GA-H55M-USB3 problem

[problemobo]

Hey, Hope someone can help.

I have just tried to set up my new motherboard and things have gone pretty pair shaped.
The motherboard started restarting itself during attempted installations of Vista off a USB.2.0 DVD Drive.
The PC booted into a screen that notified me of an unstable frequency fluctuation.
I am a bit confused as all components are as recommended.

I stripped the motherboard down to bare minimum and now the bloody thing just keeps rebooting.
The CPU fan comes on and the four Motherboard lights come on but only for a couple of seconds and
then the board reboots constantly.

All the components are brand new and compatible.

I first used a fan-less Zalman radiator heat sink first. But I got glitchey graphics during installation attempts.
I swapped the Zalman heat sink for the fan cooler heat sink that came with the cpu, but found no improvement.


I am using the following Components:

Motherboard                : Gigabyte GA-H55M-USB3
Ram                                : 2 x 2 GB RAM OCZ Gold DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz
CPU                                 : i3 550 3.20 GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA 1156) Standard Heat Sink
PSU                                 : Coolmaster GX 650W
Alt Heatsink                  : Zalman CNPS10X Flex CPU Cooler
Monitor                          : Basic VGA Monitor

Everything brand new apart from the monitor which works fine with other PC's too.

I also have a the following:
Ext USB DVD-RW         :  LG GE20NU10 (own psu(
Keyboard                      : Kensington USB Keyboard
Mouse                           : Microsoft USB Mouse
HDD                               : Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500 GB Sata II 16MB
Graphics Card              : XFX ATIRadeon HD 5750 XXX 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-E

I think that perhaps I need to reset the CMOS as I cant even access the BIOS at moment.
think that the constant rebooting has messed everything up.
I read previously that with these boards, if you only have 2 RAM sticks, then you need to install the RAM Sticks in the White Ram sockets and not the blue, as this can cause the mobo to reboot.

So this may have been the initial cause of the reboot issues?
Although there may be other issues too.

Please Please Please Please Please Please Help!!!


 

[problemobo]

Sorry. Have tried 2 different cases too.
1 generic case
and one BitFenix case. Still no luck.

Have resulted to placing the mobo on the box it came in, in order to rule out bad case (shorting out).

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

I agree that you probably need to clear the CMOS but first I would advise checking the CPU socket for any bent pins.


Very carefully remove the heatsink and fan. Probably a slight twisting motion is best to release the two as the thermal paste can act like a glue.

Once off remove the CPU taking extreme care both physically and electrically(static) and place somewhere safe.

Make sure that the lighting is very good and even.

Now scrutinise the socket for any pins that are out of alignment, even slightly.
If in any doubt whatsoever take a couple of macro (close up) photos of the socket and post them on here for us to check.

Also look at the bottom of the CPU at the lands (little copper circles) and make sure that there is a mark in each somewhere near the centre.
If there are any missing marks or any of the pins are obviously bent then that is your problem.

[problemobo]

Hi Dark Matis,
Thanks so much for your reply and thanks so much for the info.
I think you could be right.
I think one of the pins is slightly bent.

I just took off the CPU to check and when looking at the socket from one angle (not all angles)
there did seem to be a break in the uniform pattern.

Is this something that can be fixed?
And if so, can it be sorted easily at home?

Otherwise. Happy new year!!!
And thanks again for being so bloody helpful!!!

[Dark Mantis]

Happy New Year!

Yes if you are very careful you can probably straighten it out with some tweezers and a magnifying glass.

Good luck.

[problemobo]

Hello again Dark Mantis,

Thanks for the advice, although after looking at the array of pins, how small they are.
I have decided to not mess about with the pins too much as do not want to break them.
Can Gigabyte fix this type of thing with a mother board?

Was wondering what I else I can do?
The Motherboard is brand new, never used.
I do not believe I damaged it during installing the CPU.
Do motherboards ever get sent out with bent pins?

Am wondering how I stand with regards to getting a replacement?

This is very frustrating as I ordered the mobo to replace a computer that some one had damaged.
It was ordered a week before Christmas and I only received it yesterday.
When I picked up the components, some of the boxes looked like they had been opened.

The PC Case I brought needs to be sent back as well due to damage. It looks like its been kicked or something.
Would be grateful for your advice. Cheers.

[Dark Mantis]

Deliveries of parcels at that time of year is always a bit hectic and what with the bad weather also I can't say I am suprised if some things are delivered damaged.

I would advise you to in the first instance contact the supplier of the motherboard and tell them you want a replacement as it was delivered damaged. They will probably argue the point but I would just stand my ground if I were you.

Post back to let us know how you get on.

[problemobo]

Hello Dark Mantis Person.
Thanks again for replying so quickly. You are very kind.

I have previously sent several messages to the supplier (Overclockers UK) as the enclosure came down first on Christmas Eve.
After sending photos of the damage they agreed to replace or refund, although it took me over a week to get through to them that where I live (Jersey CI) has the same consumer laws for faulty or damaged goods as the rest of the UK.
As at first they were refusing to pay for postage.

As for the other stuff. I am a little bit suspicious. I mean, don't know for sure if the components had been tampered with, however,
one or two of the seals seemed to have been missing or broken and the box to the motherboard had a crumpled edge and no sticker sealing it.

