Third dimm slot not working

[JediJorgie]

I installed a 1 gb stick of OCZ DDR yesterday. I already had 2 512 mb sticks in. I put the 1 gb stick into the blue slot and moved the 512 sticks to the two yellow slots. I try starting it up and it won't post. I tried every combination I can think of, but it will not post. Even putting just the old memory in will not post. I tried clearing the CMOS and that didn't work. I'm not getting any beeping or voice messages, but I'm not 100% sure the speaker is plugged in. I forgot to check that last night. Everything worked fine before adding the new memory. Any thoughts?

Asus K8v se deluxe
Athlon 64 3200
1 gb OCZ DDR 3200
2 512 mb OCZ DDR 3500
(I'm not sure why I bought the 3500 sticks; maybe I was planning on doing some overclocking. I built this rig so long ago I don't remember now)

update: Well I took out the motherboard and didn't see any damage. I put it back in with nothing plugged in except the processor and video card and still got nothing. Then I tried the 1 gig stick and it booted up. I think just unplugging the power supply connections from the motherboard is what fixed it.

I tried the 1 gig and a 512 stick and that worked too. But all three sticks will not work. I know it is not the stick; I swapped the 512 sticks in the second slot and it works. So it seems like my third slot is not working. I tried updating the bios, but that didn't help. So the slot never worked or just stopped working recently. Has anyone heard of this problem? It would be nice if I could get it working and have 2 gigs like I planned, but 1.5 gigs is good enough.

 

[Dream Operator]

I knew it was going to be an Asus board when I saw the topic! Is it me or do their boards seem to easily get into a position where they won't POST? I can't post my board w/ a 9600GT right now, but that's another topic.

When you tried the old mem, did you use both sticks? If so, try using one. I had a problem about a year ago where my board would not post after trying to upgrade the RAM. I ended up grabbing a single 512mb Corsair Value Select and I was able to POST. Put the new mem back in and it worked.

Try all the slots with one stick. I've read unusual stories of that resolving similar issues. Good luck!

 

[JediJorgie]

Thanks for the idea Dream Operator. I tried your suggestion of using one stick in all the slots, but no dice. I've also tried booting with no sticks in, and I still get nothing. You'd think I'd least get the bios, but nothing. My internal speaker is plugged in, but I'm not sure if it is working. I get no beeps or voice messages, but I suppose if I'm not even getting in to bios, I won't. I tried updating the bios, but my floppy drive is not being accessed at boot. My other disk drives are starting though.

Before I put the new memory in, I did take my case outside and blow the dust out. Maybe some dust bunnies got behind the motherboard and shorted it out? When I have more time this weekend, I'm going to take the whole thing apart, look for any damage, and put it back together. After that, I think I'll start motherboard shopping...

 

[JediJorgie]

Well I took out the motherboard and didn't see any damage. I put it back in with nothing plugged in except the processor and video card and still got nothing. Then I tried the 1 gig stick and it booted up. I think just unplugging the power supply connections from the motherboard is what fixed it.

I tried the 1 gig and a 512 stick and that worked too. But all three sticks will not work. I know it is not the stick; I swapped the 512 sticks in the second slot and it works. So it seems like my third slot is not working. I tried updating the bios, but that didn't help. So the slot never worked or just stopped working recently. Has anyone heard of this problem? It would be nice if I could get it working and have 2 gigs like I planned, but 1.5 gigs is good enough.

edit: I've also noticed that my memory is running at DDR 333, not 400. I know that for my motherboard, you can only use the first two dimm slots to run at 400, but I'm still only getting 333. My manual says the cas latency must be the same and I'm not sure if they are or not. Would that make the difference?