GA-990FXA-UD5 will not boot

[Unclebark]

Hello all!
I am installing my first Gigabyte mobo but it will not boot.

The bios beep code is 3 long beeps.

My setup is:

990FXA-UD5 mobo rev. 1.0;
AMD Phenom II x4 965 processor;
8GB DDR3 Kingston HyperX RAM @1600MHz (2 sticks);
GForce 9600 GT GPU (pcie);
WD Caviar Black 500GB HDD w/Windows 7 64 bit;
WD Caviar Black 1TB for storage;
Thermaltake TR2-600W PSU;

My first look around told me the issue was the graphics card so I installed an old ATI 2400HD card with no change in the beeps.
I then noticed some sites claiming the RAM was the issue.
Removed 1 stick and the beep code changed to 3 long and one very short beep.  With no RAM it became 3 long and one medium beep.

Can anyone interpret the beep codes? Seems every web site gives different results.

[teknology9]

Hi

You say your PC experiences 3 long beeps..........have a look at this:


http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

If you think it might RAM then try memtest just to verify here -  http://www.memtest.org/

Hope this helps

Teknology9

[absic]

Hi there,

despite all of the years I have been using Gigabyte motherboards there are still some POST Beeps that I don't know what they actually mean. And sadly, the ones you are experiencing fall into that section. Usually though, POST Beeps that cannot be easily classified usually represent RAM problems.

The best advice I can offer is that you first of all try putting the PC together outside of teh PC Case, just to make sure that you have got a short somewhere. Try starting with just one stick of RAM in the DDR3_1 slot and if it still won't post swap the modules and try again.

You might find this thread useful: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,5704.0.html as I go into some details of testing things before putting them in the case and it might give you some other ideas of things to try.

[Unclebark]

Thank you Teknology9 and absic for your replies.

After checking on the site about beeps and tearing the system apart to reinstall the old mobo I may have found the problem.  The system would not start when I used the old mobo and I saw that I have bent a few of the pins on the cpu while moving it.  I can't say for sure when that happened but it seems to be a good place to start.  Once O get a new cpu I'll post back and let you know.

[absic]

Hi again,

Usually, bent pins are found along the edges of the processor and are caused by a little too much pressure with the fingers when removing/handling the CPU. I know, I've done this myself! 

If you are careful you should be able to straighten the pins back into position on the CPU. I used a small flat bladed jeweller's screwdriver to tease the bent pins back into alignment on my 1090T when I did this and have had no further problems with the CPU since.

[teknology9]

Hi,

There are some articles on the interweb to help you straighten the pins, here are a couple:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2013312,00.asp#fbid=hscsjLDPi8Z

http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Bent-Pins-on-a-CPU


This article will be useful if the problem persists and also for future reference, it was written by absic

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,3739.0.html


Hope this helps

Teknology9

[Unclebark]

Tried to fix the bent pins and one of them broke off.....   So be it. 

I went out and purchased another cpu, Phenom II x2, carefully installed it and.......still the same problem.  That brings me back to the RAM.  My retailer will exchange it no problem so I will start there. 

Next step will be the psu, I guess.  Specs say 600w should do, but as I am slowly upgrading the entire rig maybe getting a "gaming" psu will be the next step instead of the graphics card.

Checked the memory compatibility list and my RAM is not on it....didn't think it would be that big of a deal....these list often do not cover all of the hardware that works.

I must say my first experience with Gigabyte has not gone as well as I had hoped, but that is part of the fun!!

[Dark Mantis]

When you come to upgrade the PSU make sure that you never buy a cheap and nasty power supply they can go wrong and take out all you other expensive components at the same time. Not only that just because it is marked 600W often they are nowhere near that rating. Purchase a good quality make like Seasonic, CWT, Corsair, Thermaltake, Enermax, Gigabyte, Coolermaster, Antec, etc and try and get one with a single 12V rail if possible. I would advise you to get one of about 750W minimum depending on your hardware demands and if you intend to run another graphics card in SLI or Crossfire then I wouldn't even look at anything below 850W.

[teknology9]

Hi,

I don't know which memory compatibility list you used but the one on the Corsair website does list your board:

http://www.corsair.com/learn_n_explore/

You will find a long list that is compatible with your board, absic has the Vengence Low Profile on his GA-990FXA - UD5 MB, in addition you will also see a PSU finder.

Teknology9

[Dark Mantis]

Yes I always recommend using the manufacturer's own QVL on their websites to check for compatibility of memory, etc. It is far maore encompassing than Gigabyte's as they tend not to test all makes and models by any means.

[Unclebark]

I had checked the compatibility list from Gigabytes page on the mobo.  I just checked the Kingston site and the mobo is on it and should have worked.

However, I did exchange my RAM and still no luck.  I may have to break down and bring it in to the retailer for their support staff to look at.  Frustrating! 

I have a Thermaltake 600W but I knew i would have to upgrade it before I put in a new graphics card....probably SLI.

[Dark Mantis]

Always handy to keep the Thermaltake PSU as a backup or for testing components etc anyway so it won't go to waste.

[teknology9]

Hi,

It might be an idea to start at the begining again, although it may take up more your time than you anticipated you may in the process identify what the problem is. Absics living review is very useful epecially the first section where is makes sure all the components are functioning as they should and is a good source of reference to ensure that your MB gives the same results.

Here it is again: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,5704.0.html

Sometimes it is good to take a break and get away from the problem and think through what has been done and return to it with a fresh mind and perhaps clear the CMOS and start again with the aim of identifying what the problem is and I'm sure with the help of the Moderators on this forum you will get to the bottom of this problem. I know it's frustrating as I've been there too, who knows it may happen to me when I get a 990FX MB but I'll take the same approach as absic has.

Hang in there Unclebark

Teknology9

[Unclebark]

Success!!

Apparently these things come with manuals and if you read them thoroughly it will tell you what to do!!

The RAM slots are labeled DDR3_1, DDR3_2, DDR3_3, DDR3_4, and as in every mobo I have worked on they are arranged with 1 & 3 together away from the cpu and 2 & 4 together beside the cpu. i kept putting the RAM in slots 1 & 2, as I have always done.  One of the steps I took was to put the RAM in 1 & 3 but nothing happened.  With this board, channel 0 is slots 2 & 4....1 & 3 are used if one is enabling Dual Channel mode. 

Right now, I have booted into bios so I am about to put the rest of the rig together.

I want to thank everyone for helping me out!!  Hope you'll be there when it is time to install my new gpus!!

[teknology9]

Hi,

You see you stayed in there and it worked out for you. At least you know what to do next time, the MB manual will explain the correct BIOS configuration if you are using 1/2 GPU's . Again refer to absic's "living with " review as and when necessary and just take your time.

If you are having a crossfire configuration there is normally a guide explaining how to set the GPU's up and if you look on page 19 of the GA-990FXA-UD5 motherboard manual it is explained there also, for a single card it will be in Advanced BIOS Features on page 44 .

Hope this helps,

Teknology9