RAM not detectting in slot 2

[NandhuEsbee]

Second RAM slot intermittently detected / BIOS shows only 8 GB with two 8 GB modules installed

I am facing an intermittent memory issue on my HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1025AX and would appreciate help identifying whether this is a faulty second SODIMM slot, motherboard memory-channel issue, or something else.

My system details are:

• Model: HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15-ec1025AX
• System SKU: 183J5PA#ACJ
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
• Original RAM: Samsung 8 GB DDR4-3200
  Part number: M471A1K43EB1-CWE
• Additional RAM: Crucial/Micron 8 GB DDR4-3200
  CPU-Z part number: CB8GS3200.C8RT
• OS: Windows 11 64-bit

The laptop originally had one Samsung 8 GB module installed and worked normally. I added the Crucial 8 GB DDR4-3200 module to the second RAM slot to upgrade to 16 GB.

Initially, Windows detected:

• 16 GB RAM
• 3200 MT/s
• 2 of 2 slots used
• CPU-Z showed 16 GB and 2 × 64-bit dual-channel

However, after some time I started experiencing:

• MEMORY_MANAGEMENT BSOD (0x1A)
• Windows Automatic Repair
• occasional black screen / failure to POST
• RAM sometimes dropping from 16 GB to 8 GB
• crashes that sometimes seemed to occur when the laptop was physically moved
• one temporary Boot Device Not Found (3F0) event
• HP Storage Diagnostics temporarily showing No Storage Installed

I then tested the RAM modules separately.

The Crucial module alone in Slot 1 boots normally and successfully passed the HP UEFI Memory Extensive Test.

The original Samsung module also works normally in Slot 1.

The Crucial module is correctly identified by CPU-Z as:

• Micron Technology
• 8 GB
• DDR4-3200
• Single rank
• 1.20 V
• Part number CB8GS3200.C8RT

The confusing part is the behaviour of Slot 2.

At times CPU-Z can see the SPD information from the module in Slot 2, but the system does not always initialize the RAM as usable memory.

Currently, with both 8 GB modules physically installed:

• CPU-Z may report 16 GB / 2 × 64-bit
• but Task Manager reports only 8 GB
• msinfo32 reports:
  • Installed Physical Memory: 8 GB
  • Total Physical Memory: 7.36 GB
• BIOS Setup reports:
  • Total Memory: 8 GB
• msconfig → Maximum memory is unchecked, so Windows is not limiting the RAM.

This makes me suspect that the SPD information from the second module may still be readable, but the second RAM slot or memory channel is not being initialized reliably.

The HP Extensive Memory Test has also passed while both modules were installed, but it reported only around 7.23 GB tested, which seems consistent with only one 8 GB module actually being available to the system.

What I would like to know

Could this indicate:

• a faulty second SODIMM slot,
• damaged or intermittent contacts,
• cracked solder joints beneath the RAM socket,
• a motherboard memory-channel issue,
• or a BIOS/firmware memory-training problem?

Both RAM modules appear to work when tested in the primary slot, so I do not currently suspect the new Crucial module itself.

I would appreciate any recommended diagnostic steps before taking the laptop to an HP service center, and whether this model has any known issues involving the second SODIMM slot or dual-channel memory initialization.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @NandhuEsbee 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

I would consider this a hardware issue. The most probable fault is either the second RAM slot itself or the motherboard circuitry connected to that slot, not Windows and not the RAM modules. If cleaning and reseating do not change anything, an HP service center would likely inspect or replace the motherboard or RAM socket assembly. https://support.hp.com/in-en/help/service-center

Take care and have an amazing day!