Does this sound like a Motherboard or CPu problem?

[Reo REbOrn]

I recently built a pc (about my15th build). These are the specs
CPU:I7-4790k
Mobo: Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1
RAM: Corsair Vengeance: 16GB 2x8 CML16GX3M2A16000c10
GPU: GTX 980
PSU: Xfx black edition 850W

The motherboard I was using has 4 ram slots (and the ram and cpu i am using is fully compatible with the board. I even called ASUS to confirm this). After building the system I discovered that the motherboard would not boot if a Ram card was inserted into slot 3 or 4 (B1 and B2). I removed everything except the essentials and I still had the same problem. I then checked for bent pins and found none. I plugged in some old RAM i had which is also compatible with the board and it still had the same problem.
I sent the motherboard back for a replacement and the replacement also had the same problem. I sent it back for a refund and got a different brand and model of motherboard..(ASUS Hero VII) and this board also had the same problem.
I then sent the CPU back to E-buyer to get checked out..Their whole attitude with handling the situation was appalling and rather unprofessional IMO. I won't go into why as I don't want to go on and on :P but their customer service team is appalling. I received an E-mail saying that there was nothing wrong with the CPU...I don't believe they even tested the CPU.

So...What now? What does this sound like to you guys? IMO it sounds like a CPU problem as EVERYTHING else has been checked and tested correctly. don't know anybody who I can swap the CPU out with and the local repair shop said it would cost £60 to test the CPU.. -_-

Thank you for any help you can give - Adam!

[tigerxs1]

if the system booted to bios id rule out the cpu,sounds like dodgy ram socket which you diagnoised yourself,try elsewhere if your going to the same shop as before? ive brought something that was mena be new'' but had thermal scorching marks - like the graphics card was oc and was a return or sumthing.how you know they neva sent you the same motherboard again?

[Reo REbOrn]

I iknow what you mean :( However, i have read of other people having this problem and it turning out to be a faulty CPU that have issues handling the second RAM slot..or something along those lines :(
The first shop i bought the motherboard from was very helpful and i do trust them quite a bit (Amazon). The second shop i bought it from (Scan) also have a very good rep. Could I really be THAT unlucky and get three seperate boards (one being a totally diff make and model) that all have faulty Ram slots? :/. I know RAM slots are the most common causes of faulty motherboards but..three? ><. I'm sending this one back as well and should get my replacment tomorrow..If it STILL has the same problem.. Im screwed lol.

[chiefputsa☒lag]

1. re-read RAM socket positions. afaik, paired sockets are spaced apart.
2. check in bios for intel memory profle (XMP) settings. check if memory is at 1600 speed.
3. borrow from any friend gskill memory kits (2x4gb ddr3-1600 cl9 or 2x2gb ddr3-1600 cl9)

[Azza ☠]

Well first of all, your (standard known) memory support list is:
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/SABERTOOTH_Z97_MARK1/SABERTOOTH_Z97_Series_memory_QVL.pdf

Sometimes you need to flash update your BIOS first, before it supports later model memory:
http://www.asus.com/nz/Motherboards/SABERTOOTH_Z97_MARK_1/HelpDesk_Download/

However, hopefully that isn't the problem. Just note there's some improve system stability / performance updates there, if you don't have the latest BIOS.

Your memory is duel channel - this means you need to use Slot 1 & 3 or Slot 2 & 4. Note that it's each 2nd slot, rather than side-by-side, for duel channel memory to work together (it will normally be colour coded on the motherboard).

As mentioned above - when it's booting enter BIOS and check the memory there, enable the XMP memory profiles and select a compatible one (fastest possible, but try slower if still nothing - then if that works, flash BIOS update, and come back to it later on).

[rotNdude]

Since you've tried two motherboards and two different sets of RAM, I'm thinking it's a CPU issue since the memory controller is on the CPU.

Try inserting one RAM module into slot 1, then 2, then 3 and then 4. The manual says what is recommended for one module or two modules or four modules, but I think they're talking about optimum performance.

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/SABERTOOTH_Z97_MARK1/E9389_Sabertooth_Z97_Mark1_V2.pdf

[Reo REbOrn]

Publicado originalmente por chiefputsa:

1. re-read RAM socket positions. afaik, paired sockets are spaced apart.
2. check in bios for intel memory profle (XMP) settings. check if memory is at 1600 speed.
3. borrow from any friend gskill memory kits (2x4gb ddr3-1600 cl9 or 2x2gb ddr3-1600 cl9)

Done all that :( Thanks tho :)

Publicado originalmente por Azza ☠:

Sometimes you need to flash update your BIOS first, before it supports later model memory:

Your memory is duel channel - this means you need to use Slot 1 & 3 or Slot 2 & 4. Note that it's each 2nd slot, rather than side-by-side, for duel channel memory to work together (it will normally be colour coded on the motherboard).

