Hello forum. Hoping you can help me get this new build going, I’ve been working on it for months without success.
Started with this hardware:
Phantom NZXT Computers Case (not sure if relevant)
CPU – LGA1151 I5-6500
MOBO- MSI Z170A PC MATE (also a Gigabyte H110M-A)
DRAM – 2X Avexir 8GB DDR-2400 (Also 4x G.Skill 4GB DDR-2133)
PS – EVGA 650GS
GFX – XFX RADEON R9 380
HD – Samsung SSD 850 EVO
Now let the saga begin:
Purchased all components right before Christmas. Put everything together, and things started out pretty well. Got POST on first boot up. Began installing windows 8 from a DVD. Here’s where things go south. Not sure if my kids accidentally turned off my PC while I walked off to let it load or if it randomly crashed but the install was corrupted and I was unable to fix it. I tried wiping the SSD using killdisk but I this is where I believe the problem went deeper as after doing that I was unable to get back to installing windows. PC would boot and then randomly restart. Cleared CMOS with no effect. Thought maybe USB flashing the MB BIOS to an update might help, did that and I think it killed the board, so I returned to Amazon for a replacement.
New MB shows up. Install all components except HDD and video card. No POST and LED light for DRAM on MB is lit. Assume somehow RAM has gone faulty. Send for replacement RAM. New RAM shows up. Now the PC will sometimes randomly POST but then reboot or won’t even post at all, still sometimes get DRAM LED lighting up. Check memory compatibility list and turns out this RAM isn’t on there so I order RAM that is (G.Skill 4x 4GB DDR4 2133). Install RAM (FYI Single DIMM only through all of this), same issue. Swap all DIMM’s, same issue. Clear CMOS, same issue.
Order a different MOBO while waiting on support request from MSI. New MOBO is a GIGABYTE H110M-A.
Install CPU, Avexir DRAM and PS. Machine boots to BIOS on first go yay! Or so I think. Install 2nd stick of DRAM, no Post. That’s fine I may need to reset the BIOS auto timings. Take out 2nd stick, and PC boots into BIOS just fine, change settings manually to spec timings for RAM. Now I can’t get machine to POST. Clear CMOS. Won’t POST. Move DRAM took 2nd DIMM slot and it POST’s, now I can reset settings to default. Reset and reboot, and wont’ POST. Swapping out DIMMS and moving RAM in slots has no affect.
And now here I sit typing this in frustration. The more I work on this build the less I seem to accomplish. I suppose I could have a CPU or Power Supply issue, as those are the only things I haven’t replaced yet. Using the included 24-pin tester for the Power Supply indicates it’s working at least, but I don’t have a digital PS tester so it could still be faulty. Not sure how to tell if the problem is the CPU.
Any thoughts before I try and get another Power Supply and CPU sent to me? Appreciate anyone who has suggestions or advice.
THANKS!
Started with this hardware:
Phantom NZXT Computers Case (not sure if relevant)
CPU – LGA1151 I5-6500
MOBO- MSI Z170A PC MATE (also a Gigabyte H110M-A)
DRAM – 2X Avexir 8GB DDR-2400 (Also 4x G.Skill 4GB DDR-2133)
PS – EVGA 650GS
GFX – XFX RADEON R9 380
HD – Samsung SSD 850 EVO
Now let the saga begin:
Purchased all components right before Christmas. Put everything together, and things started out pretty well. Got POST on first boot up. Began installing windows 8 from a DVD. Here’s where things go south. Not sure if my kids accidentally turned off my PC while I walked off to let it load or if it randomly crashed but the install was corrupted and I was unable to fix it. I tried wiping the SSD using killdisk but I this is where I believe the problem went deeper as after doing that I was unable to get back to installing windows. PC would boot and then randomly restart. Cleared CMOS with no effect. Thought maybe USB flashing the MB BIOS to an update might help, did that and I think it killed the board, so I returned to Amazon for a replacement.
New MB shows up. Install all components except HDD and video card. No POST and LED light for DRAM on MB is lit. Assume somehow RAM has gone faulty. Send for replacement RAM. New RAM shows up. Now the PC will sometimes randomly POST but then reboot or won’t even post at all, still sometimes get DRAM LED lighting up. Check memory compatibility list and turns out this RAM isn’t on there so I order RAM that is (G.Skill 4x 4GB DDR4 2133). Install RAM (FYI Single DIMM only through all of this), same issue. Swap all DIMM’s, same issue. Clear CMOS, same issue.
Order a different MOBO while waiting on support request from MSI. New MOBO is a GIGABYTE H110M-A.
Install CPU, Avexir DRAM and PS. Machine boots to BIOS on first go yay! Or so I think. Install 2nd stick of DRAM, no Post. That’s fine I may need to reset the BIOS auto timings. Take out 2nd stick, and PC boots into BIOS just fine, change settings manually to spec timings for RAM. Now I can’t get machine to POST. Clear CMOS. Won’t POST. Move DRAM took 2nd DIMM slot and it POST’s, now I can reset settings to default. Reset and reboot, and wont’ POST. Swapping out DIMMS and moving RAM in slots has no affect.
And now here I sit typing this in frustration. The more I work on this build the less I seem to accomplish. I suppose I could have a CPU or Power Supply issue, as those are the only things I haven’t replaced yet. Using the included 24-pin tester for the Power Supply indicates it’s working at least, but I don’t have a digital PS tester so it could still be faulty. Not sure how to tell if the problem is the CPU.
Any thoughts before I try and get another Power Supply and CPU sent to me? Appreciate anyone who has suggestions or advice.
THANKS!
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