Official GIGABYTE Forum
Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with Intel processors => Topic started by: adiman on September 23, 2010, 09:28:27 pm
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Hi,
I was making my own HTPC and have recently completed putting together the following components:
Intel Core i3-530
Sapphire Radeon HD5570
G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL 8GB RAM.
OCZ-Vertex2 60GB
Antec ISK 300-150 mini-ITX case
Now the entire system is set up and works fine IF I use only single RAM stick (4gb).
The moment I put both (in any order, not specific to location on board or the specific mem stick), the motherboard will not boot.
It only keeps starting up, and restarting after about 10 seconds. No message on screen or sound from motherboard.
I tried setting DRAM voltage to 1.6 and some increments above it and also raised QPI/VTT a couple of increments from default(auto) values and it didnt help.
What should I do now ? Any step that I'm missing.
Note: this mobo only has 2 memory slots. Both memory sticks work if used alone.
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
You don't say what PSU make and model you are using so perhaps you could list that along with any other hardware attached to the motherboard. Can you also confirm your motherboard model number because I think you have it wrong. I think the one you have is GA-H55M-USB3 is this correct?
Have you checked that your memory is compatible with your motherboard? What BIOS are you running? What revision is your board?
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Hi, thanks for replying. I see that I've not been comprehensive and precise enough ;D Giving this another try:
Intel Core i3-530
Sapphire Radeon HD5570
G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL 8GB RAM.
OCZ-Vertex2 60GB
Antec ISK 300-150 mini-ITX case with 150 Watt internal power supply.
The motherboard is GA-H55-USB3 (rev 1.0, Firmware F7) and not GA-H55M-USB3. The one I have is for mini-ITX form factor while the 'M' variant is for microATX form factor.
Where can I check if this memory is compatible?
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Well I would immediately say your PSU is nowhere near powerful enough even for the miniATX board. You should be able to check the CPU and memory QVLs on hte Gigabyte site under the Support and Downloads section. I have looked on our UK site and we don't have your motherboard listed. You can also check the memory on the GSkill site for compatibility with the motherboard.
Here is your board: http://gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3365#
I thought that you said there was only two memory slots though?
Gigabyte don't list them on their QVL.
I have just checked the manual and in there it recommends a 500W PSU. Now I think that is a bit high depending on what you are running off it but it does give you an idea where your 150W one comes in the scheme of things.
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The motherboard is GA-H55-USB3 (rev 1.0, Firmware F7) and not GA-H55M-USB3. The one I have is for mini-ITX form factor while the 'M' variant is for microATX form factor.
You are both wrong the board you have is GA-H55N-USB3 not M or GA-H55-USB3 as thats ATX.
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Thank you Peter, that does make more sense now. It's just that you expect the OP to know what hardware they are running. ::)
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Thank you Peter, that does make more sense now. It's just that you expect the OP to know what hardware they are running. ::)
Now the interesting thing is did the OP flash the BIOS using the GA-H55-USB3 ?
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Let's hope not!
Have you got a buzzer attached to the motherboard? If not it won't make a sound.
Now we have the correct info you can find your motherboard manual here:
http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-h55n-usb3_e.pdf
What I was saying earlier regrading the PSU requirements stilll stand according to your specs. See page 23 but you only need a 4 pin plug for the 12v line by the CPU.
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Oops. Sorry again:
this is the motherboard : http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3455#ov
GA-H55N-USB3
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Yes Peter beat you to it! Never mind we got there in the end ;D
What do you have to say about the previous questions?
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I'm at the office right now (here in the US). Pissing in my pants thinking about the Firmware question.. if I managed to install the ATX versions BIOS on my machine and it ran and this problem is purely because of that.. it'll be too weird to comment about :-\
Btw, I don't think power supply is the issue. This config (except for 8gig ram) is identical to Dino PC's Mini Carnivore HTPC you folks have available in UK.
That's not how I planned it, though. And there are plenty of HTPC builders who swear by this config (again, except for the ram - brand and size)
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Right well my advice is firstly to change your pants, you don't want to sit around in them all day. Then when you get home put in one stick of memory and see if it will still boot ok.
Hopefully the BIOS checksum will have kicked in and not allowed you to run the wrong update but as the boards are so similar I am not sure it would have worked.
As for the power requirements I took that straight from the manual but as I said it does seem a bit high.
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I'm at the office right now (here in the US). Pissing in my pants thinking about the Firmware question.. if I managed to install the ATX versions BIOS on my machine and it ran and this problem is purely because of that.. it'll be too weird to comment about :-\
If you some how got F7 how about you flash it to F5 the right one...
I think the PSU in that case is meant to power a Atom CPU not the i5 i3 and it might of just been enough to run one stick but not two...
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Actually the OP is running the i3 530 if that's correct ;) Even so there's not much difference.
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Actually the OP is running the i3 530 if that's correct ;) Even so there's not much difference.
Only about 60W difference when you look at the TDP from Intel of the Atom to i3.
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Actually I meant between the i3 and i5 CPUs not the atom. ;)
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Ok :D So I was probably not as dazed while updating f/w. It is GA-H55N-USB3 F5 .