Once again thank you :) I've tried all of that though. The bios that came with the motherboard were the second from latest ones. I updated to 2012 which is the latest and there was still the problem. ASUS said that the bios that came with it should have fixed most major compatiblity issues. Thank you for rpelying tho :)

Publicado originalmente por rotNdude:

Since you've tried two motherboards and two different sets of RAM, I'm thinking it's a CPU issue since the memory controller is on the CPU.

Try inserting one RAM module into slot 1, then 2, then 3 and then 4. The manual says what is recommended for one module or two modules or four modules, but I think they're talking about optimum performance.

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/SABERTOOTH_Z97_MARK1/E9389_Sabertooth_Z97_Mark1_V2.pdf

The mothetrboard says to insert ram into 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 as you say :)> It always refused to boot once anything was inserted into 3 or 4. If i put them into 1 and 2 it would boot fine..but ofc it would only run in single channle -_- and It's not what i paid £169.99 for. :(

I am going to try the new mobo tomorrow (New brand, new model and new manafaturer) if that still has the exact same problem I will contact Intel directly and get them to check the CPU.

I know i've said this above lol but thanks to all who replied and tried to help :) I will update when I get any more news incase anybody else is having the same problem.

[rotNdude]

What I am saying is not to put two RAM modules in the system. Just try putting one module in the system and moving it from slot 1, then 2, then 3 and then 4. I know it's not what you paid for to get dual channel operation, but what we're trying to do is troubleshoot.

[Reo REbOrn]

Publicado originalmente por rotNdude:

What I am saying is not to put two RAM modules in the system. Just try putting one module in the system and moving it from slot 1, then 2, then 3 and then 4. I know it's not what you paid for to get dual channel operation, but what we're trying to do is troubleshoot.

Sorry I thought I put in the original comment about that. This is how i discovered that the RAM was the thing affecting the boot. If i use one stick it works fine in slot A 1 and A 2 (or slowt 1 and slowt 2) B1 and B2 just refuse to boot even with one stick.
When i said "This is not what i paid for" i was saying about using two Ram sticks in slot 1 and two. :)

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Publicado originalmente por rotNdude:

What I am saying is not to put two RAM modules in the system. Just try putting one module in the system and moving it from slot 1, then 2, then 3 and then 4. I know it's not what you paid for to get dual channel operation, but what we're trying to do is troubleshoot.

^This

This is really the only way to best determine an individual slot issue. Sure in the end you want to run Dual Channel once it's all in working order; but you need to use a more common sense approach when doing "testing" to better rule out what exactly is your issue at-hand here.

Make sure XMP Profile is enabled on the BIOS. If you physically install RAM and the board does not boot up the first time, force power it off, then go into your case and press the MemOK button on the ASUS motherboard. Then see if that works.

[Reo REbOrn]

Publicado originalmente por Bad-Motha:

Publicado originalmente por rotNdude:

What I am saying is not to put two RAM modules in the system. Just try putting one module in the system and moving it from slot 1, then 2, then 3 and then 4. I know it's not what you paid for to get dual channel operation, but what we're trying to do is troubleshoot.

^This

This is really the only way to best determine an individual slot issue. Sure in the end you want to run Dual Channel once it's all in working order; but you need to use a more common sense approach when doing "testing" to better rule out what exactly is your issue at-hand here.

Make sure XMP Profile is enabled on the BIOS. If you physically install RAM and the board does not boot up the first time, force power it off, then go into your case and press the MemOK button on the ASUS motherboard. Then see if that works.

Thanks but as i said in my reply to him under that comment I used this method to discover it was the RAM that was stopping the boot straight after having problems with the build. When i said I wanted Duel channel and not single channle I was refering to the mobo booting when the cards were in Slot 1 and Slot 2 when for Duel channle to work they need to be in every other slot (1 and 3 or 2 and 4)which was causing the problem. :)

Unfortunatly when I used the MEMOK it just keeps going in a loop. I left it for 12 hours over night and when I awoke the netx morning it was still stuck in the loop. The advsior at ASUS said it normally takes no longer than 20-30mins for it to configure the memory correctly :( Cheers tho!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

No longer? MemOK never worked like that. It's basically a power button; but it first does a check of the RAM profile and runs that profile whenever MemOK is used. That is basically to check that the RAM will work with that board. And it's also a "Safe Mode" means of getting around certain RAM related boot issues.

Not all Dual Channel setups work in "every other slot" format. Each board differs. Check your manual. It tells u how Dual Channel works and what slots it can work in.

IMHO Dual Channel is not a good idea on some boards with all 4 DIMMs populated. It just will not work on some boards. And even when it does actually work, it may be then limited to what speeds of RAM will work when using all 4 slots. I would just use 2x8GB and be done with it. U won't need more and it will be better than say 4x4GB