First Build - Many Problems w/ Motherboard and/or components

contrasports

Prominent
Mar 26, 2017
8
0
510
First, thanks to all the posters in this forum. I've read hundreds of posts in the last few days while trying to troubleshoot my new PC build. I haven't solved the problem yet, but I've learned a lot quickly. Thank you.

That said, this process has been extremely frustrating, so thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.

Here are the parts, all brand new aside from the SSD which was purchased 2 weeks ago and used briefly in a laptop.

Intel Core i5-6600 3.3GHz
Gigabyte GA-7170X-Gaming 7 ATX LGA 1151 Rev 1.0
G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32 GB (2x16)
Samsung 850 EVO-Seriew 500 GB 25" SSD
EVGA GeFroce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB SC Gaming Card
Fractal R5 ATX Mid Tower Case
Corsair RMx 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX PSU
Pioneer BDR-209DBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer


I'll try to be as brief as possible, while attempting to be complete. Apologies for any omissions/etc. I've been working on this for 24 hours over the past 3 days.

Also, I have read the ~20-part FAQ (many times).

Upon the initial build, system wouldn't post. The red power button on the motherboard lit, but that was it. After breadboarding and a lot of other attempts at various set ups, including minimal set ups like PSU+Mobo+etc and removing peripheral stuff, I decided the Mobo was bad. I bought another one (identical), and breadboarded and it powered up, though didn't post. Progress.

At this point I have been able to install Win10 (tried Win7 but then read about various Gigabyte issues w/ that so just bit the bullet and am switching to Win10.. fine.). Here are the various problems/symptoms I still have:

1) The system will generally not "reboot." I have to shut it down and flip PSU switch to get it to boot again. If I try to turn it off/on quickly (or a regular reboot, it typically goes to Error Code c0.

2) I cannot use both RAM sticks. I have tried various combos in the two slots (including the recommended Dual set-up), and with both in the system won't post. It cycles on and off, various error codes, then shutting down. (This post seems quite similar: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2153349/beast-boot-error.html)

2a) Everything I have been able to do with this build is using 1 ram stick in Slot 1 (furthest from CPU). Both sticks work fine individually, but as a pair they do not.

3) I cannot post (I think? at least no video using the i/o or the card DP slots) while using the GPU/Video Card. The Error Code 55 comes up most often when doing this, but I believe I have seen others as well.

4) The Optical Drive seems to have no power. I tried switching cables and PSU ports w/ known good ones, and still nothing. The drive only has the SATA connection, and the power to the daisy-chained L-looking power to Type4 in the PSU cord, so it seems like this is relatively simple?

5) Due to #4, I can't use the Gigabyte Driver CD. I have installed the GIgabyte Networking driver via USB from another computer, and am successfully online. I have then tried windows update (computer crashed at 98% complete and Error c0). I also tried to download Gigabyte Drivers, and a similar result occurred, Error Code c0.

6) I was able to re-flash BIOS (correct term?) using USB. I believe it is now BIOS Version: F21, 3/6/17, which matches what I should be using I think: http://uk.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z170X-Gaming-7-rev-10#support-dl-bios

7) Installed Windows 10 Pro 64bit, after deleting all partitions on SSD and creating a new one for this install (per instructions elsewhere on forum regarding GPT v MBR). (Side note: is there any possibility the SSD was "damaged" by being used in a different computer before?)

8) BSOD's I've seen: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL; KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

9) I believe I am suppose to use the XMP mode as set in BIOS, but am not sure if this makes a difference? Also not sure if this is in Memory Settings, or the one in (I think) Frequency Settings (or maybe somewhere else.. I know two places to choose XMP in BIOS).

10) After a recent crash, the Computer remains "off" with Error Code c0. When I restart, Windows Repair starts, but crashes before anything really happens, with Error Code 96 (Assign PCI device resources).

UPDATE:
11) After removing the mobo battery for a bit, and reinserting it, I booted and got a very fast spinning CPU fan, and Error Code 70. Machine did not post. I pulled the power, and started again, and it seemed to post but then monitor blank and Error Code c0 again.

12) This seems to be the norm now: I started the computer up, got to the Windows splash screen, and the monitor lost signal (entering power save mode). However, the CPU fan still going strong, as are the case fans. The computer appears on. I/o is lit. Error Code: c0.


Thank you for reading this, and thanks especially for any direction you can offer.
 
Solution
As far as I know Control Panel/System/Installed Memory only shows the amount of RAM installed, not the frequency that it is running at (at least for me using Windows 8.1 Pro). That is why I suggested CPU-Z, plus it is a nice utility to have to identify other components. GPU-Z is another good utility as is MSI Afterburner, which will allow you to set up fan speed profiles for your GPU, increasing the fan speed as the temperature rises. It is not very intuitive as to setting up the fan profiles, but I figured it out just by messing around. Perhaps there is a guide out there somewhere.

You can also set up fan speed profiles for your CPU cooler. I am on an AMD system so I am using AMD Overdrive, but I am sure there is a similar...
Dont know if it'll make a diff. But did you flash the right BIOS for the revision of the mobo??

Since there's a rev 1 and 1.1 for this mobo? Where did the windows install come from?

Possible the ssd maybe damaged, but if you did a clean install on this, it shouldnt create probs.

Error 55 maybe a ram prob. 50~55 Memory initialization error occurs

Make sure its in properly. Or if there's more than 1 stick, try one stick at a time






 

contrasports

Prominent
Mar 26, 2017
8
0
510
Thank you for your reply.

BIOS Flash: I have rev 1.0, and per this site (http://uk.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z170X-Gaming-7-rev-10#support-dl-bios) I think I did this correctly. Flash 21.

Windows Install: used my laptop to create bootable USB.

