Gryphon Z87 only boots with 1 memory stick (Noob)

[chiPersei]

Hello good people-

My first build and it wouldn't boot. 😞 After playing around I found it would boot as long as I just installed one memory stick. At first I thought it might be a bad stick but it doesn't matter which stick is installed. As long as there is only one stick installed it boots. Also doesn't see to matter in which bank I install the single stick but when I started I followed the manual and installed both sticks in the proper (tan) slots. I was able to install Win 7 and video card drivers while it was running on one memory module.

Thank you any and all for any direction you may be able to provide.

Alan

Here's the build:

CPU Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core
Motherboard Asus GRYPHON Z87 Micro ATX LGA1150
Memory G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600
Storage Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" SSD
Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM
Video Card Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB
Case Corsair 350D MicroATX Mid Tower
Power Supply Corsair 750W ATX12V / EPS12V
Optical Drive Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64 bit

[Chino]

Welcome to the Republic of Gamers forum, chiPersei.

What heatsink are you using?

[chiPersei]

I'm just using the stock one that came with the CPU. After reading some other forum posts I learned if the heat sink is installed uneven or improperly it can create problems with memory so I removed and reinstalled it to no avail. When the cooler was off I started the machine to see what would happen. Before it made it through POST a BIOS looking type message came on screen saying the cpu overheated. I thought that was funny because it didn't even finish POST but I suspect that's just a standard error you get when there is no cooler installed.

Anyway, now that the cooler is reinstalled the machine runs fine as long as only one memory module is in place.

[chiPersei]

Flashed the BIOS to the latest version. Not as hard as I thought. Still won't boot with two memory modules but it does act differently. Before the BIOS upgrade it would freeze and the little red LED for the memory would just stay lit. Now it just cycles on and off. I'll keep reading.

[HiVizMan]

Could you tell me how you flashed your bios.

And please run memtest86+ as per the guide in my sig. I wonder if you have a hardware issue there. Could you try with one stick to enable XMP profile in bios and then boot to OS. Now once in OS power down and add the second stick. Try the stick in the very next memory slot next to the current one you have populated.

[chiPersei]

Hello HiVizMan- to update the bios I followed this youtube video: http://goo.gl/UK37fr . I understand I could have bricked the machine by following some unknown video but it's not working anyway. This guy starts talking about flashing Dells but the example he uses is ASUS.

I'm on a lunch break at work right now but I'll look into memtest86 and learn about XMP this evening.

Thank you,

Alan

[chiPersei]

That was a fun and interesting exercise (and I learned some things) but in the end the machine only boots with one memory module. I ran several full cycles of memtest86, on both modules, with no errors reported. I then enabled XMP profile #1, booted to win7, shut down and installed 2nd module in the adjacent slot. The machine continued to cycle as it did after the bios upgrade. However, I then shut down and installed the second module in the proper bank and interestingly the machine acted as it did prior to the bios upgrade. Meaning it hung during start-up and the little red LED by the memory modules remained illuminated until I powered down. Thanks again though, for your suggestions.

[HiVizMan]

I would please do the following.

Remove the cooler from your CPU and then the CPU from the socket. Inspect the socket for misaligned pins.

What you are experiencing is Error 55 if you had a 2 digit LED poster I am sure.

I suspect that an uneven pressure on the CPU is causing your issue. Please do be careful when you mount the cooler that you follow the vendors instructions to the letter on fastning the cooler down.

[chiPersei]

Thank you, thank you thank you HiVizMan. Upon inspection of the CPU seat on the mobo there is indeed one or more bent pins. As this is my first build I read installation instructions and felt I was being careful. Moreover, I don't recall anything coming into contact with the pins during installation. I wish the news were better because this probably means RMA or new board. After work tonight I'll remove the board to see if there is any possibility of bending them back into place. Again thank you. Although I'm not thrilled with what we found, having an answer is much better that not knowing what is wrong.

[chiPersei]

Hallelujah!!!! I removed all the connections and parts, pulled the mobo, bent the pin (it was just one pin under close inspection) nearly back into place, reassembled everything and Hallelujah!!! It booted with 16 gig! Very cool. And again, thank you for the guidance.

Alan