I have a mystifying issue here.
Here are my computer specs:
Asus P8Z77 - V Pro
Intel i7 3770k (OC to 4.2ghz, temperatures never rose above ~62C)
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670
ADATA S510 series 120G SSD
16G (4x4) Corsair Vengeance (CML16GX3M4X1600C8) RAM
Diablotek 775W PSU
All purchased just over a year ago. All from Newegg.
I apologize for the length, I will quickly summarize my problem in this first section, feel free to go into the written out post below for more information. Thanks!
TLDR:
-Been using computer with above specs for over a year with no problems.
-Replaced EVGA Superclock cooler with Cooler Master Seidon 120M liquid cooler. Did not touch or remove any other components during the CPU cooler swap.
- Have built a decent number of computers over the years, have done partial maintenance on many as well.
-Try to start up computer, DRAM_LED light comes on, MEM OK test fails, computer will not POST.
-Technically corsair is not on QVL Bought 2GB Kingston memory that is on QVL tried it in DIMM A2 (manual preferred slot), still fails DRAM_LED and MEM OK.
-By trying every configuration have found that any stick of RAM will "work" (DRAM_LED won't come on and will sometimes POST) if only one stick is placed in DIMM_B1.
-Sometimes will POST other times VGA_LED light will come on. If bypass VGA_LED, BOOT_DEVICE_LED will come on but will still POST and get 1 short (everything OK) motherboard beep.
-In BIOS everything is recognized and "working."
-Booting to SSD have option to "Start up repair" and "Start windows normally"
Start normally: Windows logo flashes momentarily screen goes black, computer reboots, refuses to POST until hard reset (often the VGA_LED will throw after the restart)
Start up repair: loads windows files and then BSODs every time, varying errors (0x0000007f, 0x000000c4, among many others).
-Cannot get farther than this, I am thinking it is the PSU or MB.
-This coming Wednesday will have another PSU and PSU checker.
-Anyone have any ideas or insight on how to further troubleshoot or some guidance?
Other notes:
-Have rebuilt computer from ground up multiple times to no luck, have re-seated CPU, no bent pins, have cleared CMOS, removed round battery in board various times at various stages.
-Have checked all hard drives, memory sticks, and GPU in other computer, all work 100% fine.
-Have tried putting back on old EVGA cooler, have tried putting on stock CPU cooler, problem remains the same.
-Have tried to load windows CD and windows files on USB stick, freezes at random points while trying to load setup files.
-Do not have another motherboard to test CPU, do not have another CPU to test in Asus p8z77motherboard, afraid to test PSU on other computer.
Longer explanation, My Problem:
I recently ordered and built the parts for an HTPC and since Newegg had the Cooler Master Seidon 120M liquid cooler on sale I bought one foolishly thinking I could maybe jig the radiator to hang or bolt to the wall of my HTPC, when it got here I laughed at myself thoroughly and then decided I could install the new liquid cooler into my main gaming PC. I sat down after work yesterday to replace my EVGA Superclock CPU cooler with the Cooler Master Seidon 120M.
I switched the cooler (without unplugging or moving or touching or replacing any other component)with no hiccups, plugged everything back in and when I tried to start up my computer the DRAM_LED (this board has diagnostic lights that supposedly tell you what component is malfunctioning in the system) came on and stayed on. The booting process went no further (no POST) I pushed and held the MEM OK button that is supposed to bypass non- QVL ram by cycling safe operating parameters, it did its thing and then did a final reboot and came back on with the DRAM light lit again, and again going no further. The corsair vengeance RAM I am using is not technically on the QVL but it was working before with no issues. I thought maybe switching the coolers scared the BIOS so I went out to buy a stick of QVL RAM to get it to boot in so I could soothe the system and then re install my 16GB.
(Before doing this I tried clearing the CMOS, removed the round little battery, etc. I also have seated and re seated the RAM 50 times, I have completely built over 10 complete computers with no problems and installed RAM in various computers over 50 times, I know when a stick is in and I know how much pressure to use, also I never touched the RAM when installing the CPU cooler so nothing should have changed with the RAM).
I bought a 2GB 1333 mhz stick of (KVR1333D3S8N9) which is on the QVL and installed it in DIMM slot A2 which is the preferred slot for 1 stick of memory. I turned it on and the same DRAM_LED came on. I tried cycling the MEM OK feature again to no luck. I then went and tested all of my memory in my HTPC and all of it is working 100% OK (the Corsair vengeance and the Kingston stick all work fine in my HTPC build).
