Strange Problems with PC. Please help.

[smackababy]

First, I apologize for the novel. So, a few weeks ago my computer died and I decided it was a time to build a new one. I purchased a new motherboard and CPU. Since, I believed I had compatible everything else, I stuck with memory, video card, HDDs, and PSU.

So I got my MB and CPU (Gigabyte GA-z77x-ud3h and an i7 3770s) and upon setting installing everything, it worked. However, about a day in, I started getting blue screens while gaming. Some time of memory error. So, after one or two of those, my computer wouldn't post and fail the RAM check. Maybe a bad stick of RAM, so I removed them until I found the problem. Everything works for another day or two just fine; however, one night my PC just shuts off and would not start up again. The next day, I tried to trouble shoot the problem and it would refuse to even attempt to post. I RMA'd the new MB and CPU with Amazon and same problem. I figured maybe the power supply died for whatever reason. I jumped it and it wouldn't even run fans and such. Purchased a new power supply. PC starts and won't post because of a RAM error. So, purchase new RAM and now it refuses to even post. Also, I should note I have nothing plugged in. No SATA drives, no USB, not even a fan into the MB.

Now, I cannot get the PC to fully post. It is getting power as far as I can tell. A light on the MB is on and when I attempt to start fans spin up for maybe a second and I get a MB beep. One that isn't similar to a debug beep. If is disconnect the two 6 pin PCI connects from the video card, it beeps much louder before shutting down immediately.

Once I get off work, I am going to try a new outlet because I feel maybe my power strip is the problem for some reason, but I want to remove that from the equation before I murder someone.

Parts list:
gigabye ga-z77z-ud3h
intel i7 3770s
corsair vengeance 8GBx2 ddr3
corsair AX650
Intel 320 SSD 120GB

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[cl-scott]

Whenever you're dealing with issues like this, the first thing to do is to break the unit down to the bare minimum needed for POST. If it works, then you add things back in one by one until it stops working.

One thing to try maybe along the way, is taking out the video card and just using the IGP on the CPU. The fact that the beep volume changes when the video card is fully powered or not makes me kind of think the video card may be dodgy, and since you need to break the unit down anyway, you can just remove the video card and see what happens. Worst case scenario it doesn't solve the problem, but you needed to remove the video card anyway, so you're not even really wasting that much time.

 

[C1]

Go along with the above. Additionally though, I would boost the RAM voltage one notch - just a hunch.

 

[krnmastersgt]

As scott says, the way to troubleshoot this is to run the bare minimum, so a single stick of RAM, on-board video and the only fan plugged in should be the CPU cooler's.

Just to make sure the motherboard isn't the culprit firstly you can start by attempting to power on while having no RAM installed at all. It should give you a series of beeps indicating that it doesn't detect RAM. If you don't get this then the motherboard is immediately suspect, however if you do it doesn't mean the board doesn't have something wrong either.

Test in this order: No memory (should give you series of beeps), 1 stick of RAM - if your system POSTs then test with the other stick. If you're able to POST with both sticks then attempt with both installed at once while still using the on-board video. Tell us what happens after all this.

 

[smackababy]

It won't post no matter what is connected. Even without the video card, it won't get power for more than a second. My roommate and I believe something is shorting it out, so I am redoing the motherboard mount.

 

[mfenn]

It won't post no matter what is connected. Even without the video card, it won't get power for more than a second. My roommate and I believe something is shorting it out, so I am redoing the motherboard mount.

Don't even bother with mounting it in the case quite yet. It'll run fine sitting on a non-conductive surface (like a wooden table or cardboard box) and will eliminate any potential for issues being caused by the case.

EDIT: Also, start it by momentarily jumping the power switch pins with a screwdriver. I've seen a faulted power button cause somebody no end to agony.