Two RAM channels stopped working

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jaymz

1136 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 76

#522051 16-Sep-2011 16:04

gurthang117: Ok Belarc came back with:

Memory Modules
4056 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM1' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM2' has 2048 MB (serial number 1741BA75)
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM4' has 2048 MB (serial number 1781BA76)

Cool, Belarc basically reads everything out that windows can see. Going by that it is not seeing any DIMMs in those slots.

Update the firmware and run belarc again. if it still wont see any more than two DIMMs then i would take a guess and say the board is dying.

But run the firmware and we will see from there.

petes117

371 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#522063 16-Sep-2011 16:23

Thanks for finding that firmware update, it installed fine but no change to the RAM unfortunately. Faulty motherboard is most likely then I guess?

Thanks for your help :)

jaymz

1136 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 76

#522073 16-Sep-2011 16:34

gurthang117: Thanks for finding that firmware update, it installed fine but no change to the RAM unfortunately. Faulty motherboard is most likely then I guess?

Thanks for your help :)

Bugger, i was hoping that might fix it.

Um, going by what you have tried then yeah, it does sound like a faulty motherboard. Any chance of it being under warranty?

The only thing else that i can suggest is to try RAM from another computer, just in case.

Does the BIOS still only show 4GB?

petes117

371 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#522081 16-Sep-2011 17:21

Yep BIOS still shows 4gb. Its definitely not the RAM sticks since I switched them around earlier and they all worked in the currently working slots.

It is still under warranty, since I got an extended 2 year one. But would it still be covered since its a pre-built model and I've upgraded everything but the motherboard? I guess I'll need to call Dell.

Bugger I don't need the down-time right now... it will probably need to be sent to aussie

petes117

371 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 40

#524101 21-Sep-2011 14:45

Well I sent a returns request to Dell, within the next working day they emailed me with a couple questions and organised for a technician to come round.
Two days later the tech guy came and replaced the motherboard! Very impressed with Dell :)

The tech guy gave me a funny look when he saw how upgraded my PC was hehe. I think the problem may have been when I installed my new heatsink I had to pull off the bracket on the underside of the motherboard so I may have damaged it then, but who knows.
Kind of annoying how Dell glue the bracket on so you can't install a better third party heatsink easily.

But at least I've got my 8gb RAM working again so I'm happy

jaymz

1136 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 76

#524219 21-Sep-2011 17:39

gurthang117: Well I sent a returns request to Dell, within the next working day they emailed me with a couple questions and organised for a technician to come round.
Two days later the tech guy came and replaced the motherboard! Very impressed with Dell :)

The tech guy gave me a funny look when he saw how upgraded my PC was hehe. I think the problem may have been when I installed my new heatsink I had to pull off the bracket on the underside of the motherboard so I may have damaged it then, but who knows.
Kind of annoying how Dell glue the bracket on so you can't install a better third party heatsink easily.

But at least I've got my 8gb RAM working again so I'm happy

Good to hear you had top notch service from them, and even better to hear it is all working properly!

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