HELP! First ever build - non-booting 880GM-UD2H

[oogzy]

Hi all
I'm hoping someone will tell me this is an easily rectified problem.
I spent most of xmas day helping my son build his first PC with parts i thought were definately compatible.
On boot up we are getting three long beeps and one slightly shorter one, with no display to the monitor.
The Gigabyte website is less than helpful on beep codes and say its 'usually a ram issue'. Real helpful like.

Setup:
MOBO - 880GM-UD2H
CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 3.4ghz Quad Socket AM3 (Black Edition)
RAM - Team Elite DDR3 1066mhz 4gb (4gig per stick - have 2x sticks)
Graphics card - Gigabyte HD 5570 1G (problem remains with or without this installed)
PSU - 'EVO LABS' ATX PSU 900w

The official stated CPU ram is max 1333mhz so i assume 1066mhz should be fine (?)
Have tried running ram in pairs and singles, in different slot combinations, with no joy.
Have tried with HDD attached and then not.
Currently have nothing attatched to mobo except CPU and ram & wires to case header - problem persists.

Frustration is beginning to get the better of me - can anyone shed some light on the likely prob?

Many thanks in advance

[absic]

Hi there,

could you post back with the revision number of your motherboard. You can find it printed on the motherboard or on the label on the motherboard box.

Also is your Phenom ii X4 965 CPU the 140 Watt or 125 Watt version?

[oogzy]

Thanks for your help!

Well as far as the CPU goes, i have no idea of the wattage, as nothing is stated on the box. Where would it be written?

The full info from the mobo box as follows: AMD880G/SB710/rev 1.0

[absic]

If you check the box that the CPU came in it should tell you on there what version the CPU is.

If it is one of the C2 140 Watt versions ( the earlier release of this CPU) then your motherboard doesn't support it.

[oogzy]

OK - found out that the model no. is only printed on the back of the CPU.
Have had heatsink off and checked... It is the 125w version HDZ965FBK4DGM

Have just found this elsewhere on this forum:
Quote
The Phenom II only supports 1333MHz DDR3—at least, officially—with a single DIMM in each memory channel. With four DDR3 DIMMs, 1066MHz is the standard. Such limitations are nothing new, of course. Previous Phenoms have long supported 1066MHz DDR2 memory, but only with a single DIMM per channel.

Does this mean the cpu ONLY supports 1333 ram?

[absic]

No your CPU will support 1066 MHz Ram OK and your CPU is supported so that's another good thing.

The first thing I would suggest you try is totally clearing CMOS. If you are not sure how to do that check here: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2286.0.html This will return the motherboard to its default state and will give a good base to start from.

Once you have totally cleared CMOS using the On-board graphics, your CPU and one stick of RAM in the slot marked DDR3_1 try booting the PC again. If possible connect your monitor via the D-Sub connector rather than DVI or HDMI at this stage.

[oogzy]

OK am doing all of the above...
I am connecting the monitor to D-sub from internal graphics as card is now removed.

Does it matter if the HDD is connected or not?

[absic]

At this stage leave the HDD and any other devices unattached as all we are trying to do is get the system to POST. Don't even plug your mouse or keyboard in as if they are faulty they can cause BOOT errors.

[oogzy]

OK bleeping prob still remains.

Cleared CMOS
No HDD attached or other drives.

Only wires attached are power (main and 12v to CPU) and wires to case buttons.

One question - the mobo has a total of 8 mounting holes. Only 4 of these are being used as there were only 4 mounting screws supplied with the tower. Have used the brass 'spacers' where needed. I notice all the mounting holes have solder around to enable good grounding. Do ALL these points need to be screwed in, or will 4 mounts suffice?
I'm just grappling straws here.

[absic]

There could be problem with way the motherboard is mounted. I would suggest you try putting it together, outside the PC Case to test it properly.

If you look through the first few pages of a build review I did ( check here: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,3619.0.html ) you can see how to do this.

[oogzy]

Going to try this now...
So far this hasn't been an ideal introduction to PC building, lol

Will report soon
Thanks again for taking the time.

[Dark Mantis]

Going to try this now...
So far this hasn't been an ideal introduction to PC building, lol

Will report soon
Thanks again for taking the time.

Actually this is an ideal introduction as if everything went easilly you wouldn't learn much. 

[oogzy]

Right, have set up the MB on top of its box as you did.
Same bleeping, like a recurring nightmare.
I feel i am running out of options. 

Is there any way this Team Elite ram is not compatible?
Wherever i read, long beeps indicate some sort of ram error. To test the theory could prove costly.

[oogzy]

Pic as mounted

[absic]

that's the idea but it looks as if you still have graphics card mounted remove the card and try again