What I then found is that if I run one stick (any stick, doesn't matter which) in and only in the DIMM B1 slot I can bypass the DRAM_LED. From here it gets worse. I can then SOME TIMES successfully POST. Every other time I start up the machine, it will refuse to POST and the VGA_LED will light up saying that my graphics card is improperly seated or malfunctioning or whatever. I can then wiggle the graphics card (or do nothing but restart it) and it sometimes POSTS sometimes throws the VGA_LED.
IF the machine POSTs and gets past the DRAM_LED and VGA_LED the mobo speaker will beep once signifying things are fine and then the BOOT_DEVICE_LED will come on. I can get into the BIOS and if I try to boot from my SSD I get the option to "Start Windows Normally" or "Launch Start up repair"
Choosing to launch start-up repair BSODs every time with varying errors: (stop 0x0000000, stop 0x0000007f, stop 0x000000c4, among others), choosing to launch windows causes the machine to flicker the Windows Logo momentarily and then the screen goes black and the machine reboots, often refusing to then POST.
I have re-built the machine multiple times from the bottom up. I have removed and re-seated the cpu/checked for bent pins multiple times - no problems, the cooler is not leaking and when I start the computer all of the fans and lights start up perfectly normally.
I have verified that the graphics card, RAM, and my hard drives are working by testing them in another system. The only things I have not verified independently are the PSU, the Motherboard, and the CPU.
Other information: If I start the machine with no RAM installed the motherboard will beep notifying me I have no RAM installed.
I have tried loading a windows install disc and get as far as loading the set-up files which simply freezes randomly somewhere during the process. Sometimes the progress bar gets as far as 90% other times as far as 10% and just randomly freezes. I have also tried loading windows files from a USB stick.
I am leaning towards this being a PSU problem, the power-supply I got is definitely not a notable brand and probably the lowest quality item in my build. I know it was stupid to cut corners on the power supply, I am forever shamed. My father has a power supply tester and I will be meeting with him this coming Wednesday but before then I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas or things I could do to troubleshoot further. Is there anyway to rule out the MOBO, CPU, or PSU that anyone can think of with what I have or what I have done?
Thanks and sorry again for the length or if this is in the wrong section.
Here are my computer specs:
Asus P8Z77 - V Pro
Intel i7 3770k (OC to 4.2ghz, temperatures never rose above ~62C)
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670
ADATA S510 series 120G SSD
16G (4x4) Corsair Vengeance (CML16GX3M4X1600C8) RAM
Diablotek 775W PSU
All purchased just over a year ago. All from Newegg.
I apologize for the length, I will quickly summarize my problem in this first section, feel free to go into the written out post below for more information. Thanks!
TLDR:
-Been using computer with above specs for over a year with no problems.
-Replaced EVGA Superclock cooler with Cooler Master Seidon 120M liquid cooler. Did not touch or remove any other components during the CPU cooler swap.
- Have built a decent number of computers over the years, have done partial maintenance on many as well.
-Try to start up computer, DRAM_LED light comes on, MEM OK test fails, computer will not POST.
-Technically corsair is not on QVL Bought 2GB Kingston memory that is on QVL tried it in DIMM A2 (manual preferred slot), still fails DRAM_LED and MEM OK.
-By trying every configuration have found that any stick of RAM will "work" (DRAM_LED won't come on and will sometimes POST) if only one stick is placed in DIMM_B1.
-Sometimes will POST other times VGA_LED light will come on. If bypass VGA_LED, BOOT_DEVICE_LED will come on but will still POST and get 1 short (everything OK) motherboard beep.
-In BIOS everything is recognized and "working."
-Booting to SSD have option to "Start up repair" and "Start windows normally"
Start normally: Windows logo flashes momentarily screen goes black, computer reboots, refuses to POST until hard reset (often the VGA_LED will throw after the restart)
Start up repair: loads windows files and then BSODs every time, varying errors (0x0000007f, 0x000000c4, among many others).
-Cannot get farther than this, I am thinking it is the PSU or MB.
-This coming Wednesday will have another PSU and PSU checker.
-Anyone have any ideas or insight on how to further troubleshoot or some guidance?
Other notes:
-Have rebuilt computer from ground up multiple times to no luck, have re-seated CPU, no bent pins, have cleared CMOS, removed round battery in board various times at various stages.
-Have checked all hard drives, memory sticks, and GPU in other computer, all work 100% fine.
