AMD FM2+ Board - Suspected Dead RAM Slot B1 - Seeking Diagnosis Advice

[andrui742]

Hello everyone,

I'm helping a friend diagnose a desktop PC that is showing clear signs of a RAM slot failure. I would greatly appreciate your insights and experience on potential causes and any final diagnostic steps I might have missed. System Specifications:

• Motherboard: ASRock FM2A58M-VG3+ R2.0
• CPU: AMD A4-4000
• Chipset: AMD A58 (Hudson D2)
• RAM: Kingston 4GB DDR3-1333 (KVR13N9S8/4) - Two identical modules.

Observed Failure Progression & Symptoms:

1. Initial Intermittent Failure: The system would randomly BSOD in Windows 10 with a DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error in storport.sys when both RAM modules were installed (A1 + B1 for dual-channel).
2. Stable Single-Channel Operation: After testing, the system is perfectly stable with any of the two RAM modules installed only in Slot A1. AIDA64 and MemTest run without errors in this configuration.
3. Complete Slot B1 Failure: The system now will not POST (no video signal, fans spin) with a RAM module installed only in Slot B1. This happens with either RAM module.
   • The system behaves as if no RAM is installed at all.
   • Slot B2 was not tested as this mATX board only has two slots (A1 & B1).

Troubleshooting Steps Performed:

• ✅ Confirmed both RAM modules work perfectly in Slot A1.
• ✅ Cleared CMOS (both by jumper and battery removal).
• ✅ Disconnected all power and held power button to drain capacitors.
• ✅ Visually inspected the slot with a magnifying glass. No obvious bent pins, debris, or corrosion.
• ✅ Reseated the CPU to check for improper pin contact in the socket.
• ✅ Used contact cleaner on the Slot B1 contacts.

Current Conclusion & Questions:


The evidence strongly points to a physical failure of Slot B1 or its associated traces on the motherboard.

Before declaring the board beyond economical repair, I wanted to consult the experts here:

1. Are there any other less-obvious diagnostic steps you would recommend?
2. Given the symptoms (intermittent failure progressing to total failure), what is the most likely root cause? (e.g., cracked solder joints under the slot, a failed component in the memory channel, a damaged trace, or an issue with the CPU's memory controller?).
3. Is a repair attempt (e.g., reflowing the slot) feasible without specialized BGA equipment, or is the most practical solution to simply run the board in single-channel mode with one stick?

Thank you in advance for your time and valuable expertise. This community is a fantastic resource for technicians like myself who are always eager to learn.

Best regards,

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