Do I need to use ALL Mobo standoffs?

[eddieDOTexe]

So I'm building a computer for a friend and I have a bit of a problem. The computer will freeze after a while and I'd get unexpected halts in MemTest. Once either of these things happen, my next attempt at booting up the PC is stood up by a cold boot giving me 4 long beeps which the motherboard(GA-MA790GP-UD4H) manual shows no record of existing. Eventually the system will boot up again but a freeze will occur after a while.

So I'm confident that this problem lies with either the CPU (AMD Phenom 940) or the Motherboard. I'm leaning toward the CPU. However, this case that I bought for this build did not come with sufficient risers for an ATX board. Only 5 out of 6 risers are available for me to use, and I don't have spares, so I put both risers up top, and bottom, and one in the middle closest to the center. The last hole (no standoff, obviously no screw either) without a standoff is to the west side of the board where the backpanel connections are. It's not touching the case, and far from it, just floating above, but could this one missing standoff be causing the problem?

Thanks in advance! And I'm glad to finally register here after years of simply browsing through on google searches for issues! Even though it may not be due to the greatest cause.

 

[g-unit1111]

A good rule of thumb is to use exactly six - four on the corners, one in the center, and one in either the top or bottom rows. You don't want to use too many more than that or run the risk of damaging your motherboard or getting a stuck screw - I've had both happen and it's not fun believe me.

Something could be interfering with your motherboard as well if it's POSTing and then subsequently freezing.

 

[Unolocogringo]

The stand offs should not be your problem. You can boot and run it on cardboard.
The older AT cases used a couple metal standoffs and the rest were plastic clips.
4 beeps is usually bad memory or bad system timer. But I cant say for sure, I dont know what bios your board runs.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/nonworkingcomponent/ht/beepcodestb.htm

 

[ram1009]

You should use as many standoffs as you have holes for. That's what the holes are there for. The more standoffs the the more support and the less the board can flex. Flexing a circuit board of any type can break circuit traces. This is especially bad with multi layer boards with traces inside that you can't see. A stuck screw (whatever that is) could happen on the first or last screw you use so the only way to avoid it is to don't use any.

 

[eddieDOTexe]

Well, it's Award BIOS so it's something with the memory from the looks of it. And allow me to correct myself and say that I am only using 5 out of 12 screw holes because this case only came with 5 standoffs and the entire east side of the board is just floating over the case. Odd, considering its an ATX case you'd think they'd include all standoffs needed as well as made sure the board panel expanded to an ATX board's width.

Anyway, I have some other ram sticks I'm swapping out to test with this build so we'll see how that goes


EDIT: oh look, I found a bag of plastic standoffs conveniently hidden behind my drive bays..


This is the part where I start feeling stupid, isn't it?

 

[Unolocogringo]

This is where "READ THE MANUAL FIRST" comes into play.

 

[eddieDOTexe]

Well I placed those plastic standoffs on the right side of the board which the panel didn't reach and booted it up with the other ram sticks and I'm running memtest at the moment with no issues. But we'll see how this goes. I'll update if anything. Thanks for the help so far guys.


EDIT: turns out it was bad memory. Got it RMA'd, the replacement came last night and memtest shows no problems as of last night. Thanks a bunch to all of you for your help

 

[eddieDOTexe]

Best answer selected by eddieDOTexe.