P8Z68-V GEN3 red CPU_LED

Napaim

Napaim

Napaim

Associate
Joined
29 Sep 2008
Posts
185
Location
Edinburgh
Hey ho.

Just got my i5 build components (nvidia 570, 3.3GHz i5 and the P8Z68-V Gen3 mobo) but I can't get it to POST.

I've what I can find online and I've cleared CMOS, disconnected the fans, tried different modules of RAM in different slots, reseated the CPU twice (I'm certain it's connected) and the power appears to be firmly connected.

Any ideas or does it look like an RMA job? :(
 
Might be better if you tell us what you HAVE done so far?
And what happens when you power it on?

Your best bet might be to take it all apart and working on an insulated surface install the CPU, Graphics card, RAM - hook up the PSU and try it.


Standard no-post diagnosis checklist;

1. Did you carefully read the motherboard owners manual?

2. Did you plug in the 4/8-pin CPU power connector located near the CPU socket?

3. Did you install the standoffs under the motherboard?

4. Did you verify that the video card is fully seated? (may require more force than a new builder expects.)

5. Did you attach all the required power connector(s) to the video card? (some need two, some need none, many need one.)

6. Have you tried booting with just one stick of RAM installed?

7. Did you verify that all memory modules are fully inserted?

8. Did you verify in the owners manual that you're using the correct RAM slots? Many i7 motherboards require RAM to be installed in the slots starting with the one further away from the CPU which is the opposite of many dual channel motherboards.

9. Did you remove the plastic guard over the CPU socket? (this actually comes up occasionally.)

10. Did you install the CPU correctly? There will be an arrow on the CPU that needs to line up with an arrow on the motherboard CPU socket. Be sure to pay special attention to that section of the manual!

11. Are there any bent pins on the motherboard/CPU?

12. If using an after market CPU cooler, did you get any thermal paste on the motherboard, CPU socket, or CPU pins?

13. Is the CPU fan plugged in? Some motherboards will not boot without detecting that the CPU fan is plugged in to prevent burning up the CPU.

14. If using a stock cooler, was the thermal material on the base of the cooler free of foreign material, and did you remove any protective covering?

15. Are any loose screws laying on the motherboard, or jammed against it?

16. Did you ensure you discharged all static electricity before touching any of your components? Computer components are very sensitive to static electricity.

17. Did you install the system speaker (if provided) so you can check beep-codes in the manual?

18. Did you read the instructions in the manual on how to properly connect the front panel plugs?

19. Did you turn on the power supply switch located on the back of the PSU?

20. Is your CPU supported by the BIOS revision installed on your motherboard? Most motherboards will post a CPU compatibility list on their website.

21. Have you tried resetting the CMOS?

22. If you have integrated video and a video card, try the integrated video port. Resetting the bios, can make it default back to the onboard video.

23. Make certain all cables and components including RAM and expansion cards are tight within their sockets. Here's a thread where that was the cause of the problem.
 
Last edited:
Yes I read the manual. The 8-pin was connected, there were no standoffs, the video card was connected fine although I doubt that was an issue, I tried different sticks of RAM in multiple slots starting with the one farthest away - no joy, there are no pins to get bent on the i5, I reset the CMOS. There was no output on the built-in graphics.

Basically everything mentioned I did try, I really can't think of anything else.

It's the 4th or 5th computer I've built and I'm pretty sure I didn't make any major mistakes. :(
 
if the cpu led is staying lit,chances are theres a bent cpu socket pin,did you carefully inspect for bent pins?
 
reddev85 said:
There were no standoffs? That throws up a red flag for me immediately!
Click to expand...

Erm you mean something for behind the mobo? The heatsink/fan has these twirly pin things than pop through holes in the mobo. Unless I'm doing something stupid?

if the cpu led is staying lit,chances are theres a bent cpu socket pin,did you carefully inspect for bent pins?
Click to expand...

Well it's an i5 - it doesn't have pins sticking out like 5mm as on the other CPUs I've installed (all of them AMD CPUs).
 
Napaim said:
Erm you mean something for behind the mobo? The heatsink/fan has these twirly pin things than pop through holes in the mobo. Unless I'm doing something stupid?



