GA-870A-UD3 POSTs but splash screen freezes most of the time

[absic]

Yes, Gigabyte recommend using @BIOS or FLASHSPI on the download page check here: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3786&dl=1#bios which may be due to a similar issue faced on the Intel side when they released the newer motherboards and advised against using QFlash for some BIOS updates.

When faced with these 2 options I would always recommend using FLASHSPI rather than @BIOS as I have seen too many boards bricked by the latter method. 

[Dark Mantis]

I would certainly agree with that absic. The Intel issue as far as I understand it was a one off and basically to do with the initial BIOS code being wrongly written which made updating with QFlash impossible the first time. Once flashed it was business as usual and back to using QFlash again.

[absic]

The Intel issue as far as I understand it was a one off and basically to do with the initial BIOS code being wrongly written which made updating with QFlash impossible the first time. Once flashed it was business as usual and back to using QFlash again.

Yes, I wondered about that, especially as the new AM3+ boards are now using the larger BIOS chips and I thought it might be due to similar BIOS issue in the first instance but resolved after the first update.

EDIT: If you are not sure how to go about updating BIOS using the FLASHSPI method, Lsdmeasap has written a good BIOS flashing guide here: http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/27576-bios-flashing-how-qflash-guide.html that goes through the steps.

[Cyurunus]

The Intel issue as far as I understand it was a one off and basically to do with the initial BIOS code being wrongly written which made updating with QFlash impossible the first time. Once flashed it was business as usual and back to using QFlash again.

Yes, I wondered about that, especially as the new AM3+ boards are now using the larger BIOS chips and I thought it might be due to similar BIOS issue in the first instance but resolved after the first update.

EDIT: If you are not sure how to go about updating BIOS using the FLASHSPI method, Lsdmeasap has written a good BIOS flashing guide here: http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/27576-bios-flashing-how-qflash-guide.html that goes through the steps.

I'm not exactly sure how you use the FlashSPI.exe file in flashing. The guide only mentioned the "870AUD33.FD" or other BIOS update file that you would use in qflash or just the @BIOS method.

[absic]

If you are not confident in flashing BIOS using the FLASHSPI method and you can get into Windows then you should use @BIOS. It would probably be the safest method for you especially if you are new to flashing BIOS.

[Cyurunus]

Right now the issue still remains that I can't get past the first part of booting [the splash screen]. I'm also unable to get into Windows. Should I just try the QFLASH function anyway?

For example--if I try to use the FLASHSPI method, I need to set the BIOS to boot from the flash drive/device I'm using. To do that I need to be able to get in the BIOS and then reboot. Whenever I reset the CMOS, the computer only manages to work that one instance after I reset the CMOS. After that, the computer hangs at the splash screen, with me unable to use any keyboard/device to make it operate. Then I'd have to reset the CMOS again which would just make flashing the BIOS impossible.

[absic]

Right now the issue still remains that I can't get past the first part of booting [the splash screen]. I'm also unable to get into Windows. Should I just try the QFLASH function anyway?

Sorry, I thought you had managed to resolve this problem and were ready to move on.

OK, when faced with POST issues such as this we need to try and discover what is halting the process. If you have gone through these steps I apologise but......

Remove the motherboard from the PC case and place it onto a cardboard box. This will help eliminate the possibility of a short causing the problem.
Reattach the buzzer, power and reset  connections from the PC case to the motherboard header. Also connect the power leads to the motherboard and also to your Graphic card if it needs them.
Leave only one stick of RAM in the motherboard in the slot nearest to the CPU.
Attach the monitor lead
Now try and start the PC.
I go into greater detail of this process in the first part of this review: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,5704.0.html which should clarify any points I have missed here and this is good first step in trouble shooting any build.

Sorry about making you go backwards but we need to try and find out why the system won't start. If it's any consolation I am having similar problems with one of my systems at the moment and it is very frustrating when you can find no logical reason for things not working.

[Cyurunus]

I'm sorry if I seem a bit frustrated. Your patience is also appreciated.

I'll do what you suggested as soon as I can--though I still can't figure out what might be causing the problems.

If this helps: There just seems to be a problem with the I/O function of the motherboard. Power is going through to devices like the HDD/disk drives, but there is no interaction between the motherboard and any of the other ports. Like I've said, it occasionally works [very inconsistently], and there's no way of guessing when it will work. Also, here's a picture of my motherboard installed in my case [I pulled out the video card temporarily].

[Dark Mantis]

Another thing that yopu just might find helpful is that when booting if you want to boot from a diffferent device such as a USB drive or CD drive etc just press F12 whist finishing POST.

[Cyurunus]

So took the system apart and I put laid it out on a cardboard box. I plugged in one stick of RAM, the video card and set up the system in the most basic format I could.

After booting up, the same problem persisted, with the computer being stuck at the splash screen. It did not respond or power the keyboard or any other components. I've basically come to the conclusion that I should RMA the board as all the other parts seem to be working fine.

[absic]

Hi there,

I have sent you a PM please check your messages.

[Dark Mantis]

Can you try a different keyboard preferably PS2 ?

[jolphil]

quote by absic

Leave only one stick of RAM in the motherboard in the slot nearest to the CPU.

Hello,
absic did mention about removing all ram except one stick next to the CPU..The picture shows two sticks..
I have no way of knowing when this picture was taken and if you now have one or two installed..
I just wanted to point that out..
Edit
Oh My, I just read where you removed all but one stick..My apologies...
jolphil

[Dark Mantis]

Actually to follow on from jolphil's comment I did notice that you had the memory sticks in the Blue slots. I don't know how important this is on these motherboards but on the Intel ones you normally have to fill the White slots first.

[absic]

No, it's blue slots on this particular motherboard DM.

Gigabyte keep changing the Slots which doesn't help much and, for example,  on the GA-990FXA-UD5 the slots are now numbered from the outside of the board in towards the CPU socket.

I double checked RAM position for this board and they are in the correct slots.