep XMP disabled initially, confirm the memory is running at standard speed, and check that the sticks are installed in the recommended paired slots, usually A2 and B2. A BIOS update can expose an unstable memory profile, but it should not normally make one stick fail in a known-good slot.
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