-Have tried putting back on old EVGA cooler, have tried putting on stock CPU cooler, problem remains the same.
-Have tried to load windows CD and windows files on USB stick, freezes at random points while trying to load setup files.
-Do not have another motherboard to test CPU, do not have another CPU to test in Asus p8z77motherboard, afraid to test PSU on other computer.
Longer explanation, My Problem:
I recently ordered and built the parts for an HTPC and since Newegg had the Cooler Master Seidon 120M liquid cooler on sale I bought one foolishly thinking I could maybe jig the radiator to hang or bolt to the wall of my HTPC, when it got here I laughed at myself thoroughly and then decided I could install the new liquid cooler into my main gaming PC. I sat down after work yesterday to replace my EVGA Superclock CPU cooler with the Cooler Master Seidon 120M.
I switched the cooler (without unplugging or moving or touching or replacing any other component)with no hiccups, plugged everything back in and when I tried to start up my computer the DRAM_LED (this board has diagnostic lights that supposedly tell you what component is malfunctioning in the system) came on and stayed on. The booting process went no further (no POST) I pushed and held the MEM OK button that is supposed to bypass non- QVL ram by cycling safe operating parameters, it did its thing and then did a final reboot and came back on with the DRAM light lit again, and again going no further. The corsair vengeance RAM I am using is not technically on the QVL but it was working before with no issues. I thought maybe switching the coolers scared the BIOS so I went out to buy a stick of QVL RAM to get it to boot in so I could soothe the system and then re install my 16GB.
(Before doing this I tried clearing the CMOS, removed the round little battery, etc. I also have seated and re seated the RAM 50 times, I have completely built over 10 complete computers with no problems and installed RAM in various computers over 50 times, I know when a stick is in and I know how much pressure to use, also I never touched the RAM when installing the CPU cooler so nothing should have changed with the RAM).
I bought a 2GB 1333 mhz stick of (KVR1333D3S8N9) which is on the QVL and installed it in DIMM slot A2 which is the preferred slot for 1 stick of memory. I turned it on and the same DRAM_LED came on. I tried cycling the MEM OK feature again to no luck. I then went and tested all of my memory in my HTPC and all of it is working 100% OK (the Corsair vengeance and the Kingston stick all work fine in my HTPC build).
What I then found is that if I run one stick (any stick, doesn't matter which) in and only in the DIMM B1 slot I can bypass the DRAM_LED. From here it gets worse. I can then SOME TIMES successfully POST. Every other time I start up the machine, it will refuse to POST and the VGA_LED will light up saying that my graphics card is improperly seated or malfunctioning or whatever. I can then wiggle the graphics card (or do nothing but restart it) and it sometimes POSTS sometimes throws the VGA_LED.
IF the machine POSTs and gets past the DRAM_LED and VGA_LED the mobo speaker will beep once signifying things are fine and then the BOOT_DEVICE_LED will come on. I can get into the BIOS and if I try to boot from my SSD I get the option to "Start Windows Normally" or "Launch Start up repair"
Choosing to launch start-up repair BSODs every time with varying errors: (stop 0x0000000, stop 0x0000007f, stop 0x000000c4, among others), choosing to launch windows causes the machine to flicker the Windows Logo momentarily and then the screen goes black and the machine reboots, often refusing to then POST.
I have re-built the machine multiple times from the bottom up. I have removed and re-seated the cpu/checked for bent pins multiple times - no problems, the cooler is not leaking and when I start the computer all of the fans and lights start up perfectly normally.
I have verified that the graphics card, RAM, and my hard drives are working by testing them in another system. The only things I have not verified independently are the PSU, the Motherboard, and the CPU.
Other information: If I start the machine with no RAM installed the motherboard will beep notifying me I have no RAM installed.
I have tried loading a windows install disc and get as far as loading the set-up files which simply freezes randomly somewhere during the process. Sometimes the progress bar gets as far as 90% other times as far as 10% and just randomly freezes. I have also tried loading windows files from a USB stick.
I am leaning towards this being a PSU problem, the power-supply I got is definitely not a notable brand and probably the lowest quality item in my build. I know it was stupid to cut corners on the power supply, I am forever shamed. My father has a power supply tester and I will be meeting with him this coming Wednesday but before then I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas or things I could do to troubleshoot further. Is there anyway to rule out the MOBO, CPU, or PSU that anyone can think of with what I have or what I have done?
Thanks and sorry again for the length or if this is in the wrong section.
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