Member Avatar for dathay123

Hi,
i recently bought two brand new Nanya 256mb sticks of DIMM ram, but when i try and out the pair in together there is no signal to my screen, then i take out the second stick and the screen works again, i think i might have a problem with my second slot, has anyone got any suggestions???

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

Dani AI

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Brief expert summary and next steps (do not repeat basic reseating/cleaning already suggested by and ).

Because both Nanya modules boot the board individually in the same DIMM socket, the evidence points away from the sticks themselves and toward the board: the second DIMM slot, the slot’s local power/decoupling circuitry, or firmware/slot‑population rules. Vendor troubleshooting follows the same logic: try a known‑good DIMM in the suspect slot and, if it is not seen, treat the slot/board as the likely fault. (ibm.com)

Checks to run before committing to repair or replacement:

  1. Confirm the exact DIMM population order your motherboard expects (some boards only POST with pairs in specific slots) and verify BIOS/POST reports for all slots.
  2. Try each stick one at a time in the suspect socket and, if possible, test a known‑good stick from a different machine to rule out odd compatibility issues.
  3. Update/inspect BIOS settings that affect memory reporting. These steps can avoid unnecessary board work. (tomshardware.com)

If tests still show the second slot dead, inspect the slot area visually (magnifier) for cracked plastic clips, bent contacts, lifted solder joints, or missing/burned components. Repair options range from targeted professional rework to complete board replacement; DIY reflow/resolder attempts are risky and often temporary, so professional service is recommended if the board is worth it. (ifixit.com)

Practical short plan: (1) confirm manual slot order, (2) test each DIMM in the suspect slot and another PC, (3) run a full memory stress boot with MemTest86 from USB to validate each module, (4) inspect the board, (5) if the slot is confirmed dead, compare the cost of a used/replacement motherboard vs. professional rework. MemTest86 is the standard tool for step (3). (memtest86.com)

Recommended Answers

All 10 Replies

Member Avatar for fren

Test one memory stick at a time and try it also in different dimm slots.

Member Avatar for Serunson

Do as Fren said, testing each stick at a time will either rule out the slot being faulty or the RAM itself being faulty.

Member Avatar for cguan_77

hi dathay,

make sure that your DIMM Ram is compatible with each other, if you are using PC 100 then the other should be the same, if not it will cause your system to function improperly. but do what serunson and fren said, so you can know which is which that causes the problem.

Member Avatar for dathay123

Hi i've tried the both sticks in the 1st slot and they both seem 2 work, but when i try both 2getha the screen says 'No Signal'. if my second slot is faulty can i buy a new one or will i be able to repair it, or will i have to buy a new Motherboard??

Member Avatar for fren

It is difficult to repair a dimm slot. I had the same problem with you before. Maybe the 2nd dimm slot has some oxidation or foreign build up inside the slot and it needs cleaning. What I did was reseating the memory stick in the slot several times and at the same time cleaning the slot with a brush. Be careful while reseating the stick into slot. It worked again.

Or

Resoldering the cold soldered or changing the dimm slot is another solution. But be careful on this procedure. You may mess up the other sensitive components.

Or

As is. You can still use your computer with only one stick installed or upgrade it with more rams.

Or

Last resort is to buy a new motherboard.

Member Avatar for minato

hey guys i got the same problem :(, my pc was working smoothly when suddenly my screen start to turn on and off each 2 second :(, then my cpu got the same problem so when i changed my ram slot and i put the ram on the second slot the cpu work again, but what really happen guys ? why is my screen turn on and off ?? and ram slot got this problem ?

Member Avatar for minato

hey guys i got the same problem :(, my pc was working smoothly when suddenly my screen start to turn on and off each 2 second :(, then my cpu got the same problem so when i changed my ram slot and i put the ram on the second slot the cpu work again, but what really happen guys ? why is my screen turn on and off ?? and ram slot got this problem ? i hope to get a reply fast, thanks :)

Member Avatar for crunchie

Buy a computer, with 4gb RAM like most people -__-

And that will fix the faulty motherboard slot?

Member Avatar for Master Rattley

It will not fix the faulty motherboard, but replace it, making a negative a positive :)

Member Avatar for caperjack

It will not fix the faulty motherboard, but replace it, making a negative a positive :)

weird ,how did you last for 158 post ,the forum bandits should have shot you way back !LOL

Edited by caperjack because: n/a
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