Well it's an i5 - it doesn't have pins sticking out like 5mm as on the other CPUs I've installed (all of them AMD CPUs).
Click to expand...

Standoffs screw into the case, these will have a internal thread were the motherboard bolts to.

What case are you using?

https://flic.kr/p/7Aw8EE

The pins are in the socket, sometime you can bend these in the socket.
 
RJC said:
Standoffs screw into the case, these will have a internal thread were the motherboard bolts to.

What case are you using?

https://flic.kr/p/7Aw8EE

The pins are in the socket, sometime you can bend these in the socket.
Click to expand...

I'm using a Cooler Master Elite 335, considering getting the HAF912 though as this ridiculous beast of a PSU won't fit in the case. That's another matter though!

I screwed in five out of six of the standoffs then, I'm missing a screw somewhere - that's not likely to be an issue is it? It feels very secure with five of them in.

The pins on the mobo don't look bent at all, though it's quite hard to see.

Usually you can see the light shine off the pins and it'll catch your eyes if they're bent - not the case and it all looks in order.

I'd really love to get the system working today, else I'll have to buy a new mobo for next Saturday and it'll just be a general hassle!

Edit: If I were to order another motheboard can you suggest one?
 
wazza300 said:
Could you post a pic of the whole socket? Close up like above,bent pins are easy to miss,
Click to expand...

I could post a pic tomorrow, I'm one of those sad ******** without a camera phone. Need to wait until the gf is home from work to steal hers.

I'm pretty certain there aren't any bent pins though!
 
It gives us all a chance to look and see for ourselves though,and those pins are so small even one slightly off can cause problems
 
Oh I've made progress (sort of) or at least isolated the problem.

I tried again using the old PSU from the grounds up - as in I laid out the mobo by itself and put in one stick of RAM and the CPU / CPU cooler.

It worked.. It got the the stage where the "missing boot device" LED was lit - as in it got past POST.

So from there I worked my way up, I put in all the RAM, the GPU and tested with the new PSU and everything was working great!

Then I screwed it into the case and suddenly back to the old problem, it won't boot. So it's a problem with me being unable to screw in all the holes in the mobo I'm guessing? I've screwed in every one that has a gold coloured case-thingy behind it but some of the holes on the mobo do not correspond with a gold case-thingy... And I'm guessing it won't boot without them.

I'm at a bit of a loss now. Why won't it boot if you don't screw all the holes?!

On the plus side it looks like I don't have a faulty mobo and won't be RMAing it!

Edit: Looks like I'm a complete noob that doesn't understand what standoffs are for. Blah!
 
Last edited:
Stands off are used to ground your motherboard so it doesn't short circuit, they are there to secure the mobo to the case and protect it from touching the case by only touching the mobo at certain points, can't see how this would cause cpu error, I have the same mobo(not gen3) it's best to take a picture of the cpu socket, others might see bent pins that you have missed out.
 
Napaim said:
Then I screwed it into the case and suddenly back to the old problem, it won't boot. So it's a problem with me being unable to screw in all the holes in the mobo I'm guessing? I've screwed in every one that has a gold coloured case-thingy behind it but some of the holes on the mobo do not correspond with a gold case-thingy... And I'm guessing it won't boot without them.

I'm at a bit of a loss now. Why won't it boot if you don't screw all the holes?!
Click to expand...


make sure that ALL the stand offs correspond to the holes on the motherboard. There should be codes written on the board next to the holes for the stand offs, like A1-A9 for ATX boards.

You mention the stand offs don't all correspond to the holes of your mobo, which could be the culprit, maybe shorting the mobo.
 
It still could be bent pins,did you remove/re attach the CPU heatsink from when you bench tested mb and put it back in the case? Could also be a broken copper trace in the mb from the mb flexing
 
Ah it's alright guys, thanks for the suggestions but I got it!

It was indeed the standoffs. There were ones coming form non-holes probably touching the mobo and others that weren't corresponding to holes.

I've mad sure each hole has a standoff and no standoffs without holes and all is working now! Have a fresh install of Windows 7 on my SSD and everything's perfect! Loading first in League of Legends, worth it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom