Assembling New Computer

[ARosch]

So I finally got all the parts in for my new computer and began assembling it today, but I cannot get it working. When I press the power button everything starts up and after about a second the cpu fan shuts off and a few seconds later everything else shuts off. The POST State CPU LED comes on red. I took the CPU out and to make sure it was in properly and still had the same result. I looked at the back of the CPU, (never looked at it when I first got it) and this is what it looked like.

It seems a little orangish near the top, is that bad? I am about 95% sure that I installed the CPU properly both times.

Thanks.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Please post the specs on your components.

Do a minimal install OUTSIDE the box on a non conductive surface (I usually use the MB box). Use one stick of ram and make sure it is in the correct slot for that configuration. If you have onboard video try to boot. Do not attach any HDD's or other peripherals yet.

 

[ARosch]

The things I had connected were: i5-3570k, Asus Sabertooth Motherboard, 630w Rosewill PSU, 1.5tb Seagate Harddrive, Asus DVD Drive, 16gb of Corsair Vengeance RAM, and I did not connect my video card. So are you saying connect the PSU, mobo, processor, and one stick of RAM to see what happens?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The things I had connected were: i5-3570k, Asus Sabertooth Motherboard, 630w Rosewill PSU, 1.5tb Seagate Harddrive, Asus DVD Drive, 16gb of Corsair Vengeance RAM, and I did not connect my video card. So are you saying connect the PSU, mobo, processor, and one stick of RAM to see what happens?

Yes but, do it outside the box. We're following a trouble shooting technique called "eliminate and consolidate."

Check your case connectors for proper orientation to pin one. Do not rely on the cable labels. Look for the embossed triangle on each plug. Make sure the one stick of ram is in the correct slot for that configuration. Check the MB manual.

When you took the CPU out to check it, did you clean and reapply thermal compound?

 

[ARosch]

Okay I just tried it with one stick of RAM, the PSU, the CPU, and the CPU Heatsink. Same result, starts for a second then dies with the Red LED.

When I took the CPU out I did not clean or reapply thermal compound. It had not been on there long and looked good to me, lol. Is there anything else I can try? Do I need to call Intel or something?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You need to clean and reapply the thermal compound every time you remove the HSF.
Did you try it outside the box?
Try it with a different stick of ram.
With the CPU red led staying on, it would seem we're down to either the CPU (pretty rare failure rate) or the MB. Other than exhausting all the other possibilities as I've been trying to get you to do, you'll have to try taking your MB and cpu to a computer store for testing unless you have another cpu.

 

[ARosch]

I tried with other sticks of RAM and I tried outside of the box. I will try with new thermal compound, but is using old thermal compound enough to stop the system from starting up?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I tried with other sticks of RAM and I tried outside of the box. I will try with new thermal compound, but is using old thermal compound enough to stop the system from starting up?

Some chips get hot VERY quickly and could cause the CPU to shut down. You may indeed have a case of the CPU being bad but, it is very rare. Without having another cpu to test with or, a friend to borrow from, you'll have to try taking the MB and cpu to a computer store for testing.

 

[ARosch]

Alright thank you for the help. I am going to try and find a computer store where I can test my stuff. If not, I will try and return the processor to Microcenter for a new one.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Alright thank you for the help. I am going to try and find a computer store where I can test my stuff. If not, I will try and return the processor to Microcenter for a new one.

As far as receiving components that are bad out of the box, it is far more likely the MB is bad than the cpu.

 

[futurefields]

Very keen to hear how this works out, I am doing my first build this week I'm looking forward to all kinds of stuff going wrong.

Keep us informed!!!

 

[HeXen]

DOA Mobo. Not CPU
Had this exact issue happen to me a couple times before and have seen it among friends as well. Although never with an higher end Asus though.

 

[ARosch]

Very keen to hear how this works out, I am doing my first build this week I'm looking forward to all kinds of stuff going wrong.

Keep us informed!!!

I will do my best to let you know how things work out.

Darkvision, are you suggesting that I just send my MOBO back to Microcenter and try to exchange it? I do not live close to any of their stores sadly.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I will do my best to let you know how things work out.

Darkvision, are you suggesting that I just send my MOBO back to Microcenter and try to exchange it? I do not live close to any of their stores sadly.

Test it first. Darkvision doesn't "know," it's his opinion. You can rma the mb but, if they test it without issue, they'll just send it back or, another refurbished board. It's my opinion that it would be faster and fairly cheap to take it to a local computer shop (not BB pr other box store) to have them test the mb.

 

[futurefields]

Man that sucks.

So if you buy a new motherboard and happen to get a bad one, then the best they do is replace it with a refurb?

That would seriously make me unhappy about my new computer build. Like, it would borderline ruin my confidence in the entire system.

Why don't they just do the right thing and send you a new motherboard?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Man that sucks.

So if you buy a new motherboard and happen to get a bad one, then the best they do is replace it with a refurb?

That would seriously make me unhappy about my new computer build. Like, it would borderline ruin my confidence in the entire system.

Why don't they just do the right thing and send you a new motherboard?

Money. Most, if not all, mb manufacturers don't care about customer service after they have your money. However, a number of resellers do care and will replace your mb with a new one. That's why folks tend to be very opinionated about who they regularly buy from.

So, that's something else to think about rather than just searching for the lowest price. Of course if problems occur after the resellers warranty, you're back to dealing with the manufacturer. Did I mention the mb manufacturers don't care?

 

[HeXen]

Darkvision, are you suggesting that I just send my MOBO back to Microcenter and try to exchange it? I do not live close to any of their stores sadly.

usually costs $25 to RMA for shipping and to fill out a RMA form. kinda a pain really. But DOA mobo's are fairly common, you see them constantly in the Newegg reviews as well from customers complaining how they had to send it back..blah, blah.
A shop would probably charge you $80 just to check it but i suggest checking into it first.

If the CPU doesn't look right, i can't really tell from the pic. i would say its rare but always possible. If you can get a replacement CPU faster then do it first. A mobo RMA takes a while...i think 2 weeks minimum but last time i did it seemed longer than that.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

usually costs $25 to RMA for shipping and to fill out a RMA form. kinda a pain really. But DOA mobo's are fairly common, you see them constantly in the Newegg reviews as well from customers complaining how they had to send it back..blah, blah.
A shop would probably charge you $80 just to check it but i suggest checking into it first.

If the CPU doesn't look right, i can't really tell from the pic. i would say its rare but always possible. If you can get a replacement CPU faster then do it first. A mobo RMA takes a while...i think 2 weeks minimum but last time i did it seemed longer than that.

It costs $15 to test a mb around here, your location may vary.

OP, there is another possibility that your mb shipped with an earlier BIOS than one that supports the i5-3570k. By taking it to a local shop for testing, they can also update the BIOS.

 

[ARosch]

It costs $15 to test a mb around here, your location may vary.

OP, there is another possibility that your mb shipped with an earlier BIOS than one that supports the i5-3570k. By taking it to a local shop for testing, they can also update the BIOS.

Is there any possible way to check my BIOS or is that something I need to have done at the repair store?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Is there any possible way to check my BIOS or is that something I need to have done at the repair store?

You can't check the BIOS without getting it to boot. You may be able to check the manufacturing date on your mb pcb sticker or, box info and check that against release dates for new BIOS versions but, best bet is to have them do it at the computer shop if they can get it to boot.

 

[ARosch]

So I just read the box as I was packing it up and found something interesting. Its called USB BIOS Flashback. It says that I can just plug in a USB flash drive containing the BIOS file with only standby power. I will try this out soon and let you know if it helps out or not.

 

[ARosch]

So far I have not had any luck getting the BIOS update working. I don't know what to name the file, and I don't know how to save to the root directory of a flash drive. I think the file needs to be named SABERZ77.ROM and I can save it anywhere on the flash drive as long as it is formatted to FAT 32, but I have had no luck getting it to update. Any help?

Edit: Called Asus customer support for help with the flashback. The operator barely spoke enlgish, barely knew what I was talking about, and what he said to do did not work at all. Yay.

 

[HeXen]

did you read this?

Do not unplug the portable storage device, power the system down, or press the CLR_CMOS button while BIOS updating is ongoing, or the update will be interrupted. In case of interruption, follow the recommended procedures again to complete the BIOS update.
If the light flashes for five seconds and turns stable, USB BIOS Flashback is not operating properly. This may be caused by improper installation of the portable storage device, an error in the file name, or incompatibility in file formats. If this is the case, restart the system until the light clears, and check the file name and format.
BIOS updates may affect a PC in various ways. Should any issues with the BIOS arise as a result or your system is unable to boot, please contact your local ASUS support center for further assistance.

On my Maximus board, it says i need to press the bios flashback button down for like 3 seconds or something.

Make sure its in the white USB port.

From what i've seen on the sabertooth, it should be named SABERX79.ROM. but maybe yours is different. *edit: nvm. x79 is a different chipset. so saberz77.rom should be right.
It should go directly on the usb stick with no folders or nothing...thats root.

hope that helps

 

[d3fu5i0n]

So far I have not had any luck getting the BIOS update working. I don't know what to name the file, and I don't know how to save to the root directory of a flash drive. I think the file needs to be named SABERZ77.ROM and I can save it anywhere on the flash drive as long as it is formatted to FAT 32, but I have had no luck getting it to update. Any help?

Edit: Called Asus customer support for help with the flashback. The operator barely spoke enlgish, barely knew what I was talking about, and what he said to do did not work at all. Yay.

The Z77 boards should be supporting IVB chips on their release BIOS. I honestly don't know what the issue is.

Could you possibly do a professional complaint [polite attitude and being kind, etc., etc.] over the phone to explain that you are very disappointed and wish to have a replacement.
You could then say that if there were to be any charges, that you feel that they would be unfair due to what seems to be unresolvable. If they say that they would need to charge, be a little more persistent and say that you don't think that is fair, when a product is more-or-less unoperable upon arrival - and if you really feel like it, explain that if they don't seem to want to do a replacement for free, that it is one way for you to weaken your trust with their business where [reverse it] the service isn't being provided for the customer.

This is a quick 'scratch-up' of what I may do; but this isn't entirely how I would say things and you must be careful in order to be effective.

I wish you the best of luck in dealing with this.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

did you read this?



On my Maximus board, it says i need to press the bios flashback button down for like 3 seconds or something.

Make sure its in the white USB port.

From what i've seen on the sabertooth, it should be named SABERX79.ROM. but maybe yours is different. It should go directly on the usb stick with no folders or nothing...thats root.

hope that helps

He didn't state the model of Sabertooth specifically - but he has a 3570K, so he has a Z77 board and not an X79 board.