Two short beeps from motherboard on new build

[blackllotus]

Hi all, so I'm building a new desktop and, while I have put all of the components together, I can't get the computer to start-up correctly. When I press the power button, the motherboard (MSI z87-g43) sounds two short beeps (parity error?) and the fans start-up but I don't see anything on the screen (I've tried HDMI attached to motherboard and HDMI and DVI on graphics card [7970 HD]). I initially started with two RAM sticks but I get the two beeps with 0, 1, or both sticks (yes, two beeps without any RAM in there). I'm kind of at a loss for what to do right now - I'm willing to take everything apart and try testing things outside of the machine but I think that increases the chance of me breaking things and I don't want to do that.

With no RAM in the computer behaves as follows:
- two short beeps, power button lights up, all fans start
- restarts after ~10 seconds
- first step happens again but then no more restarting

No display on my monitor of any kind.

Does anyone have any ideas for trying to diagnose this problem?

[I haven't tried clearing the CMOS yet but I've never successfully booted so I would be surprised if that is the issue. This motherboard has an odd jumper system that I haven't encountered before - there are only 2 pins and there is no jumper on them (I assume to reset the CMOS then I'd need to buy a jumper and put it on there for a few seconds...?).]

 

[Cerb]

[I haven't tried clearing the CMOS yet but I've never successfully booted so I would be surprised if that is the issue. This motherboard has an odd jumper system that I haven't encountered before - there are only 2 pins and there is no jumper on them (I assume to reset the CMOS then I'd need to buy a jumper and put it on there for a few seconds...?).]

Let me guess: it's based on Award.

 

[piasabird]

Clearing CMOS doesnt fix all problems. Every motherboard is different. Probably does not like the RAM. Try some other RAM if you have any even if it is slower. Some motherboards are more picky about RAM. It is possible the RAM you have has errors. Also try pulling just one stick out. Read the manual and see if there are preferred locations of RAM dimms of a particular speed or voltage. Some motherboards do not like RAM that is too fast or of a higher voltage, etc. You may have to make manual settings.

I had an ASUS motherboard and in the manual it said to take the battery out for a certain span of time to reset the CMOS.

Sometimes a motherboard is just incompatible with the RAM even though the RAM is in perfect condition. It could also be a bad video card. Did you plug in both power plugs on the motherboard? Are the Fan Headers plugged into the FAN? Is the CPU cooler sitting correctly?

I think the BIOS would not beep if it was grounded out or the cpu WAS BAD.

You can also try disconnecting the drives. You could have a bad drive.

Your video card could not have enough power or be seating wrong. Try wiggling it out and reaseating it. Sometimes the connectors dont make good contact or some io card is grounding to the case.

You could disconnect one part at a time.

 

[piasabird]

Did you read the manual?

Maybe the jumpers came off or there is one in a little bag. Try taking a jumper off of some other motherboard or device. Does the manual show a jumper?

What is the model number we could look it up. There is probably a picture of the motherboard on NewEgg.

If the CMOS jumper was removed or missing, the computer would not start. However photo shows no jumpers at J1.

Newegg says something about the screws on the back of the heatsink were loose. Did you check that?

They put the battery awful close to the video card slot.

 

[Cerb]

Did you read the manual?

I did. No beep codes :\. If it's an Award-based BIOS, 2 short beeps should mean a bad settings CRC, though (or maybe a bad flash, but that would be RMA-worthy, and take days, so let's hope that's not it).

Removing the battery for a minute is a sure-fire method of clearing the settings.

 

[=Wendy=]

On that board with two sticks of RAM, the RAM should be in DIMM slots 2 and 4.
Check that the ram is populated as stated above.