Official GIGABYTE Forum
Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with Intel processors => Topic started by: Lippy on April 22, 2011, 07:00:12 am
-
Hey,
I've just built a new computer and it won't seem to start. When i push the power button, an orange and green LED appears on the u3dr motherboard as well as the blue light (clr CMOS) at the back of the motherboard and nothing else. (Lights right beside the RAM slots. I believe they are the DDR Phase LEDs) The lights appear in this order:
X
X
X
Orange
Green
X
X
X = no lights.
I've tried numerous amounts of trouble shooting such as: re-arranging the RAM, re-plugging the GPU, and replugging the HDD. I've checked for loose wires and checked If I wired my "power switch" correctly.
My system specs are:
Antec 900 Case
Gigabyte U3DR Motherboard
i7-950
6GB of Patriot II Sector 7 RAM in triple channel( 3 X 2GBs)
Zotac GTX 480
500GB Seagate HDD
750W Antec PSU
Any help would really be appreciated :)
-
HI and welcome to the Gigabyte forum.
You seem to have a problem there that could be caused by several things.
The first one is a simple power problem such as if you have failed to connect the 8 pin 12v connector near the CPU. So check that and the 24 pin to make sure they are both solid.
Next could be a short to the chassis from the back of the board. Check this and if any doubt remove the bopard and try on the cardboard box outside the case.
-
I've double checked and the connectors were plugged in tightly.
How would I check to see if there's a short to the chassis from the back of the board? Do you mean taking everything out and putting the parts back in?
Sorry for being a total noob :/
-
I took out the motherboard and placed it on the box that came with the motherboard. The CPU, CPU heatsink, RAM, and power connectors along with the power switch were the only things connected to it and it gave to same response of LED lights :(
Is my 750W PSU enough to power the computer?
-
OK, what slots do you have the memory installed in ?
Try removing all modules apart from one in DDR3_1 and then rebooting.
-
I have the RAM installed in DDR3_1, DDR3_3 and DDR3_5.
I've taken the sticks out of DDR3_3 and DDR3_5 but it still gave the same set of lights.
-
Try swapping the module inserted for another one and then reboot.
-
Sames LEDs appear.
-
Ok let's try something else.
It would be worth checking for bent pins on the CPU socket also.
Take all the usual anti-static precautions.
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.
Before refitting the CPU clean off all residue of the old thermal paste and the same on the heatsink and then apply a small amount (about the size of a grain of rice) to the centre of the CPU once it is inserted in the socket.
-
I've heard that you need to wipe of the residue with alcohol. Is it ok If you just wipe it off with a tissue without alcohol?
-
Yes certainly. Some people like to use an alcohol wipe to clean off the residue and others argue against it. Myself, I haven't found it makes any difference but do make sure it is all gone from all round the chip and heatsink.
-
I checked the pins on the CPU and motherboard and all of them looks good. I've replaced the CPU and tried it with only the CPU, 1 module of RAM in the DDR3_1 slot and the power connectors but still the same LEDs.
-
I tried taking parts out of the motherboard one by one to see if the lights change or anything. But the LEDs were the same even when only the power connectors were connected. Could I have bought a defective motherboard?
-
Well it is beginning to look that way unless the CPU is dead. Does the fans on the PSU etc start when you power up ?
-
Nope, nothing starts.
I have replaced the motherboard and it still doesn't power up. I'm guessing that my power supply doesn't have enough wattage? Its a 750W Antec truepower. My system specs. are:
Antec 900 Case
Asus Rampage Gene III
Zotac GTX 480 GPU
6GB Patriot Sector 7 RAM (3 x 2GBs) in triple channel
i7-950
Corsair CPU heatsink
500GB Seagate HDD
What do you think?
-
Right could be a dead PSU then.Unlpug from the mains and al the computer connectioons apart form one fan to be used as a load. Remove the 24 pin cable from the motherboard and find the green wire on it. There are also many black wires. Using a piece of wire (straightened paperclip) short circuit the green and any black connection. Once you plug the power in the PSU fan should start along with the load fan.
-
You are using the white memory slots correct? Just checking.
That PSU Should be fine, unless it's faulty or has some compatibility issue (Which I've not heard any)
Do you still have the Gigabyte board? If so, what board is it exactly - GA-EX58-UD3R or GA-X58A-UD3R? And for either, what is the revision printed on the bottom corner by the PCIE slots? I ask because you may need certain BIOS for some of those boards/revisions to use 950 CPU. like Ex58-UD3R Rev. 1.0 must have F6 BIOS to use 950. So we need to know more exact specifics before would could say, but this may be the issue, and the same may apply for the Asus board you mention as well
-
I have a rampage gene III motherboard now. It might be a faulty PSU because nothing runs at all when I try to turn on the computer, not even fans.
I've built a friends computer that has the exact same parts except he has a gtx 460 instead of a 480. He also has the gene motherboard. When I built it, his turned on fine so I'm guessing that my PSU isn't powerful enough? Based on the fact that the 480 does take A LOT more power then a lot of GPUs. (Should've bought the 570 instead :/) Unless my PSU came broken when I bought it new...
-
I see that you have a corsair HX850 PSU Mantis. I was planning on getting that. How's it treating you?
-
It has been excellent from the word go. Can't say anything against it. ;D
-
Replaced the PSU with a corsair hx850w and BAM it works. Thanks for all your help! ^.^
-
Alright, so everything works fine up to the point when I try to install windows through an external dvd-drive and it would give me an error. It loads all the key components needed to install windows and right after it finishes loading everything my computer crashes. It says that my HDD either has a virus (which is impossible since its a brand new drive). Unplug the newly installed HDD or HDD controllers (I've tried switching cables) and make sure that your HDD is properly configured and terminated (which I'm not sure If I have done that).
How would you configure a brand new computers HDD? I haven't installed anything yet and was hoping to install windows first. Would I need to configure some settings in the BIOS menu? What else would you need to configure If your computer is freshly built?
This is my HDD: http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?item_id=021509
I'm so close to being able to use my new computer that I can taste it! But I don't know what I'm doing wrong to get this error :(
I'm guessing the disc is the problem, what do you guys think?
-
Well there are a couple of options here.
You could try loading the windows disk onto a USB drive and running it from there.
Make sure that you have the latest BIOS installed.
Make sure that you have selected Optimised BIOS defaults in the BIOS.
Check your BIOS settings for the hard drive.
-
Ya, you may need to use a USB Stick instead of an external CD/DVD drive as that might be the problem.
You'll need a 4GB USB Stick, then here is the Microsoft program to copy the DVD onto a CD.
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool
Then use F12 at bootup to get to the boot menu, then choose HDD+ then your USB Stick on the next screen. You will need to leave the USB Stick installed, and you'll need to be sure USB Storage and or Legacy USB is enabled in the Integrated Peripherals section of the BIOS.
Read this if you have problems with the DVD/USB Tool
http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/11/01/use-the-windows-7-usbdvd-download-tool-with-custom-isos/
-
When I'm trying to install windows 7 it gives me the following message after I click Install Now:
A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now.
How do I fix this?
-
Re-burned another copy at a slower speed and it fixed itself :)
-
Yes for some thing like that it is best to use the slowest available speed for burning the disk. 8)