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Help with First Build

burninatortech4

burninatortech4

Senior member
I've just commenced my first custom build and the results so far are not encouraging 😳

Here is the build

CPU: AMD Athlon 760k
Motherboard: Gigabyte F2A88XN-WIFI (Rev 3.0)
RAM: 2 x 4gb AMD Radeon Memory 2133mhz
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro Series SSD 256gb
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon R7 260x (Rev. 2.0)
Cooler: Corsair H80i
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Black
PSU: Seasonic 650 watt 140mm depth
Monitor: Benq 24in 1ms Gaming Monitor

I did plenty of research before buying the build and assumed it would go together nicely. That has not been the case at all. I did the initial setup in the Node 304 to get a feel of how to utilize the limited space. Ignoring the fact that the H80i doesn't really fit in the Node 304 (it sort of does on it's side and with only one fan pulling) the freaking POS doesn't even post when I put it all together.

I just took it apart and started again but this time on top of the motherboard box. I installed the CPU, the RAM, the stock cooler, the graphics card, and the 24 pin, and CPU supplemental power plugs into the PSU (sitting on the side). I shorted the two red pins to get the board to startup. The GPU and the AMD stock cooler spin up fine. However, I get no video output to my monitor and am unable to access the bios. I don't have a mobo mic so I can't hear the post beep (even if there was one?)

Attached are photos of the workbench and the build as it exists so far. Let me know if there is any glaring issue that I'm not seeing because it's right infront of my face or if its something more complicated. I made sure to ground myself throughout the build process. Maybe the Motherboard is DOA. I don't know. This may be a fools errand since I'm sure its hard to diagnose hardware issues from cellphone photographs :$ My only recourse is to call a PC tech dude and get him to tell me whats broken so I can send it back to Newegg (Hopefully I don't have to go that far)

Thanks

qL2MtTo
http://imgur.com/qL2MtTo

http://imgur.com/zdGHCRD

http://imgur.com/G5X8Mjv

http://imgur.com/XFkEGDq

http://imgur.com/j9Ayxke
zdGHCRD

G5X8Mjv

XFkEGDq

j9Ayxke
 
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Hmm, well the assembly looks good. I see that the mb 12v connector, the GPU power connector, and the CPU fan connector are hooked up correctly. Your CPU is supported from the original BIOS.

Have you tried a clear CMOS yet?

If that doesn't do anything, is there a switch on the board where you can manually switch to the backup BIOS?

The only other thing I can think of (outside a bad piece of hardware) is that I don't see your RAM listed on Gigabyte's compatibility page. Now that doesn't mean it won't work, just that they haven't tested it.
 
Maybe try it with one stick of RAM and no video card, just to eliminate as much as you can. It has on board video.
 
Have you also tried to remove the video card, power down, reset the CMOS, then try to boot using the monitor hooked to the integrated graphics?

Not having a motherboard piezo speaker can be major problem when assembling a system -- troubleshooting often depends upon one, yet the manufacturers are too cheap to spend another 10 cents to provide one. Go figure.

EDIT: What is the specific model number of the AMD DRAM modules you are using? There is only one 2133MHz module from AMD in the memory compatibility list, module part# AG34G2130U1.
 
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chemwiz said:
Maybe try it with one stick of RAM and no video card, just to eliminate as much as you can. It has on board video.
Click to expand...

The 760k does not have integrated video. Hence the 260x plugged in.

I've been too busy with work to really troubleshoot this so I hired a PC tech dude where I live. Hopefully he can solve the issue.
 
ketchup79 said:
Have you tried a clear CMOS yet?
Click to expand...

Clearing the CMOS did not fix the issue. The only change I noticed is that the CPU fan would spin up and down consistently every 5 seconds or so. Before I cleared the CMOS it was running at an even low RPM.

I was able to get a local technician to look at it and he determined that it was either the CPU or the motherboard. He didn't have FM2 related AMD parts to figure out which one it was. Since I figured it's much more likely a DOA motherboard (CPU has no bent pins) I went ahead and RMA'ed that.

My worry is that when I get the new motherboard it still won't post. In that case it's either a second DOA mobo or my processor is DOA and I RMA'ed a perfectly fine motherboard.

Any advice?
 
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Sounds like you are doing everything right to this point. In my experience, the motherboard is far more likely to be defective than is the processor. The only other thing I'd suggest, if you plan to build your own in the future, is to buy a cheapo piezo motherboard speaker to drop in your toolkit.

One question I asked earlier was whether the Radeon memory modules you are using are on the memory QVL list for your motherboard. I was looking at the list, and it only shows one compatible 2133 MHz 4GB Radeon module.
 
It was a DOA motherboard. I did everything the same as the first time with the new motherboard and it booted to BIOS no problem.

:biggrin:
 
I'm also noticing some sensor and temperature issues.

http://imgur.com/pRTtRyt


The processor seems to be idling around 50C. Is that normal? It seems a little high. It also peaks around 90C under full load. Is that normal as well? My cooling solution is a h80i (only 1 fan though) and MX-4 TIM. 😕
 
burninatortech4 said:
I'm also noticing some sensor and temperature issues.

http://imgur.com/pRTtRyt


The processor seems to be idling around 50C. Is that normal? It seems a little high. It also peaks around 90C under full load. Is that normal as well? My cooling solution is a h80i (only 1 fan though) and MX-4 TIM. 😕
Click to expand...

I had a thread (as well as others) about this in the past years. AMD temp monitoring is terrible. IIRC it's how they calculate the temperature, they don't give it directly like the Intel chips do, or something of that nature.

I also remember a member found a program that did show what seemed to be the correct temps, but I don't recall which on it was.
 
ketchup79 said:
I had a thread (as well as others) about this in the past years. AMD temp monitoring is terrible. IIRC it's how they calculate the temperature, they don't give it directly like the Intel chips do, or something of that nature.

I also remember a member found a program that did show what seemed to be the correct temps, but I don't recall which on it was.
Click to expand...

Is AMD over or under reporting temps? Was there any overall consensus from those past threads or are temps all over the place?
 
burninatortech4 said:
Thanks for the link.

Any idea what's going on with the RAM speed rating issue? 😕
Click to expand...

Yep, just the rating game. CPU-Z is telling you the raw numbers. The BIOS you is giving you the numbers the RAM module is programmed to tell you it has (that may not be exactly the right definition, but I believe it is close.)

IIRC, DDR I had a base transfer speed based on the clock speed. DDR II dims had about twice the transfer speed of DDR per clock speed, so they doubled the 'rated' speed numbers. Then DDR III did the same thing with DDR II.

So, as I said above, the CPU-Z number is giving you the actual speed, which is probably not actually listed anywhere on the modules.
 
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ketchup79 said:
Found it, which has a link to another thread on the subject:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2336126&highlight=
Click to expand...

So the gist of that thread is there's no solid way to get accurate temps with AMD procs?

My 760k, even water cooled, is running way too hot. 45-55 C on startup (cold start in the morning) without ANY apps loaded or any load whatsoever. When I put any load on it it jumps into the 60-70C range. Gaming it sometimes reaches 90C.

I just reseated the h80i and my proc, applied new thermal paste (the old stuff had a good spread), and nothing's changed.

Are these temps 1) Totally inaccurate and I have nothing to worry about? (The air venting from the radiator is not 'hot' even while the 90C is being registered by HWMonitor while gaming). 2) Accurate and I got a shitty processor 3) AMD's temps are just high and I have to live with it.:'(
 
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