Power is honestly not the issue here guys - I removed the HD5570 GPU to check this up and it still fails to post with 4x2 gigs ram.
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Ok so if we accept that it is not a power issue, when you did the BIOS update did you clear both the DMI and CMOS?
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Hi Guys,
So over the past 36 hours I did the following:
1. Discovered that the GA-H55N-USB3 is the one with a problem and it may be something wrong with an entire batch. The RIPJAWS ram modules will work when either one is placed in the DIMM slot closer to CPU. But neither one works when used in the other DIMM slot.
To confirm that this DIMM slot was defective, I tried using another DDR3 module that I have running in my desktop (2gb) into this slot - and the motherboard fails to post again.
The worst thing is, I bought another identical GA-H55N-USB3 motherboard from different retailer this time (to get it quicker) - and SURPRISE - it has the same frickin issue.
Extremely disappointed with Gigabyte - this was my first Gigabyte product and I'm really wondering what the hell I'm going to do now. I have two motherboards I need to RMA.
I tried the RIPJAW memory in my desktop - btw. Both modules worked as expected.
2 motherboards with same problem - defective dimm slot - perfectly fine otherwise - really poor quality control :|
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Or maybe a bad CPU? RAM controller is in the CPU.
Your desktop that you tried the RAM in would the CPU be a LGA 1156 ? if so you could put it in the GA-H55-USB3 to test and you will need a Graphics Card too depending on what other CPU you have...and your PSU from your desktop.
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Nope, the desktop is a Core i7 920.
And if I had to bet on a motherboard being defective and mem controller on the Core i3 being messed up, I'd choose the motherboard. ::)
I dont feel like buying a new processor to check if something is wrong with the one I have now - will switch to Intel's H55 and check.
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Out of curiosity - can you point me to single link online where someone's been able to detect and troubleshoot a bad mem controller on Core i3 etc processor which runs fine on 4gigs but fails to even post on 8gigs.
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Too bad you couldn’t test that ...hope the Intel H55 works for you.
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Have you checked for bent pins on the CPU socket? It is probably the most likely scenario. We have had a lot of them recently and this isn't a fault that is special to Gigabyte it is inherent in all socketed Intel chip platforms.
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Hmm.. Having hot tea now. Will check it and get back to you guys. Thanks for this interesting tip !
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Out of curiosity - can you point me to single link online where someone's been able to detect and troubleshoot a bad mem controller on Core i3 etc processor which runs fine on 4gigs but fails to even post on 8gigs.
I don't know any but two GA-H55N-USB3 from two retailers does seem like a bad mem controller to me....either that or... hey does your desktop motherboard have two or more 2GB sticks in? If so try putting two of them in the GA-H55N-USB3.
If it boots then it a problem with the BIOS not handling 2 x 4GB which you would need to contact Gigabyte to fix it. If it still doesn't boot bad GA-H55N-USB3 or bad mem controller in CPU.
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Hmm.. Having hot tea now. Will check it and get back to you guys. Thanks for this interesting tip !
It might be worth trying Peter's idea first if it is feasible if not remove the CPU and check the socket. The pins are very small and you will probably need a magnifying glass to see them properly. Often they are not bent a great deal but it is enough to either short against another pin or not make contact with the pads on the CPU. If you are at all unsure take a few close up photos(macro) and post them on the forum for us to check for you.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/71788250@N00/5023706697/
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/71788250@N00/5023706697/)
This is how the first board looks like. I don't think i see any bent pins.
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Added another pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/71788250@N00/5024332822/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71788250@N00/5024332822/)
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This probably the best shot for analysis - uploading this on rapidshare cause the image services I tried mess up the image quality.
http://rapidshare.com/files/421283762/IMG_0290.JPG
(http://rapidshare.com/files/421283762/IMG_0290.JPG)
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Btw, if bent pins were the issue - then aren't the odds of the same problem happening on both the boards really low ? How is it probable that both the boards ended up with pins bent exactly at those points where they'd affect that particular dimm slot.
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I have just checked out your photos and the only one that is high enough resolution is the rapidshare one. That was very clear and each pin was visible. As far as I can see there were no bent pins.
In answer to your question regarding the chances of two boards manifesting the same problem through bent pins is actually quite high. Don't ask me why because I can't explain it but the lost memory is the most common problem.
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This is the image of the second board - the newer one that I tried out today :
http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG
(http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG)
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And while we're at it - this is the image of the processor :http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG
(http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG)
This is all the info I can possibly provide. On the processor you can clearly see multiple pin marks at places because of these two boards. I dont see any pin connector which doesnt have pin marks, though.
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This is the image of the second board - the newer one that I tried out today :
http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG
(http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG)
The picture was again excellent and I couldn't see any bent pins. I think we can rule that out as a factor in this problem. If you wanted me to take an educated guess at the cause I would have to say memory, even though you have tested it. I think that it is very unlikely to have two boards with the same fault although it might be worth RMAing them to have your fears resolved.
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And while we're at it - this is the image of the processor :http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG
(http://rapidshare.com/files/421288742/IMG_0305.JPG)
This is all the info I can possibly provide. On the processor you can clearly see multiple pin marks at places because of these two boards. I dont see any pin connector which doesnt have pin marks, though.
