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- 12 Sep 2007
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I will do exactly that, really thanks for the help. I will post pics later this evening.
GA-Z87X-OC with Memory Issues and booting
- Thread starter CyberSolutions
- Start date
I will do exactly that, really thanks for the help. I will post pics later this evening.
- Joined
- 12 Sep 2007
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- 26
Mark - not yet, unfortunately I had to work this weekend, and being self-employed means I need this PC working as I am a software programmer.
The plan is to remove the motherboard on Sunday night, so I will post more then.
I will not leave the thread cold like so many do and will conclude it either way to show appreciation on the help.
Cheers for that - will look forward to the next update, I hope it is a positive one for you, as this is a stonking board if you can get it running ok.
Mark
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- 12 Sep 2007
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- 26
Double post sorry
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- Joined
- 12 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 26
Chaps,
Well I finally got to the bottom of the memory issues with this board and have to say that wazza was right on the money.
I removed the motherboard from the case on Sunday night. When I removed the CPU I did notice that something did not look right with one of the pins. It was hard to tell without magnification or the right lighting, but for sure one of the pins looked either bent or out of alignment.
Large Pic 1
Large Pic 2
How this has happened is beyond me, to say I was very careful and cautious when placing the CPU into the socket is an understatement. I should also add that when I first got the motherboard, when I was plugging in the fans, I noticed that the CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT header pins were also bent outward about 2mm or 3mm. Rather than just return the motherboard over something so petty, I simply use a pair of tweezers to straighten them out.
I must state that this particular motherboard was not purchased from Overclockers, but from another well known large retailer local to me.
So I took the motherboard into the customer services department, and the member of staff at the desk takes the motherboard out of the box and checks it over. He notices right away the bent pin and tells me that I am not covered for this kind of damage since I did not buy insurance.
I state that I had not damaged the pin, that I had been very cautious, I also asked him if that was the case why was only one pin damaged? Surely it would be a few in the area given the density of these things? The staff member also states that he has never seen a motherboard come from factory with a damaged pin.
I am also informed that he gets this all the time, customers damaging the pins and claiming they had not done it. I was then given the option of returning the motherboard back to Gigabyte to replace the CPU socket, at a cost of £24 plus postage.
I was reluctant to do this, and annoyed that I have been sold a damaged motherboard.
Finally, he offers to give the motherboard to an engineer in the workshop who has some success straightening pins on motherboards, and he may be able to straighten it, but he makes me sign a disclaimer first. I sign the disclaimer and he disappears for ten minutes.
He eventually returns, and I am expecting bad news so was very surprised when he said they were going to exchange it on the warranty.
My only guess is that the engineer saw the damaged pin and declared that it not possible that I could have done it, that it must be a factory quality control problem.
The lesson here I have learned here is to always check the CPU socket pins before installation, and do not accept a motherboard even with the slightest of damage (i.e. the CPU fan header pins).
All good yes? No, I install the new motherboard and the exact same problem, I cannot believe it.
So I check BIOS, F3, update to F6 - no change. I set XMP to Profile 1, no change.
If I can muster the strength I may check the CPU socket pins again, however I did check before installing CPU and they looked perfect.
Well I finally got to the bottom of the memory issues with this board and have to say that wazza was right on the money.
I removed the motherboard from the case on Sunday night. When I removed the CPU I did notice that something did not look right with one of the pins. It was hard to tell without magnification or the right lighting, but for sure one of the pins looked either bent or out of alignment.
Large Pic 1
Large Pic 2
How this has happened is beyond me, to say I was very careful and cautious when placing the CPU into the socket is an understatement. I should also add that when I first got the motherboard, when I was plugging in the fans, I noticed that the CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT header pins were also bent outward about 2mm or 3mm. Rather than just return the motherboard over something so petty, I simply use a pair of tweezers to straighten them out.
I must state that this particular motherboard was not purchased from Overclockers, but from another well known large retailer local to me.
So I took the motherboard into the customer services department, and the member of staff at the desk takes the motherboard out of the box and checks it over. He notices right away the bent pin and tells me that I am not covered for this kind of damage since I did not buy insurance.
I state that I had not damaged the pin, that I had been very cautious, I also asked him if that was the case why was only one pin damaged? Surely it would be a few in the area given the density of these things? The staff member also states that he has never seen a motherboard come from factory with a damaged pin.
