I bought a second 2x8GB kit of G.Skill Flare X5 memory from an online seller because it appeared to be identical to the kit already installed in my computer. My system works normally with the original kit, but adding the new sticks produced red and orange motherboard warning lights and no boot. The same thing happened when I installed only the new kit in the known-good slots. I also tested each new stick individually in multiple slots, while the original pair continued to work in its normal configuration. Is there anything else I should try to verify that the new memory is actually faulty before contacting the seller? Would a computer shop be able to test the sticks?
3 Answers
Testing each new stick by itself in a confirmed working slot was the right diagnostic step. If neither one can boot while the original pair works normally, that points strongly to a bad kit rather than a motherboard or slot issue. A computer repair shop may be able to run a memory tester, but you’ve already done the most useful basic testing at home.
You’ve already isolated the problem pretty well. Since the computer boots with the original kit, but neither of the new sticks works alone in slots that you know are good, the new kit is very likely defective or not what it was advertised as. I’d contact the seller for a replacement or refund.
One last thing to try is booting with the known-good RAM, entering the BIOS, and disabling memory profiles such as XMP, EXPO, or DOCP so everything runs at default settings. Shut the system down completely, then test the new sticks again. If they still fail individually, they’re almost certainly bad. If they work at default settings, the kits may not actually be compatible or identical enough to share the same memory profile.
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