The processor image is just another image of the socket actually. :-\
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8gigs didn't work on Intel H57 board either. It wouldn't work on any board in the world.
Folks, believe it or not - the Core i3 processor was the problem. Seems like I managed to get a unit with semi-functional mem-controller. Go figure.
Replaced the Core i3 530 with a Core i5 655K. 8 gigs now work on Gigabyte board.
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CPUs are the same as any other component they can be faulty too. Luckilly we don't see too many of them but probably more than you realise. ;)
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I've been through the same process described above, exactly. One of my RAM sticks failed after about a week of working OK.
My problem was this: the POST indicated that I had a power problem, not that the RAM was not testing OK. (continuous short beeps.) The thing is, that was still the case even when I substituted a known-good PSU. And I ALSO ended up ordering a second board through a different retailer to get it quicker than through RMA.
So either the POST test was malfunctioning or the manual's description of what beeps went with which problems was a misprint. In my judgment this is a more likely conclusion than my getting 2 boards in a row that had the same defect. I'm pretty sure Gigabyte's engineers could duplicate this discrepancy if they've got a bad stick of RAM lying around.
Eventually I confirmed that the (second) board ran OK on the good RAM stick in either slot, so it wasn't a bad slot. This is a simple enough troubleshooting step to perform and avoids jumping to the wrong conclusion.
I've started the RMA process again, this time to replace my OCZ3G1333LV4GK. The only other issue is that CPU-Z is telling me that the board is supplying the 1.65V RAM with only 1.5V. The RAM is described as being optimized for the P55 chipset, but I thought that shouldn't matter.
The PSU I was using was a Thermaltake TR2 430W, the CPU an i3-540, the MoBo a GA-H55M-USB3. I'm using the on-chip video at the moment, so insufficient power is definitely not the problem.
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CPU-z doesn't show ram voltage, what you see in the SPD tab is the programmed JEDEC setting standards is all.
To check actual voltage you need to use Everest Ultimate, HWmonitor, or Easytune. Auto may or may not set 1.65V, you may need to set it yourself if you are not using XMP profiles.
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I fixed this issue after only a little bit of trouble shooting. But wow. When I did fix this issue I was smacking myself in the head for it being so obvious.
I posted it here: http://www.pchelpforum.com/computer-diy/97258-diy-gigabyte-usb3-i5-760-need-help.html
BUT I will repost here for you:
Re: DIY with gigabyte USB3 and i5-760, need help!
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Hey,
I recieved the same issue yesterday for an home office/study PC I am building. But I am at work now, and I have not had enough time to resolve the issue as yet.
Specs:
MotherBoard Intel S1156 H55 Gigabyte GA-H55-USB3 (16GB DDR3 2200/HDMI)
Power Supply 620W Seasonic S12II Bronze
CPU/Processor Intel Clarkdale i5-650 (3.20GHz/4M/32nm/GPU on chip) LGA1156
5.25" DVD Burner/Rw SATA Samsung DVD-SH-S223C 22x
Gaming Case Apache H-21BK
Desktop DDR3 Ram 4GB (2x2048MB) PC12800 1600MHz Elixier M2Y2G64CB8HA9N-DG CL9 (H-S/AM3 & intel S1156, S775)
3.5" HDD SATA-300 1TB
Video Card (ATI) PCI-e 5670 1GB OC Gigabyte GV-R567OC-1GI (785/4000MHz/DDR5)
I recieved the issue and only did a few things to troubleshoot it before I ran out of time.
I tried swapping the PSU with one that works in one of my other PCs: Power Supply 900W Seasonic
Same issue.
And I tried disconnecting the HDD, Graphics card and the CD drive and booting. No luck.
Then I had to go do other things.
After thinking about it for a while I believe that the issue is with one of three things.
1. The case power on/off is faulty (Unlikely)
2. The Mobo is faulty.
Or 3. The Ram/ram sockets are faulty. (Quite likely)
Check that you have appropriate ram, and that the ram is installed correctly. (I.e. The correct sockets. Order usually is: 2,1,4,3 or something similar. (Forget what order this model is)
If you have 2 sticks, try just installing one. Or getting a stick you know that works.
I will probably post again this coming weekend when I get enough time to try this myself.
Let me know how it goes if you try checking the ram.
Cheers,
JR
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Last edited by Aelical; 2 Days Ago at 01:17 PM.
And then later to *************************************FIX THE ISSUE *************************************************
Re: DIY with gigabyte USB3 and i5-760, need help!
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Hey,
Dunno if you are checking this post anymore, but... Fixed it.
Wasn't anything to do with the hardware.
Took apart the tower, and I realised that I stupidly put a screw in with no brass gap screw in. Or whatever you call it. *Facepalm*
Check how you put the MoBo in. Make sure that there are no parts of the board touching the metal case to ground/short it. Make sure you use all of the plastic pins and what not. That will fix your problem.
Or It did for me.
Let us know if it works.
JR
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Motherboard shorts are quite a common occurance and sometimes can take some working out especially if the builder doesn't really want to strip the system down again ;)