I am also informed that he gets this all the time, customers damaging the pins and claiming they had not done it. I was then given the option of returning the motherboard back to Gigabyte to replace the CPU socket, at a cost of £24 plus postage.
I was reluctant to do this, and annoyed that I have been sold a damaged motherboard.
Finally, he offers to give the motherboard to an engineer in the workshop who has some success straightening pins on motherboards, and he may be able to straighten it, but he makes me sign a disclaimer first. I sign the disclaimer and he disappears for ten minutes.
He eventually returns, and I am expecting bad news so was very surprised when he said they were going to exchange it on the warranty.
My only guess is that the engineer saw the damaged pin and declared that it not possible that I could have done it, that it must be a factory quality control problem.
The lesson here I have learned here is to always check the CPU socket pins before installation, and do not accept a motherboard even with the slightest of damage (i.e. the CPU fan header pins).
All good yes? No, I install the new motherboard and the exact same problem, I cannot believe it.
So I check BIOS, F3, update to F6 - no change. I set XMP to Profile 1, no change.
If I can muster the strength I may check the CPU socket pins again, however I did check before installing CPU and they looked perfect.
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Gigabyte have no qualms repairing damaged CPU sockets,I can tell you that for a fact,if it were me I would have pulled that pin back into place with a fine sewing needle and a magnifying glass
If its doing the same on a new board you need to check CPU socket again,also make sure the CPU heatsink isn't overtightened as that can cause the same issue
If its doing the same on a new board you need to check CPU socket again,also make sure the CPU heatsink isn't overtightened as that can cause the same issue
- Joined
- 12 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 26
Wazza - yes I'll have to remove the motherboard again and check the pins. I'm using a Cosair 100i, and I have to admit that I'm not convinced the cooler clamps firm enough to the cpu. I cannot feel much tension on the four screws when tightening.
When installing the CPU though, the clamp for that does feel like its real tight, maybe a bit too tight.
- Joined
- 12 Sep 2007
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- 26
Guys - just to give an update and finally a conclusion to this memory debacle.
I removed the motherboard again and checked the pins on the CPU socket, but they looked perfect and I could not see any pins out of alignment.
I then used cotton buds and IPA solution to clean the contact pads under the CPU, re-seated the CPU into the socket, re-applied thermal paste/cooler and connected everything back up.
That seemed to do the trick, as I now have my memory working just great in memory slots 1 and 2.
Thanks to everyone for their help, in particular wazza for educating me about CPU pins and the effect it can have on memory slots/sticks.
I removed the motherboard again and checked the pins on the CPU socket, but they looked perfect and I could not see any pins out of alignment.
I then used cotton buds and IPA solution to clean the contact pads under the CPU, re-seated the CPU into the socket, re-applied thermal paste/cooler and connected everything back up.
That seemed to do the trick, as I now have my memory working just great in memory slots 1 and 2.
Thanks to everyone for their help, in particular wazza for educating me about CPU pins and the effect it can have on memory slots/sticks.
Glad to hear you are finally sorted, and now you can actually get on to enjoying using it.
Mark
Associate
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- 1,887
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Thanks for this post.
I'm building a new PC with a H61 Gigabyte motherboard. It only has 2 memory slots and if I used slot 2 it would beep repetitively and go into an infinite boot loop. If I only used slot 1 then it booted fine and I could install Windows. I thought the memory slot was faulty.
I checked the pins and one of them looked slightly misaligned so carefully teased it back into line and also cleaned the CPU with isopropyl and now it boots fine with both memory sticks in. I am very relieved. Thankyou.
I'm building a new PC with a H61 Gigabyte motherboard. It only has 2 memory slots and if I used slot 2 it would beep repetitively and go into an infinite boot loop. If I only used slot 1 then it booted fine and I could install Windows. I thought the memory slot was faulty.
I checked the pins and one of them looked slightly misaligned so carefully teased it back into line and also cleaned the CPU with isopropyl and now it boots fine with both memory sticks in. I am very relieved. Thankyou.
- Joined
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- 26
Awesome! I'm glad the thread came in useful for you, makes it all worth the effort.
To help each other out in times of need.