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Suspected faulty Z87 motherboard

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  • Motherboards
Last response: in Motherboards
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June 14, 2013 10:41:06 PM

Just upgrading my old workhorse with a new Mobo, Ram, and CPU. Using existing Video card/SSD/HDD etc. but they have become irrelevant as they are no longer connected while trying to identify this fault.

System Specs are:

-i7 4770K
-MSI Z87M-G43
-G Skill Ripjaw 2 x 8Gb 1600
-Noctua NH-L12 Fan

I have tried two power supplies, one of which was happily running the previous mobo/ram/cpu combo an hour ago and did when I reconnected to prove the existing PSU. And one that was happily running my HTPC 5 minutes ago.

The problem is the PSU and CPU fan kick off and stop almost immediately. No LED's, nothing

I have tried obviously two PSU's, tried the stock fan that came with the new CPU, one stick of ram removed and pulled the whole mobo out of the case. No noticeable tracking or anything to signify a short


I'm pretty confident it's a faulty mobo but thought I would put it out there to see if anyone else has had similar symptoms. with other faults.

More about : suspected faulty z87 motherboard

a c 134 V Motherboard
June 14, 2013 11:47:38 PM

I also think that you got a faulty mobo. But what PSU was that, and how was your old system, to be specific?
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June 15, 2013 10:09:39 PM

Its a Coolmaster GX750W PSU, Since having it recommended to me I have later read a lot of bad press about them but it was working fine on my old i7-920 setup,

I have since got it working, seemed to be a loose plug or something but I stripped it down and re built it and it has done the trick. Now I have 16Gb of RAM that windows is telling 2Gb is usable.

I forgot how frustrating building can be.
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a c 1798 V Motherboard
June 15, 2013 10:32:44 PM

Getting it running is a start, might next want to make sure you have the latest BIOS. Is the DRAM 4x4GB or 2x8GB, especially if 2x8GB again may be BIOS - what set of sticks....Whole thing is sounding like mobo or PSU...might check the CPU install, start with seeing how the cooler feels, sounds weird I know but if tightened down to hard can mess up the CPU and it's connections and many tighten the coolers down a lot, see if any of that helps and get back
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June 15, 2013 11:14:07 PM

RAM is G-Skill Ripjaw 2x8Gb 1600

I might have a look at BIOS update
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a c 1798 V Motherboard
June 15, 2013 11:19:06 PM

That would be a good idea, and even if ther is a newer one, MSI isn't known for having their BIOS DRAM setups very good, so might take a look in the advanced timings, a 2x8 set will want a tRFC of about 208...on the CPU heatsink might loosen it a bit, snug but not overly tight. These things might help, I always try and eliminate all the possibles before having to go through the RMA process
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June 16, 2013 1:06:03 AM

So I've updated the Bios, refixed the heatsink, memtested the RAM, removed all drives except the SSD and USB with Win8 Boot on it and I have narrowed it down to a shot SSD.

I have installed windows, it's gone to restart after install and goes to a quick BSOD before restarting itself and reverting back to the first setup screen. If I go through the installer again the SSD has disappeared from the drive list. It appears as though the SSD is super unstable for some reason, tried it in different SATA ports with different leads and still nothing.
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a c 134 V Motherboard
June 16, 2013 2:36:27 AM

If that SSD works normally on another system, then it's definitely your board that's broken.
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June 16, 2013 4:48:22 AM

It worked perfectly fine before I upgraded my mobo etc so its a possibility, I'll do a chkdsk scan and reformat the drive with another PC and see if it clears. Seems strange I managed to get to the end of the install process and I can access BIOS etc no problem, would there be any other signs of a faulty mobo or a diagnostic tool I can use to check it?
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a c 134 V Motherboard
June 16, 2013 5:10:58 AM

All tests pointed back to your motherboard as the faulty one. I don't think you need to do more tests. Better send the board back for warranty.
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a c 1798 V Motherboard
June 16, 2013 8:18:31 AM

Also check that it has the correct drivers and are st to AHCI if that's how it was set up originally, or if set in IDE, make sure in IDE mode
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June 16, 2013 3:54:04 PM

So I got up this morning and thought I'd just turn the system on in some last ditched hope that it fixed itself, and it went straight to the user setup screen...

I installed the chipset drivers and its all working fine, restarted couple of time no problem.

I just did a windows experience check to see if things were about where they should be and the SSD is reading a little lower than I'd expect (6.7) but all in all its seems fixed...
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a c 1798 V Motherboard
June 16, 2013 5:31:17 PM

Well that sounds good, glad to hear
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a c 134 V Motherboard
June 16, 2013 7:57:10 PM

Such a weird situation. Glad it works now.
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a c 1798 V Motherboard
June 16, 2013 7:58:54 PM

Tell the gremlin that visited to stick around :) 
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!