GA-870-UD3 will not boot

[Thergor]

Hi,

I upgraded to the GA-870-UD3 (rev. 2.0) and a Phenom II 965 BE 125 W
First I used RAM3-1333 4 GB DDR3-1333 G.Skill Ripjaws F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL ( 2 x 2 GB ), inserted them into RAM slot 1&2 and everything went fine.
Then rebooting the computer gave me 3 long beeping sounds which continued all the time.
I tried it with 1 RAM in slot 1 and computer booted without any problems. I tried slot 1&3 - no problems here. Slot 3&4 - beeping again.
Then I changed the BIOS settings (core voltage, un/ganged) but it did not start in Dual Channel mode.
After some resets it booted and also run fine under full load for the whole night.

Next morning same beeping sound, so I decided to change the RAM.
I got this one: 4 GB DDR3-1333 Corsair XMS3 TW3X4G1333C9A ( 2 x 2 GB )
DIMM 240-PIN, DDR3, 1333 MHz / PC3-10666, CL9

The first time again it started perfectly and run smooth for the whole night again under full load.
Next morning beep sound again. I tried slot 3&4 - beep. I tried slot 1&3 in single mode, but also here now I got a beeping sound.
I am only able to run 1 memory rig at the same time - but both rigs as single work fine.

Should I try to change the RAM settings in the BIOS again? I updated it to the latest revision btw. May my Power supply be the cause? I got a BeQuit Straight Power 450W and a Radeon 5770.

It seems many people have Problems with the CPU, this mainboard and CL9 RAM, but I could not get any resolution.

Thanks for any help,
Thergor

[Dark Mantis]

Are you running the memory in unganged single channel mode?
Also I take it you made a mistake in the name of the board. Did you mean GA-870A-UD3?

[absic]

Hi there,

when this kind of situation occurs it is always worth while checking through the hardware specs and double checking through the components.

The recommended Power Supply for the Radeon 5770 is 450W with one 75 Watt PCI Express Power Connector. The recommended PSU for the Motherboard is at least 500 Watts.

I think that I would be looking at a lack of consistent power as the probable cause of your trouble rather than RAM/CPU problems.

[Thergor]

Hi,

yes the motherboard is GA-870A-UD3.
If you have only one RAM installed you cannot choose ganged or unganged mode. This works only with 2 RAM`s.

I did not see any specs regarding my mainboard and min. 500W, but I am wondering why the power supply works under full load without any problems.
And RAM does not take so much extra power.

[absic]

Hi

Page 22 of the manual (English download version) shows minimum recommended PSU.

you are right, RAM doesn't take that much power but the problem you are describing is occurring mainly at BOOT and I suspect the problem is really the power draw for your Graphics Card. If possible try swapping for a lower spec card and see if the system then runs OK as I suspect that it will.

[Dark Mantis]

yes the motherboard is GA-870A-UD3.
If you have only one RAM installed you cannot choose ganged or unganged mode. This works only with 2 RAM`s.

I did not see any specs regarding my mainboard and min. 500W, but I am wondering why the power supply works under full load without any problems.
And RAM does not take so much extra power.

I would agree with absic regarding the power supply, you are pushing it a bit too far in my opinion. Regarding the memory you are not running one module you are running two

[Thergor]

Hi,

now I tried a 600W BeQuiet PSU but still I got the 3 beeps.

RAM inserted into same coloured slots:
I tried to change the memory settings to 1066 MHz - beeping
I changed the CL to 8 and to 10 - still beeping
I raised the voltage to 1,6V up to 1,75V - still beeping

On slot 1 and 3 I can run the RAM without problems in Single Channel Mode but when I try to get the dual channel mode (slots 1/2 or 3/4) it will not boot any more.

In single mode I can change the RAM settings to 1666, CL7, and so on and everything works fine.

I am really desperated and I really do not want to exchange my MB, but right now I do not see any other solution.

Btw. does anyone know if single vs. dual channel mode is such a huge performance difference?

Best,
Thergor

[Dark Mantis]

It really shoiuldn't make that much difference at  all. Absic can explain more fully but if it works that's the main thing.

[absic]

OK,  just read back through the thread and I think the problem is more likely due to the CPU rather than the motherboard.

On the AM3 CPU's there are 2 Memory controllers one for each of the channels. If one of the Memory Controllers is faulty this would result in the fact that you can only run your memory in single channel mode. The fact that you were able to originally run with your RAM in Dual Channel mode but now can't, really points towards a fault with the CPU rather than the motherboard.

Btw. does anyone know if single vs. dual channel mode is such a huge performance difference?

The simple answer here is no.