RAM not working with 4 sticks

[sniperbond]

Hello,

I have an ASUS PRIME Z390M-PLUS motherboard:

https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-z390m-plus/techspec/

And HyperX HX432C16FB3K2/16 RAM

https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/HX432C16FB3K2_16.pdf

When I first tried to install the RAM sticks, I followed the instructions:

https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1047257/

If two DRAMs, please install to DIMM_A2 and DIMM_B2 slots

It didn’t work (computer restarted several times after running for 3 seconds, then I kept running but screen was off: no signal detected)

So I put 2 RAM sticks side my side (DIMM_A1+DIMM_A2) and it worked.

Now I bought 2 extra sticks (exactly the same) and installed all of them. Same problem as with sticks in DIMM_A2 and DIMM_B2 slots.

I tried to boot just with the new sticks side my side (DIMM_A1+DIMM_A2) and it worked.

So I’m trying to figure out why it’s not working with other slots.

I tried MemOK, updating BIOS…nothing changed.

I was thinking that maybe something is wrong with my motherboard but I had the same problem with 2 other motherboards, one of them was also ASUS and other RAM sticks were used but I managed to make 4 sticks working somehow.

Please tell me if you have any ideas.
Thank you.

[Bruce]

Those Kingston modules are 3200MHz.
You need to overclock the BIOS settings in order for the mobo to use them to their full potential.
Have you turned on XMP mode in the BIOS?

Did you look at the ASUS memory guide (QVL) of compatible RAM modules?
QVL can be found here; https://www.asus.com/motherboards-co...IME-Z390M-PLUS
Those Kingston sticks aren’t in their list.

What processor are you using?

[sniperbond]

Hello Bruce,
Thank you for your answer. I tried XMP on and off, both modes are only working with 2 sticks side by side.
I have an Intel Core i7-9700K CPU

[phillpower2]

The CPU does not support 3200MHz RAM and likewise the MB does not support RAM in all four slots with all RAM, that said based on the fact that the board will not post when you have RAM populating the correct two slots suggests that the board may be bad, that or as an outside and less likely possible cause the CPUs memory controller being faulty.

Try restoring the MBs default factory settings in the BIOS, they are sometimes listed as one of the following " factory defaults" “most stable” or on newer boards “optimized” please note that if you have both the “most stable” and the “optimized” options in the BIOS you should choose the most stable" option as in this instance the “optimized” settings are a form of overclocking that can cause instability.

Save the new settings, exit the BIOS, shut down, disconnect the power cord, press and hold in the case power button for 20 or so settings, remove the of of the case the put a matching pair of sticks in slots A2 and B2.

Reassemble, power up and see what happens.

[sniperbond]

thank you phillpower2 for your help. I followed the steps, unfortunately they didn’t change anything to my problem.
I’m wondering however (it was the case before too), why after several restarts after several seconds, computer keeps running indefinitely with no signal at the screen. At first I thought that maybe the computer is running there is just a problem with the screen turning on. It happened to me in the past with another motherboard and ram, I had to update the bios to get my graphics card recognized.
Now, with my current problem, I tried removing my graphics card and plugged hdmi cable directly the motherboard, screens turns on with 2 sticks but not 4, same as before. So graphics card and bios (updated) doesn’t seem to be an issue.

[phillpower2]

based on the fact that the board will not post when you have RAM populating the correct two slots suggests that the board may be bad, that or as an outside and less likely possible cause the CPUs memory controller being faulty.

MBs are more likely to fail than CPUs and based on the information provided the board does look to be the problem.

Put a single stick of RAM in slot B2 - the second one away from the CPU,

After reassembling go here to first of all read the info and then download the program so that you can test your CPU, it would be more conclusive if the RAM was able to work in dual channel but because of the issues that you are having testing in dual channel is not possible.

[sniperbond]

I did the test, it passed all the steps, CPU seems fine.

[phillpower2]

When I first tried to install the RAM sticks, I followed the instructions:

[Motherboard] How to install DRAM(Memory) on Motherboard? | Official Support | ASUS Global

The above suggests that you only got this board recently but it is six year old tech.

Have you just got the board and its in warranty, had it for years or is it a recent used item purchase or have you had the board for years and it has only ever worked with the RAM in the first two slots.

The CPU passing all the tests as was suspected more or less nails it on that the board is faulty.

[sniperbond]

I bought 2 RAM sticks recently.
I have the board for several years, no issues with it (except RAM).
Maybe it’s RAM compatibility issue as Bruce suggested, not the board.
I don’t have other DDR4 sticks to try out.

[phillpower2]

I have the board for several years, no issues with it (except RAM).

Which was one of the things that I asked.

or have you had the board for years and it has only ever worked with the RAM in the first two slots.

The MB from new should have worked with the appropriate RAM populating the correct two slots - has it ever worked with RAM in slots B2 and A2 or has it only ever worked with RAM in slots B1 and B2.

[sniperbond]

Since the moment I used the motherboard for the first time, PC posted only with RAM sticks being in A1+A2 slots

[phillpower2]

Which means that it has been broken from the get go and all the while that you have been using it you have been getting poor performance due to the RAM not being able to work in dual channel.

Had you of disclosed this information from the start instead of us going all around the houses Bruce would have been able to give you this definitive answer on Wednesday of last week.

Two options, replace the board with one compatible with the CPU and RAM or continue using the same board until it completely packs in.

[sniperbond]

Thank you for your assistance. How do I “conclude the thread” ? Maybe only admins can do it.
I was only able to remove the prefix “In progress”.

[Bruce]

All good, I’ll close it for you.
Please let us know how you get on.

[phillpower2]

Sorry that it was not something that could be fixed.

Thank you for the follow up and you are welcome.