Hardware Problem with New Build

[Pauly]

Hi folks

Building a new machine with a Z68 mobo a friend gave to me
Bought i3 3220 (ivybridge), 2x4gb ram, 120GB SSD, CM Elite case & psu

So installed everything powered up got 4 beeps shutdown
Reset mobo as had been used before got 3 beeps
I tried unplugging everything but cpu/fan/ram
Tried each ram stick in each slot etc checked cpu seated properly
Tried everything i could think off got 3 beeps always

Finally i figured mobo might need bios update to run ivybridge chip (which was already supposed to have been done in old system) so i ditched the Z68 and ordered a gigabyte Z77-DS3H, so now all components are brand spankers

Assembled everything 3 short beeps, pause, 3 short beeps shutdown
Same as before unplugged everything same beep combo
Only mobo cpu/cooler/ram same beep combo
Went to my office robbed some ddr3 out of my i7 system swapped it and still got 3/pause/3 beeps each stick in each slot and still the same
And i have noticed on power up cpu fan goes full speed for a few seconds then when beeps start it runs slowly dont know if this is relevant

Now im stuck
the only components i havent swapped out is the cpu & psu, but is it possible the cpu is faulty, is this a common thing ???

PS ive built a few systems over the years and troubleshot a few so have a bit of experience with this

Any input greatly received

 

[fireberd]

I have a Gigabyte Z77X UD5H motherboard. It has a diagnostic (debug) LED display for errors. Does your board have this?

As everything except the CPU and power supply has been swapped one of the two is suspect. There is no 3 beeps listed below in what I found, but continuous short beeps is a power issue. If you have a different power supply you can try that would something to consider. If its not the power supply the only part left that has not been replaced is the CPU.

I did a google search for Gigabyte beep codes and keep coming up with the Award BIOS beep codes. The 3 short beeps you are getting is not listed..

A: The following Award BIOS beep code descriptions may help you identify possible computer problems.
(For reference only.)
1 short: System boots successfully
2 short: CMOS setting error"]
1 long, 1 short: Memory or motherboard error
1 long, 2 short: Monitor or graphics card error
1 long, 3 short: Keyboard error
1 long, 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error

 

[Pauly]

No it hasnt got any LEDs unfortunately

Sorry i should have mentioned its got AMI UEFI bios and all the beep codes i could find relate to first 64k of memory failing (which is why i swapped out ram) but that is for three short beeps i couldnt find anything for 3/pause/3 combo. I am starting to wonder if it is the cpu but has anyone heard of a faulty cpu out of the box ?
Its a shame my i7 is the older 1366 x58 type or i could have proved it

 

[Dwarf]

Did the case come with the PSU? If so, then this is quite likely the culprit. Most, if not all, PSUs that come supplied with cases are inferior units that are woefully incapable of putting out the power that they state. In addition, their power regulation is usually poor. You can tell a good quality PSU, not only by its make, but also by its weight (the better quality unit being the heaviest). My case came with a 500W unit that I ditched in favour of my XFX one for those very reasons.

 

[Pauly]

The psu is a cooler master 500W that came with the case didnt think i would need anything more than this as no gfx or sound cards as this is new machine for home/family use nothing to taxing

 

[TVeblen]

That beep code (3-short), and the 64k address check error all points to bad RAM.

I would first test the sticks with Memtest in another computer. But you said you used known good sticks so this may be a waste of time. (I'd waste the time, personally).

Are you sure the all RAM you are trying to use in this board is compliant? Correct voltage (1.5v normally) is most important. Other than that it is just the rated speed must be at or below the set limits without overclocking). 1333Mhz and below should be fine.

Or there could be an problem with the board or the RAM slots. Check the manual and be sure there are not any sneaky jumpers (like that other thread) missing.

Also check to be sure that the 3220 is listed for that motherboard with the correct revision number, and assume you have an older BIOS. If you need a more recent BIOS to run the Ivy Bridge you could be up against the same problem linneymeyerhere had with his build (couldn't use CPU without flashing to a newer BIOS - couldn't flash BIOS without CPU).

Let us know what you find.

 

[Dwarf]

I was checking for this, and came across what is mentioned above. In addition, the first set of error beeps you received (4) also points to a memory problem. Since you have changed everything bar the PSU and CPU, it is unlikely that the motherboard and RAM are at fault. It is more than likely to be the CPU, since the memory controller is built-in and it is a memory controller issue that you are having.

 

[Pauly]

Thanks for your replies, just to update, i didnt really consider the psu would be a problem and was in the middle of breadboarding it so i quickly opened up another machine and plugged the two mobo powerleads into my board sat on a wooden table with only ram and cpu in and still got same three beeps followed by another three beeps so i think i can count the psu out, that leaves the cpu as the only untested component.

