GA-X58A-UD3R won't boot

[Dark Mantis]

If it is shorting to the case via the motherboard screws then it is a faulty motherboard. The screws are supposed to make a ground contact in fact some boards rely on it.

BTW the one short followed by one long beep is a graphics card error.

[timskrastins]

This is my first build ever so dealing with the challenges of putting things together, learning where everything plugs in, trying not to destroy components, etc was part of it...hahah.
I used the risers that came with my case and routed the cables very carefully and did a lot of work to keep things as neat as possible...it would have been very easy for some of the PSU cables to touch surfaces that I didn't want them to!

[Dark Mantis]

Cables touching surfaces shouldnt make any difference as they are insulated. As long as the bare contacts didn't short to earth it would be fine. Are you sure that there wasn't any extra motherboard stands or something like that causing the short as that is the most common problem.

[mikeL]

Oh great. I finally get it 'working' to prove its broken?

So no choice but to RMA? Not happy!

According to the manual 1 long and 2 short is graphics card.

But thanks are due I guess.

And the water cooling heatsink is quite loosly tightened - they say no more than half a turn once you get resistance so that's what I did.

If it is shorting to the case via the motherboard screws then it is a faulty motherboard. The screws are supposed to make a ground contact in fact some boards rely on it.

BTW the one short followed by one long beep is a graphics card error.

[mikeL]

interestingly there are 4 punched screw stands behind the CPU area that are not used. I guess these COULD be the source of the short? worth a try I suppose. What would be a good, rasonably heat proof insulator?

Cables touching surfaces shouldnt make any difference as they are insulated. As long as the bare contacts didn't short to earth it would be fine. Are you sure that there wasn't any extra motherboard stands or something like that causing the short as that is the most common problem.

[Dark Mantis]

According to the manual 1 long and 2 short is graphics card.

One short and one long is also a graphics card error code but you won't find it in the manual.

As I said in my previous post check the motherboard stands and make sure they are all in the correct position with no extra ones.

Any thin rubber or plastic sheeting should do to insulate especially to test.

[mikeL]

All checked, no extras that remotely touch.

put the board back in, boot loop. took it out - BIOS.

I suppose nothing left to do but return it and request a replacement.

Would be interested to know what sort of 'QA' these boards pass....

According to the manual 1 long and 2 short is graphics card.

One short and one long is also a graphics card error code but you won't find it in the manual.

As I said in my previous post check the motherboard stands and make sure they are all in the correct position with no extra ones.

Any thin rubber or plastic sheeting should do to insulate especially to test.

[Lsdmeasap]

All checked, no extras that remotely touch.

put the board back in, boot loop. took it out - BIOS.

So is this saying with the board in the case, it boot loops, but with the board outside of the case it does not loop and you can enter the BIOS?

If so you have a short somewhere.  There should only be 9 standoffs on the motherboard tray, and they should line up exactly with the holes in the board and you need a screw in each one.   If you have anymore than that remove them.

[Dark Mantis]

As a confirmation you do have standoffs attached to the mounting plate that the motherboard sits on don't you. I remember another situation like this where the OP was trying to mount the motherboard directly onto the baseplate.

[mikeL]

Yes, there are standoffs and they match up.
Any contact with the standoffs causes the problem - even laying the board in the case with no screws. I almost tested each standoff individually using bits of platic sheet, but thought that might be a little excessive/obsessive.

Have RMA'd and already got my ticket, so I'm packing it off tonight unless there's any other possible solution.

As a confirmation you do have standoffs attached to the mounting plate that the motherboard sits on don't you. I remember another situation like this where the OP was trying to mount the motherboard directly onto the baseplate.

[Dark Mantis]

No I would agree if what you have said is accurate then there must be  something wrong with the board. Just to put my mind at rest though can you take a picture of the stands on the backplate please and post them.

[mikeL]

lol ok tonight whne I get home.
The stands are raised (punched) parts of the base, NOT the screw in ones. So they are a teeny bit wider in diameter - say 1mm all round. I suppose I could use non con washers on those, so only the screw head is guaranteed to earth, but it seems a bit of a hack for a board that should just work...

No I would agree if what you have said is accurate then there must be  something wrong with the board. Just to put my mind at rest though can you take a picture of the stands on the backplate please and post them.

[Dark Mantis]

It just sounds a bit unusual to me that there are inbuilt stands with no extra mounts to be attached first. I would just be interested to see them.
What is the make and model of the case anyway?

[Lsdmeasap]

I would test with those Red plastic washers between the board and the case if you have any before sending off the board, as it sounds like the tray is maybe touching the board somewhere it shouldn't

[mikeL]

Well, your request is a little odd/sad, but then so am i 
I have no idea what the case is - it was build for me by PCSpecialist and my order is er, on one of the hard disks currently waiting for a mobo.
So here is a piccy of it and the punched stands.

Now off to the shed to look for the right sort of washer 

It just sounds a bit unusual to me that there are inbuilt stands with no extra mounts to be attached first. I would just be interested to see them.
What is the make and model of the case anyway?