Gigabyte EX58-Extreme Not Posting

I'm just putting together a new system which consists of a Gigabyte Ex58-Extreme, an Intel Boxed Core I7 950, an OCZ triple channel 6 GB memory kit (OCZ3X1600LV6GK), for the purposes of just getting the system to post I'm using a basic EVGA Geforce 7200GS (I have a GeForce 9800GT which I'll swap in latter when I can get the system working) and an OCZ 850watt PSU (OCZ850GXSSLI).

Over the years I've built plenty of systems including at least 10 LGA775 systems so this is not my first system and I've dealt with initial problems before but this has me stumped.

Following all instructions in both the Gigabyte manual and the Intel processor booklet, I mounted the CPU and heatsink, memory (OCZ3X1600LV6GK) and video card. Then attached the power supply (OCZ850GXSSLI) both 24 pin ATX and the 4/8 12v connectors then with no other peripherals attached I attempted to power the system to make sure that it would post before completing the installation. First, I get no video and when the LED status reaches 6F I hear a series of very fast consecutive beeps and then the LED appears to start the post sequence all over and when it reaches the same point, gives that same fast consecutive series of beeps again.

Initially I was using a Coolermaster heatsink but in case the backing plate was shorting something I swapped it for the stock Intel heatsink but got the same results.

I've tried using only one stick of memory and swapping the single stick with one of the other two but still the exact same problem.

Has anyone ever run something like this before and have an idea what the problem here is?

Thanks,

- Norm

New computer won't POST
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/foru [...] _13_0.html
may help.

Okay, I tried the cmos reset and that didn't work and I've done enough repair work in my time that I have a PSU tester and it tests good and the video card is also good. So I'm down to either the CPU or motherboard and I'll bet that I've got a defective motherboard so it looks like I'm going to have to get Gigabyte to RMA this.

Thanks,

- Norm

You are SUPPOSED to use the white banks. The blue ones are for when you want to use 6 sticks. It explains the set up somewhere in the manual. They are labeled strange (from left to right) 3_2, 3_1, 3_4, 3_3, 3_6, 3_5

You should be using 3_1 if you are using one stick, 3_1 & 3_3 if you have two sticks and 3_1, 3_3, 3_5 for 3 sticks. The blue banks won't work on their own.

Single sticks should, indeed, work in any slot - this is how you verify that the slots themselves are actually good; and three sticks should work in either bank - doesn't matter to the link...

Let's try taking a look inside your BIOS - I'm about half-way through reading my fifty megabyte of Intel tech specs and documentation for the i7/x58; maybe I've learned enough to help. I have to get a number of things opened up, and I'll get back with a preliminary inquiry...

Bill

Honestly I'm not sure, this was exactly my problem: Any single stick worked in any of the white memory slots labeled DDR3_1, DDR3_3 or DDR3_5 which is supposed to be bank one. No single stick worked in any of the blue slots labeled DDR3_2, DDR3_4 or DDR3_6 which is bank two. The symptoms of any single stick in any slot of bank two were what I mentioned, no video and a continuous beeping on the status 6F of the LED statis readout.

There is a tiny note in fine print on the bottom of page 17 that says "If only one DDR3 memory module is installed, be sure to install it in the DDR3_1 or DDR3_3". And CriagH seems to be of the opinion "You are SUPPOSED to use the white banks. The blue ones are for when you want to use 6 sticks. It explains the set up somewhere in the manual. They are labeled strange (from left to right) 3_2, 3_1, 3_4, 3_3, 3_6, 3_5. You should be using 3_1 if you are using one stick, 3_1 & 3_3 if you have two sticks and 3_1, 3_3, 3_5 for 3 sticks. The blue banks won't work on their own." while BillBat seems to think that "Single sticks should, indeed, work in any slot - this is how you verify that the slots themselves are actually good; and three sticks should work in either bank - doesn't matter to the link...".

Then I have the rather lame response from Gigabyte Technical Support (I kid you not, this was their one line reply to my message) "Please examine the memory, test with single module and test on all the slots". This could mean any number if things but you could take this to support BillBat's opinion that a single stick should work in any slot.

But between the possible problem with the blue memory slots and the seemingly overheating of the cpu while idling in the cmos setup, I really didn't want to take any chances so while the board is under warranty I figured I should rma it and hopefully get a replacement.

- Norm