Now im afraid it could be the bios issue but im not sure how to be certain, have checked the manu site of mobo GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-Z77-DS3H (rev. 1.1)# and cpu list states four versions of my chip with N0,P0,E1,L1 stepping all supported from bios version 8 but 8 is the earliest available bios for my board so i was thinking this is the version the board would be shipped with (correct me if im wrong please) and i also am not sure what stepping version my chip is. Have chip and box in front of me but cant tell

Also i noticed that on manu website it refers to my mobo as revision 1.1 but my board says 1.0

 

[linnemeyerhere]

My recent MSI P67A-GD80B3 mobo with the update for the i7 3770k was well not updated and the four beeps I got turned out to only need a bios re-flash to the correct update. This without a working CPU was a issue, so if you can't flash the bios with a usb or something or can find a friend who'll loan you a Sandy to post with then you may be forced to mail this in for flashing with Gigabyte?

 

[Pauly]

Thats what im afraid of. I got a Z68 that i thought had that problem thats why i went out and bought a new Z77 thinking it wouldnt have this problem as it says its compatible with 22nm IB chips. Now im wondering if i should get a cheap G series 4xx, 5XX or 6xx SB chip to update with

 

[linnemeyerhere]

It's a shame but may be the fastest solution. In my case I'm only 45 min. from MSI USA so the tech. was kind to offer me to stop the whole rig off and bang 20 min. later I was walking out with a rig that would boot to bios !

 

[Dwarf]

I've just checked the Gigabyte website for both revisions of the board, and they both support the i3 3220 CPU with F8 BIOS version. There is a newer BIOS version available, F9 which adds an updated micro-code, but no earlier BIOS versions are listed than F8.

Having said that, I'm still leaning towards the CPU since you have tried it in 2 different boards with the same result.

 

[Pauly]

Well i fired of a mail to gigabyte asking for confirmation the board will support the chip out of the box and have managed to find a uk phone number so will give them a ring tomorrow (monday) and see what they say then it may be a case of RMA the cpu, i got it from ebuyer UK and they are pretty good with returns so shouldnt be a problem, will update the thread when i get some news

Thanks everyone for your responses, much appreciated as always

 

[neo101]

Try firing it all up - outside the case then!

Not unknown for cases having faulty on/off/reset switches too.

Have you double checked m/board case lead pins?
Check your mate hasn't pulled off/reset any of the default M/board jumpers

Many sata inputs are for hard drive etc only too. Check manual

 

[Pauly]

Yes i have set up old and new mobo on wooden table with no leads connected other than 2 mobo power leads and fired by shorting case power switch header pins with the same result, am waiting until 2moro (monday) so i can contact mobo manufacturer to clarify then am going to enquire about returning cpu

 

[Pauly]

OK quick update i rang gigabyte today about bios and ivy and they confirmed this board will not run ivy chips out of the box

Cant believe i ordered a Z77 board thinking it was built for gen 3 chips and it doesnt even work, they have offered to flash bios for free if i want to email another department wait for a response pay for postage to address they will give me and then wait for several days for them to ship back.

So i thought sod it and just ordered a cheap sandy chip and couple sticks of DDR3 and will have myself two new machines instead of one, i already had a sata3 SSD wasted in an old PC so i gonna give that one a make over with new mobo, chip & ram its quite old and could do with updating

Again thanks for all the responses it nice to get a few opinions

 

[TVeblen]

Thank you Pauly for sharing the info and lesson. That is now twice in this forum.

It has certainly got me triple checking specs for my planned build! I wouldn't have given it much thought otherwise.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Sounds all too familiar, I thought I had done all I needed by reading the mobo details, going to the mobo website verifying compatible CPU's and then calling the mobo tech. support line, all telling me I was good to go. Order, receive and install only to find out otherwise.

 

[Pauly]

Next update, as i said before i ordered new SB chip which arrived today so i fired up my giga Z77 mobo with SB chip fitted and to my horror 3 beeps/pause/3 beeps ran through all processes as before, breadboarded/swapped ram sticks slots etc and nothing, absolutely gutted:banghead::mad2:

I managed to not smash the entire thing all over the garden (its raining) and dropped in the aquired Z68 with the SB chip and fired up fine, bios updated, IB chip back in and up and running well, initial speed is impressive with new OCZ sataIII SSD

At least now i know, my giga Z77 is not compatible with Ivy or Sandy lol. Have contacted supplier and have RMA number so finally byebye faulty board
Will pick up another mobo for the sandy chip i got now and update another machine i got with it when i get a bit of time but given that my wife is having contractions on & off today think i can feel a couple weeks off work coming my way pretty soon (although she will prob expect me to spend it with her and baby and not playing with computers hehe)

Anyway lesson learning for me with mobo/chip compatibilty will try not to make that mistake again

 

[Pauly]

Something else worth mentioning, when i checked manufacturers website it gave me the impression the board would work because it talked about revision 1.1 of my motherboard which had bios to support installed, spoke to board manufacturer and supplier they told me there is no way of telling what board your actually gonna get as in my case i got rev 1.0 which ships with old bios so even if you check website and ring them (as linnemeyerhere did) you still cant be sure what your actually gonna receive as they told me boards can be sat on shelfs for months. I suggested returning my board in exchange for one that would support IB out the box and was told we cant guarantee any of them will work (and they had loads of different ones) all they could offer was a new P8 or P9 board that would flash bios from stick without booting or having chip in but was three times the price of my board which i just couldnt justify