3/4 DDR slots not working - Z77X-D3H

[scofield]

Hi, recently got the board in the title and an i5 2550k. and It only boots with RAM in slot 1. I've done a little research and one of the most common thing seems to be the bent pins on the socket, but i've had a close look and can't find any. I understand the memory controller is on the CPU, but what are the chances of it being the memory controller killing 3 channels? i've got no other PC to test it on, argh! RAM used is Crucial ballistix 4GB btw.

[autotech]

Welcomer to gigabyte forum. I have had it both ways, Once it was the motherboard and slots 3-4 wouldnt work I RMA'ed it thru gigabyte.
The second time it was the processsor so if you do have any spare parts and no friends to help you out take it to a computer shop.  Does it boot if you take the ram out of slot one and change it with a diffferent stick of ram? That tell you it isnt the ram.

Try one stick in each slot the one stick you know is good. See what the results are. Nothing else rma board and CPU if you rule out the ram. Make sure ram is at default in bios.

[scofield]

 i will be gutted if the CPU is faulty as i only paid £90 for it and it was described as "new" it came in no original packaging, but he was selling about 20 of them and a couple have left good feedback i see.

I've tried 2 sticks of RAM in every slot and it makes no difference, so surely not that.  If it's the motherboard, i'm not sure what to do. I got it from dabs.com and i've heard of people waiting over a month only to have the same board sent back to them claiming they damaged it. They don't even sell the board on their website now so i don't think they can replace it. i think i'd rather bypass them if i have to replace the motherboard

[scofield]

I've taken a couple of photos of the socket, does it look ok?

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1250/img0018mog.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6741/img0010mpx.jpg

 i also noticed a black patch on the tracks from the CPU that lead to the RAM, so i don't think it's looking good for the mobo 

[autotech]

I feel for you. I would return the motherboard myself. seems like you have 3 bad ram slots. You can RMA it thru gigabyte you might have better luck than thru the crappy place you bought it from if you are worried about it.

[scofield]

yeah, dabs.com reviews aren't good for returns for the majority. heres one i found:

Should be closed down
Bought a faulty motherboard that didnt boot so sent it back they said that it was "CPU mount pins have been damaged. This is consistent with user damage from misshandling. Not covered under warranty" but the thing is that i checked it before return and it was fine. The engineers from dabs broke the pin and blamed me. I will probebly go to court now.
DONT TRUST THEM

I already arranged dabs to collect it on Tuesday, i'd like to cancel really. i'm waiting to hear back from Gigabyte to see if i can send it directly to them instead.