Anyway. I shall wait for a reply from Overclockers tomorrow or next week. To see what they have to say about the Motherboard.
I am just a bit worried that Overclockers sent out components that they had experimented with.

Thanks again for your help.
Cheers

[Dark Mantis]

I always tend to use either http://www.ebuyer.com or http://www.candccentral.co.uk depending on what I am after and both companies give a great service with excellent after sales backup. I am afraid that this can't be said for all companies though if you understand and you have to be careful where you purchase. I wouldn't think that overclockers would experiment with goods before they sold them though.

[problemobo]

Sure. thanks for the advice.

I normally use ebuyer. In the past they have always been really efficient and helpful.
I was just stuck really as I was planning to make a PC to run with triple booting systems.

And as Mac was one of them, I had to match the components to ones that were similar to those of one of the past mac's.
I actually choose pretty much the exact components that someone else had used that was successfully running such a system.

I thought that I may come up against some obstacles when tailoring the system to run mac, however,
I didn't get that far. As I didn't get the motherboard working with any os let alone triple boot!

Its not through lack of experience either, as I have built many PC's in the past and have worked as a Roll Out Engineer, installing Operating systems in hundreds of PC's.

So. I am thinking that there is something not so good going on here.
I wondered about Overclockers UK as they are not only a retailer, they also provide a specialist service building and overclocking PC's for gaming clients.

This is why that I thought that sending out dodgy goods may have been a possibility, although, some of the people who work at the courier company may have also been curious or even malicious.
Its a real pain.

As I really need a working pc and am stuck using my folks pc at their house.
to add to the mess, I have just tried to test the graphics card that I was sent and its messed up the only spare pc that i had working.
One which I had just configured to work to give me basic internet using Ubuntu.

I took out the graphics card and now it doesn't boot at all really, the fan comes on but no ones at home....
So, now I have even more problems.....:-(

[Dark Mantis]

Oh, the joys of computers!

Try just clearing the CMOS and resetting the BIOS to Optimised BIOS defaults on your backup computer that might be all the trouble is.

[problemobo]

hey. thanks again. you must be already the most helpful person in the world and its still only the first day of 2011.
:-)
Very good response dude. You should have your own customer support company!

Anyway, good luck. I managed to get the spare PC to boot with Ubuntu without chopping my hands off, tripping over breaking my neck, falling down a hole or electricuting myself and making the whole house explode!!!

So, thank goodness I am at least back on line at my own home.
Still have over £400 worth of new Broken PC Parts. Which is bloody frustrating when you are desperate to get on with work *(making music)
Still, perhaps I will be able to use this old PC to at least start a few music tracks which I will be able to finish properly once I have a more modern PC on the go.

Going through all this reminds me why I liked buying Mac's off the shelf in the first place.
I just wish I had a spare million pound to buy another one.
But there we go.

Nevermind.
Onwards and upwards I guess.

Anyway thanks again.
If you are into making music with computers and want any advice on anything, please just ask.
I will return when I am next pulling my hair out trying to build my new PC/MAC/Ubuntu monster.
Thanks again.
Cheers

[Dark Mantis]

You're welcome any time. Good luck with the music and the computer.

[problemobo]

Thanks mate.
Best wishes to you to mate.
Cheers

[problemobo]

Hello Again.
Received in the post today,

An additional GA H55M USB3 Gigabyte Motherboard.

That I have brought in addition to one that I have just sent back to be fixed.
Needed the exact same model as making for a specific purpose.

Now, fitted the i3 550 3.2hz CPU.

Being extra careful to make sure I forced nothing so that no pins got bent in the process.
Once fitted. I then fitted a Fanless CNPS10X Flex Zalman heat sink.
Making sure only to put a couple of 1-2mm beads of Thermal Paste/Grease on the CPU / Heat sink.

Tightened the Zalman as directed.

Now, fitted one stick of OCZ DR3 1333 RAM in one of the white RAM Expansion Slots,
again being extremely careful to make sure I do not force or damage anything in the process.

Finally, I plugged in the CoolMaster 650W PSU.
Plugging in both the mother board power feeds.

Finishing off by plugging in a monitor in the VGA port and a old type (non USB) keyboard
in the keyboard input.

Notice. I have not yet installed a Hard Drive or CD drive.
Partly because I want to start the installation by adjusting the BIOS settings so that the BIOS allows me to boot from a USB DVD Drive.

Now. I have also not enclosed the Mobo in an enclosure, and am attempting to boot up with the Motherboard resting on cardboard.
This I know is not an ideal solution, as it likely a fire risk if used long term. However, I believe for my first install stage, should be no risk.

This configuration was created with the specific intention in order to make it as simply as possible.

Recap. My set up as follows:

Motherboard: GA-H55M-USB3
Ram                : 1 (stick) x 2 GB DDR3 OCZ 1333mhx RAM Stick
CPU 1156       : i3 550 3.2
PSU                 :  Coolmaster GX650
Monitor          : Standard VGA
Keyboard       : old type.

Now, when I try and start the PC. The PC does not boot. Just keeps rebooting on its own.
I have tried placing the RAM stick in various RAM expansion slot. to no avail. Still no Boot into BIOS!

Please, can some one help. This is all brand new stuff so there is no reason why it should not boot.
Thanks