I just bought an MSI X870 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboard, and I'm having trouble booting it with both sticks of my CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM (2x32GB, 6000MHz). Individually, each stick works fine in any slot, but as soon as I try to boot with both installed, the motherboard won't start. I've tested various combinations, but nothing seems to work. What should I do?
3 Answers
Check your CPU cooler. If it’s not secured correctly, it can mess with the CPU’s memory controller, causing issues like this. A loose cooler can lead to various problems, including not booting with multiple RAM sticks.
First, make sure you’re installing the RAM sticks in the correct slots. For most motherboards, you need to populate slots A2 and B2, not just slots 1 and 2. Check your motherboard manual for specifics about your model. Also, if the RAM has overclocking settings, ensure your board supports them and consider updating the BIOS.
Good point! Always best to look at the manual. I had a similar issue before, and it turned out to be a slot preference.
And definitely use MemTest to check if the new sticks are working okay. Sometimes it can be a stick that’s bad.
If your RAM only supports XMP but not EXPO, it might not overclock properly with your motherboard. If it's possible, consider swapping it for RAM that supports both. If you can’t even boot with two sticks, the issue could be bad RAM, compatibility problems, or a faulty motherboard.
Funny enough, my older MSI board supports both, so you’re right to check that out.
I know it sounds basic, but you’ve got to be thorough. Make sure everything is tight!