I am running off of ONLY one stick in the first slot (furthest from CPU). I have tried all combos of 2 sticks and I'm not getting anything. I have only been able to POST and more off of one stick. I have tried both sticks individually, and both work.
 
if you used the mediacreation tool to put the iso on a flash drive I would try rufus. http://rufus.akeo.ie/

See if it does the same thing. Put the flash drive in. If you want anything on it copy it. Because rufus will format it

If the mobo has a UEFUI BIOS select GPT, if t doesnt select MBR. Add ISO then start

I dont think the tool works properly with flash drives
 

contrasports

Prominent
Mar 26, 2017
8
0
510
Thank again for the Rufus suggestion. The site came back online earlier this AM, so I attempted a clean install after deleting and re-partitioning the SSD. The install went fine, then the PC rebooted (as it should) upon completion. It posted, and the Gigabyte Logo was on the screen along with "Getting Device Ready xx%" and then "Getting Ready". Then the Monitor displayed "power save mode" (i.e., no signal?), and the Error Code c0 is present. The fans are all going -- the CPU fan is going quite strong where it is very audible. I believe ths PC would stay like this forever if I don't pull the power.

:(

Many many hours and $$s in and I am quite lost here....
 

contrasports

Prominent
Mar 26, 2017
8
0
510
SPecific Ram: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 Memory

Friend of mine used same combo of parts and RAM and is up and running.

Have not tried LINUX. I know nothing about that, but can probably try that too.
 
I was unable to get into Gigabyte's website for some reason, but came across this thread:

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=16715.0

Basically it is saying that although the higher frequency (speed) RAM is supported, it must be overclocked to be supported. I don't know if enabling XMP is enough or whether you would have to manually adjust some of the RAM settings in the BIOS.

LINUX is just an operating system that you boot to from a USB flash drive or DVD, instead of booting into Windows. There are free versions of LINUX all over the place. I don't want to recommend a specific site, since I have had my version on a DVD for many years and am not current on the best ones. Someone else here on Tom's probably can recommend one.
 

contrasports

Prominent
Mar 26, 2017
8
0
510


I'll take a closer look at this, thank you. Question related to this.. does the CPU I am using cause any problem as it is the 6600 (and not the unlocked 6600k)?
 
Good question. I am not entirely sure. I have seen some threads where people have had to overclock the cpu to get the higher frequency RAM to work properly, but I don't want to give out mis-information. I didn't read through the entire thread I linked to, but if you are still having problems I can re-visit the thread in a couple of hours when I get back to my house.
 

contrasports

Prominent
Mar 26, 2017
8
0
510
Thanks for those who have offered help. A big update:

1) I picked up a new CPU. I tried to get the same one, but instead could only get an if-6600K 3.5GHz (previous was 6600 3.3GHz). I don't think the model solved the problem(?), but when I installed it most things immediately worked. Also got a cooler w/ this, which I didn't have before (aside from the stock intel fan).

2) The "Error Code" c0 does not appear to be an error of any kind. My mobo displays this all the time, even now as I type this, and there seems to be no problem.

3) Both RAM sticks are in. I changed the two BIOS settings to XMP, and the System properties show 32.0 installed.

4) The GeForce GTX 1060 was still problematic, but the problem now was that using a DisplayPort (at the card) to a mini DisplayPort (at the monitor) wasn't workable, until all drivers were installed. HDMI-->HDMI worked fine, and DP->mDP from the I/o worked fine.

5) BIOS F21 working fine.

6) Installed Win10 Home (via Rufus). All good here.

Ongoing "problems"

1) Gigabyte Drivers won't download. I get an error message saying something like "target device not found". I googled a bit and see other people have come across this. I'm not sure I need any of the specific drivers, so I'll leave this alone for now.

2) Optical drive still does not work. I am assuming it is just DOA. I will have it replaced and see if this solves the problem.

TL;DR: New Build Works. All errors seem to have stemmed from three DOA parts that I received (mobo, cpu, optical drive). Here is the final build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/P3M3M8
 
Looks like you have made some pretty good progress! It could be that the Integrated Memory Controller in the old 6600 was bad. You should be happier with the 6600K, which will allow you to overclock the CPU if you wish. Odd that you received that many DOA parts, but it happens. What frequency is the RAM running at? Use CPU-Z to tell you, but multiply the reported result by 2 (Double Data Rate).
 

contrasports

Prominent
Mar 26, 2017
8
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510
DOA parts particularly frustrating b/c as a first time builder I woulda bet the problems I was having was some error on my end. Had I had more experience at this, I probably would have more confidently switched out the parts a few dozen hours earlier in this process. These were all shipped in the same box, so perhaps the UPS driver ran over my box 2 or 3 times, or something....

Just downloaded CPU-Z: CPU-Z / Memory / Timings / DRAM Frequency: 1600 MHz (+/- .8 MHz)

So, times 2 = ~3200, which I imagine is what I want?

Also, when I checked Control Panel / System / Installed Memory (via Windows), it shows 32.0 GB. Curious if this info is not in itself adequate, which is why you suggested CPU-Z to confirm?

Thanks!
 
As far as I know Control Panel/System/Installed Memory only shows the amount of RAM installed, not the frequency that it is running at (at least for me using Windows 8.1 Pro). That is why I suggested CPU-Z, plus it is a nice utility to have to identify other components. GPU-Z is another good utility as is MSI Afterburner, which will allow you to set up fan speed profiles for your GPU, increasing the fan speed as the temperature rises. It is not very intuitive as to setting up the fan profiles, but I figured it out just by messing around. Perhaps there is a guide out there somewhere.

You can also set up fan speed profiles for your CPU cooler. I am on an AMD system so I am using AMD Overdrive, but I am sure there is a similar utility for Intel systems.
 
Solution