Hey everyone, I just put together a new PC but I'm hitting a wall—it won't boot when I have RAM installed in DIMM slot 1. My motherboard shows a DRAM error code as soon as any RAM is in that slot, but everything works fine in DIMM slot 2. I've managed to get Windows installed using just one stick of RAM, but I'd really like to resolve this issue. Any solid troubleshooting tips or ideas about what's causing this would be super helpful! Here are my specs:
- Motherboard: ROG Strix x870-i
- CPU: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- RAM: 2x32 GB GSkill Flare X5 6000mhz
- SSD: Samsung 990 Evo Pro 4TB
- PSU: Corsair SF1000
4 Answers
Many motherboards aren't designed to boot with RAM in slot 1 alone. You should populate slots 2 (B2) and 4 (A2) instead. Slot 1 often daisy chains to slot 2, which is why sticking to that pattern is usually the best approach. Here's a reference image for RAM placement: [DIMM Slots Image](https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/attachments/dimms-png.154929/)
You might want to carefully remove the CPU and inspect the socket for any bent pins. Not being able to boot with dual-channel RAM could definitely indicate a problem there.
As a general rule, it's recommended to fill slots 2 and 4 first. While I’m not sure if trying slot 1 would cause a no-start condition, I've had success booting with other setups like that. Just experiment a bit, and good luck!
It sounds like the issue might be with the slot itself if your RAM works fine in DIMM 2. A few things to check would be an improperly mounted CPU cooler putting uneven pressure on the motherboard, a broken DIMM slot, or possibly a bent pin in the CPU socket. Those are pretty common problems, so it might be worth taking a look at them!
Just a heads up, though—your ITX motherboard only has two slots. In your case, just trying 2 and seeing if it boots might be your best bet.