msi p67a switching on and off on its own

mond4uk

mond4uk

mond4uk

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24 Nov 2011
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Hope someone can help, with a very strange problem. I just install a new motherboard, cpu and ram. Once installed everything was working perfect, then the next day while in game it crashed, since then it wont post. It just coninualy keeps switching on and off by itself after only turning on on once. he only way to stop this is by turing off from the PSU swich or unplugging.

I taken it apart and rebuild with no success. I have tried powering up without RAM, GPU etc installed but still have same problem. I hope someone out there knows about this issue and has the solution. My specs are:

MB - MSI P67a
CPU - core i5 2500k
8GB RAM
CPU - nvidia 4700gtx
PSU - corsair tx750

thanks to anyone with help
 
Have you tried a skeleton setup ouside of the case? (e.g. PSU sat on desk - motherboard on a piece of cardboard, cpu/hs, 1 stick of memory, gfx and nothing else.)

Also, do you have a spare PSU to hand?
 
by skeleton setup do you mean powering up with just the cpu as I have tried that, no matter what I add or take out it just keeps powering up and down on its own. I have tried the PSU paperclip test and the PSU stays on while powering a fan.

Do you know of anything else I can try

(sorry just tried skeleton setup outside of case, still no same issue)
 
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mond4uk said:
by skeleton setup do you mean powering up with just the cpu as I have tried that
Click to expand...

The stress was more on testing the rig outside of the case (including the PSU) and then fitting just the core components (cpu, gfx 1 stick of memory) and then shorting the header pins with a screwdriver to see if you get any signs of life.

mond4uk said:
I have tried the PSU paperclip test and the PSU stays on while powering a fan.
Click to expand...

Did you test the voltages with a volt/multimeter at the same time?

mond4uk said:
Do you know of anything else I can try
Click to expand...

You seem to have covered most things - and without spare parts to test you will have to take an educated guess.

I presume you've cleared the CMOS?
 
yeah cmos cleared, unfortunatly I dont have a multimeter to test with. I realy dont think it is the PSU. Do you think it could be some issue with the onboard power button on the motherboard? the P67a has a button on the mainboard itself for turing on and off as well as reseting. If it is that, not sure what I can do about it.
 
mond4uk said:
yeah cmos cleared, unfortunatly I dont have a multimeter to test with. I realy dont think it is the PSU. Do you think it could be some issue with the onboard power button on the motherboard? the P67a has a button on the mainboard itself for turing on and off as well as reseting. If it is that, not sure what I can do about it.
Click to expand...

TBH, it could be anything if it's the MB at fault.

If your gut has ruled out the PSU (bold assumption but my guts instsincts are usually right so stick with it if that's what you think) then the MB or memory are the next most likely culprits.

From your troubleshooting notes, and lack of spares to test, it looks like the MB is the most logical culprit (but if you can borrow a PSU i would certainly test it.)

Could you clarify - have you tried a skeleton setup ouside of the case to rule out shorting?

(i'm presuming you've rotated memory sticks and slots?)
 
ok getting somewhere now, I am using the skeleton setup. first same issue but moved ram to dimm slot 2 and its now powering on as normal. so I guess the MB is somehow shorting and or my other ram stick is faulty or the 1st dimm slot is.

Time to get stuck back into troubleshooting.

Cheers for your help, will post once (hopefully) fully resolved.
 
mond4uk said:
moved ram to dimm slot 2 and its now powering on as normal. so I guess the MB is somehow shorting and or my other ram stick is faulty or the 1st dimm slot is.
Click to expand...

Additional: Check the DIMM slots and the memory for any 'post manufacturing' residue.

Also, what cooler are you using? If it's a large 3rd party cooler look to see if you have any MB warping as this can sometimes effect the first DIMM slot making it inoperable/unstable.

If it is warped try re-fitting the cooler.
 
ok can now fully book system. the only issue now is do I have a faulty RAM chip or is there something wrong with my DIMM slots? I have just the 1 chip installed and the system will only boot with the chip in DIMM slot 2 although everthing I know and have read is that you should always start with DIMM 1. What you think the issue is, the RAM or the DIMM slots?
 
mond4uk said:
ok can now fully book system. the only issue now is do I have a faulty RAM chip or is there something wrong with my DIMM slots? I have just the 1 chip installed and the system will only boot with the chip in DIMM slot 2 although everthing I know and have read is that you should always start with DIMM 1. What you think the issue is, the RAM or the DIMM slots?
Click to expand...

Do both stsicks work in DIMM 2?

If they do i would memest them both for a good 6hrs - and if they pass i would be looking at DIMM slot 1.

Do you have a 3rd party cooler fitted?
 
the other stick def seems to be the problem when I use just that stick it goes back to the original problem. So I can now get back on windows etc, I still have an issue on POST tho. I get 1 been then 3 quick short beeps which indicate a RAM issue. I have tried the memory test via the bios and found no issues. Do you think I need to replace RAM altogether?

p.s I have an Antec Kuhler cooler
 
Could you clarify if the known working stick now works in DIMM slot 1?

And do you get the beeps even if the known stick is in DIMM slot 2?
 
yeah the good stick is working in DIMM 1, but I am still getting the beeps. Its actualy 1 normal beep then 5 quick beeps. not sure what that is?
 
If it's an MSI P67 board then the beeps aren't really relevent if it's postsing - it's something to do with USB ports/devices (or similar - the beebs don't tally up to any IBM code that i can find).

Mine makes similar beeps - confused me at first but afte researching i read it's a quirk of the board (odd MSI feature - and should have been advertised in manual). Basically ignore the beebs - what code to you get after post (letters and numbers) - top right hand corner i think?

Looks like it's RMA time for the memory?
 
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