MSI PRO B650-A WIFI won't boot with 2 sticks

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rizzlah3161c02f3

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Hello guys, any ideas? I've spent whole day troubleshooting this thing and I am just tired, tired boss. Mobo won't boot with 2 sticks of QVL memory.
Only combination that works is 1 stick in B2, that's literally the only combination that works. The sticks are tested and fully working (tested in B650M Aorus Elite and Asrock X670 board).

What I've tried:
- latest BIOS
- Not using/using Memory Context Restore
- clearing CMOS (pins), draining the battery
- reseating CPU/cooler
- EXPO 1/2, stock
- all possible combinations, clearing CMOS, changing to the other stick in the same slot and other slots, with/without EXPO, MCR, always with a CMOS clear

I've tried probably everything I could, is the mobo simply faulty or is there anything else I can try?
I am tired and mad.

Thanks

System:

9950x/Dual tower Deepcool cooler
MSI PRO B650-A WIFI
32gig kit of 6000CL36 Kingston memory (Hynix)
WD SN770 2TB
EVGA P6 850W
 
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rizzlah3161c02f3 said:
- reseating CPU/cooler
Click to expand...

Have you inspected the socket pins closely? Because if you have some bent pins, they will 100% be the explanation for something like this. The board is very unlikely to have a fault regarding the RAM slots, the most likely fault is always bent pins in the CPU socket due to some mistake during CPU installation.

I would say, take off the cooler and CPU again and check for bent pins in the socket, also see here and the following posts. While they are technically all bent, the tips of the pins have to line up in a perfect pattern, with none visually sticking out from the rest. So if you have some pins that don't look like the others, then you really have some bent pins. Ideally take some photos of the socket, upload to an imagehoster and link them here, even if you don't think there are bent pins (sometimes they are not that easy to spot for the untrained eye).
 
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Hey, thanks for the reply. I've checked the pins under a magnifying glass and couldn't really find any damage.
Today I did some last attempts and already packed the board for a return/ordered a new one.

If there's gonna be the same issues then idk..... The board just doesn't like my kits, from which two of them are QVL-listed. One stick in B2 always work, I can get into the BIOS smoothly, even EXPO works but 2 sticks simply won't work, also the recommended slot which is A2 doesn't work either for a single DIMM, only a B2. My paranoia made me to test the CPU as well in another PC, works fine.... I hate computers sometimes.
 
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rizzlah3161c02f3 said:
Today I did some last attempts and already packed the board for a return/ordered a new one.
Click to expand...

You still don't know where the issue stems from, so this is not advised. Theoretically, even the CPU could have an issue, because it houses the IMC (integrated memory controller). The board has more of a passive role in the memory system. It provides the RAM slots, the CPU socket (with its delicate pins), a few related things such as the RAM VRM, and the BIOS. That's not to say nothing can go wrong with a board regarding the memory system, however, to RMA the board (or to order a new one) at this point might be premature.

With this CPU in another PC, you could use A2+B2? What board does the other PC have?

Can you show photos of the CPU socket of your board? Should be an easy five-minute job now, if the CPU is already out.
 
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Hey I blacked out yesterday. Took a peek on it before sending it out and YES holy, there was a one bent pin in the corner which I've missed while checking it before.
Probably because how mad and tired I was. That brings me to another life lesson. Never buy ''Used-Like new'' motherboards from Amazon... I think they don't even give it a boot spin, just quick inspection (probably without taking the socket cover out) and just reselling it for another surprised customer 'LIKE NEW''.

Well lesson learnt, sending it back, already ordered a new one, NEW NEW, sealed.
 
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Yeah, sometimes bent pins aren't that easy to spot. And if you buy anything used / refurbished / open box, it's important to note that fact in your very first post, because it immediately makes the part much more suspicious.

A big problem is, they don't test things properly with returned goods, so a lot of functions MSI would test at the factory don't get checked again for a used board before selling it again. To test a used board thoroughly would cost them too much time (and time is money), so they do a cursory inspection and offer it as used like that. You trade in some of the cost of purchase for risk of purchase.

We had so many people here buying a used board and running into problems later. When all was said and done, after exhaustive troubleshooting to narrow it down pretty much to the board, getting a replacement board and everything finally working as it should, they always say, lesson learned, the savings weren't worth a damn in the end. For a board (or a PSU for that matter), you should only buy new.

About new MSI boards, the cardboard box is actually never sealed, but the antistatic bag the board is in, that will have a piece of tape where the pattern usually rips off when you pull it off, acting as sort of a seal. And yeah, no matter what, inspect the pins closely before installing the CPU, and be very careful during installation, it's the open-heart-surgery moment of any PC building.
 
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Yeah, got burned real bad. The new mobo arrived pretty quick. I've set it all up, put the both DIMMs in and the thing just booted up....
No LED loops, not even noticeable memory training. It just booted up into BIOS on the first try within one minute and here I was.... sitting...
rethinking the whole thing, the time lost, the malding, all for a $80 discount.

Thanks y'all
 
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