r/AskElectronics • u/SimonPCa • 6h ago
Trying to repair a dead RAM stick using another stick as a donor
So, I’ve recently changed my PC case, and it stopped working due to a bad RAM module.
The bad RAM in question comes from a 2-stick DDR4 3600 HZ Kingston FURY Beast kit that I bought when I first built the PC. About a year ago, one of the modules from the kit died, so I stored it. Now the other one has failed as well.
Since I’m not willing to pay the current inflated market prices for RAM, I want to try fixing it myself, using one of the modules as a donor.
My SMD experience goes as far as soldering USB-C ports. I have a soldering station, solder paste, etc., but I’ve never replaced a BGA chip. I’ve seen that stencils are usually used for BGA arrays, but I don’t have any.
I have a few questions for you guys.
First, I’m going to test the resistors and visually inspect the board. But if the problem turns out to be a faulty DRAM chip and the PC won’t POST, how do you determine which chip is failing?
I’ve searched online but haven’t found much discussion about this specific topic. Does anyone have any advice or a direction I could follow?
Is this even feasible? Or are the memory timings and characteristics carefully matched to each individual module?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.