Motherboard D-RAM LED Flashing

[Eblim]

Motherboard is an ASUS P8Z77-M. D-RAM LED is flashing when any of the 3 sticks of Super Talent DDR3 RAM @1,333MHz is installed. However, when no RAM is installed, the LED light is on, but it's not flashing it's solid. Also at one point I got the light on the LED to NOT turn on when RAM is installed, but the computer was only powered up for no more than 3 seconds, and the computer automatically restarted that process again and again. My computer does not currently have a hardrive, it's being cloned at the moment. Trying to provide most information as possible. I've already tried

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Eblim,
What is the question then? Have you read the mobo manual to see what those lights indicate?

 

[Eblim]

Eblim,
What is the question then? Have you read the mobo manual to see what those lights indicate?

I should be able to start up BIOS without a hardrive and nothing on my screen appears. And according to the manual, it indicates that DIMM was not properly installed, which is not true. I did install it correctly and I've tried it again and again. The question is, how do I keep this light off and start BIOS.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Remove all but the number one ram slot and try again. If that doesn't work then add one more stick only in the same colored slot making only two ram sticks and not the three.

 

[Eblim]

Remove all but the number one ram slot and try again. If that doesn't work then add one more stick only in the same colored slot making only two ram sticks and not the three.

Thank you for the reply. I have tried that and get the same results. It's quite frustrating!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Did you only remove the hard drive or did you or someone else touch or remove other things?

 

[Eblim]

Did you only remove the hard drive or did you or someone else touch or remove other things?

The hardrive was never in the computer. It's practically new. Only thing that's the same is the graphics card and disk drive. And of course the case. I completely put it together myself. This is the 3rd rebuild of this computer. Old hardrive is currently being cloned to a new hardrive.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Is your supertalent ram on the list of tested and approved ram for the mobo. How do you know the ram is good? How did you arrive at 10 gb of ram, are they matching sticks? I would try all three sticks one at a time to see if any will boot. Are you sure the mobo is posting past the CPU to the ram?

 

[Eblim]

Is your supertalent ram on the list of tested and approved ram for the mobo. How do you know the ram is good? How did you arrive at 10 gb of ram, are they matching sticks? I would try all three sticks one at a time to see if any will boot. Are you sure the mobo is posting past the CPU to the ram?

No it's not on the list inside the manual. I checked that, I also did some digging on that online where someone tested a new stick of RAM that was on the compatibility list, and had the same results as I'm having now. However, I didn't want to jump to conclusion that will be the same for me and I know I cannot rely on only one resource. They are all Super Talent DDR3 RAM. 4GB x2 + 2GB x1. I know they worked because they worked on my previous build.

And don't understand your last question.

 

[Eblim]

But I thought that all DDR3 RAM would be compatible regardless, just as long as it fits the slots.

EDIT: Next thing I'm going to try is removing my CPU from the mother board and try and start it then. This is a new CPU, where I know for a fact the my RAM has worked before. So that's my next step!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I think you need to test each stick one at a time in the #1 ram slot. Do you have access to other DDR3 ram to test? Then I would contact MSI directly @ 626-271-1004 during normal PST business hours and get more suggestions from them. Regarding my last question and I could be wrong and often am but I get the impression that the mobo checks the CPU first and if ok then looks to the ram and then if ok continues to look for the balance of the components to report to bios and then having found an installed OS boots to it. That being my assumption in the MSI manual it should explain if any codes, beeps, led lights blinking and such just where the mobo is hanging up and not posting past.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

With my current MSI mobo I had an issue with it not posting past the CPU for it needing a bios update which was tricky without a older CPU to boot to and then update the bios to the one needed for the 3770 i7 chip. So being able to read the manual and understand which codes it's giving you will be essential.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Down loading your manual it appears that for dual channel ram you want to place the modules in the #2 slot for one stick, #2 and #4 slots for two sticks. try that and report back.

 

[Eblim]

I think you need to test each stick one at a time in the #1 ram slot. Do you have access to other DDR3 ram to test? Then I would contact MSI directly @ 626-271-1004 during normal PST business hours and get more suggestions from them. Regarding my last question and I could be wrong and often am but I get the impression that the mobo checks the CPU first and if ok then looks to the ram and then if ok continues to look for the balance of the components to report to bios and then having found an installed OS boots to it. That being my assumption in the MSI manual it should explain if any codes, beeps, led lights blinking and such just where the mobo is hanging up and not posting past.

My motherboard is a ASUS P8Z77-M. Sorry I'll update 'my system'. My next step would to remove the CPU and check that as well. Also, I may check to see if my motherboard is grounded properly, as it's only attached my 2 or 3 screws and a heavy CPU cooler affixed to the board as well.

I also have checked each RAM stick individually, in which end in the same result.

EDIT: This ASUS is a second replacement over the first replacement on my MSi. Not getting MSi again, that was a much more serious problem! That problem is now fixed, now just the DRAM-LED light on my ASUS.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Well I think you need to get that manual out and read up. Also never install a mobo with too many or too little stand off's or mounting screws. I would double check the stand off's and install all the proper mobo screws. The read the manual for the proper ram slots and place one stick in the proper slot. Also read for what the leds are telling you. Then call ASUS.....good luck there from what I understand. Tried to download a English manual and couldn't find it in the downloads that came zipped up in the English download on ASUS site.

 

[Eblim]

I uninstalled the processor.I see two pins are bent in the CPU's socket. There was no light with the processor uninstalled. However, BIOS still doesn't display! So I'm really confused what the problem is here.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Well I think you just found the issue with the bent pins on the CPU socket. I would RMA that mobo back to the seller or ASUS and start again.

 

[Eblim]

Well I think you just found the issue with the bent pins on the CPU socket. I would RMA that mobo back to the seller or ASUS and start again.

No need. I VERY carefully fixed the pins with tweezers and my 20/20 vision. lol. I really appreciate the help. D-RAM LED is now OFF!!! However, my BIOS still does not appear! Can you help me with that or shall I start a new thread! Rep has been given for your efforts. Thank you very much!

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Are you hitting the delete key? Do you see anything on the monitor. Do you have a GPU plugged in? Does the mobo have onboard graphic's?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Looks like the latest bios version is #2003, you may need to flash the bios with this update but before you go down that road i would clear the bios by removing the battery for 30 sec. and re-installing then trying to boot to bios. If that fails you need to call ASUS and get some tech support going there as well especially if a bios update is needed once they look up the mobo serial number in their system.