In memoriam
Memory is one of the most common issues when trying to get a fresh build up and running. But if your RAM is giving you the runaround, don’t despair: There are many possible causes, and it’s generally not too difficult to identify the issue. First of all, go to the motherboard manufacturer’s website and doublecheck that your motherboard definitely does support the capacity and frequency of memory you’re using. If it does, check for a BIOS update; if you’re running an outdated BIOS, that could be the source of your problems.
If neither of those are the issue, try testing each stick individually, or moving them to any open DIMM slots. Ensure that you’re using the correct DIMMs; the motherboard manual should explain which slots to prioritise when installing memory. It’s not always rational – common sense might dictate that slot A1 is the first one you’d want to use, but on the MSI Creator TRX40, we had to use A2, B2, and so on.
Often, your system will boot up just fine but fail to run the memory at full speed.
This is particularly common with kits that run in excess of
3000MHz: Many motherboards require an overclocking profile
(in this case, A-XMP) to run high-frequency memory. You can use monitoring software like CPU-Z to check the operating frequency of your memory in the OS; if lower than expected, check your motherboard’s overclocking profile is turned on.
If overclocking profiles don’t work, manually set target frequencies and timings. You need to know the exact memory timings (including CAS latency) to do this, but they shouldn’t be hard to find online with the product number.
Finally, your components might be busted! We always recommend buying with a warranty, and if you receive a defunct part, you should be able to secure a replacement.