New/first build - Problems after problems after problems

[gallaghb]

Right I have been on these forums before about this same build...its haunting me! All I want to see is something on the monitor! I have just had a new motherboard delivered, it is the third one! The first time I thought I might have killed it, the second I sent it back because I thought it was DOA. But because I am having the same problem with the third motherboard I realise it probably wasn't DOA. So.

Specs:
ASRock 775i65G - as said above on third one of these
Intel 945 Dual Core 3.4GHz
PSU: ColorsIT 500W(people have commented before on the make of the PSU but I know it works fine because it is powering another higher spec PC I have(infact its powering the one I am using right now))

I am building out of the case. Since I had this third motherboard I haven't even bothered to put it into the case because I know you guys will tell me take it out. :P

I'm currently not connecting any drives just RAM, CPU, PSU.

The problem: When I start the PC it turns on fine. But I get no post beep and no display output. So to check the speaker I pull the RAM, and get 3 beeps indicating a RAM problem. Replace the RAM no beeps no display. I have swapped the RAM around into another PC(the one I'm on now, and it works fine). I have also tested the CPU in the PC I'm on now and that is also fine.

I'm stumped by this. I can't see that I've done anything wrong.

Oh and the 4pin 12V connector is connected.

Any ideas would be very much appreciated. It could be something really obvious to you guys, as I said this is my first build. I'll try anything to get something on the monitor.

Thankyou!

Ben

[flanzig1]

About the only thing I can think of is that the ram isn't compatable with the mother board. Also, try resetting the BIOS to default settings.

[gallaghb]

Wouldn't it be at default settings? What with it being a new motherboard? Also how do I reset the BIOS - I have no display? Or is it same as restting the CMOS?

And the RAM is definitely compatible.

[flanzig1]

Reset the BIOS by pulling the battery for 5 minutes and reinstall. As for being at default, it's hard to say how the BIOS is out of the factory.
As for the ram, sometimes some brands of ram just plain don't work with a particular mother board. What is the brand and model of the ram?
The BIOS may not support a dual core CPU. Looks like you need the mobo version R2.0 and BIOS P2.8 and up.

[gallaghb]

I'll try resetting BIOS.

As for RAM I have 2 1GB stick I have tried both.

I have one which is a high-density stick, they don't seem to be branded at all. Has a code on it which is 1GBUFURTSLAA.

The other stick is not high-density and it is also unbranded. Both sticks are PC3200.

The thing is both these sticks work in my current PC and it also had an ASRock mobo. Different model which is 775VM800.

Edit: Saw your edit. How do I know which version of the board mine is? Also, it says I need P1.10 BIOS version not P2.8?.

EDIT2: It says on the normal 775i65G all I need is P1.10? If I click the link for 775i65G R2.0 it says my CPU will definitely be supported.

EDIT3: Resetting the BIOS didn't help.

[flanzig1]

The board and BIOS versions are stated for Core 2 Duo, so was thinking that may apply to Pentium dual cores.

[gallaghb]

I don't have R2.0 so Core 2 Duo is not supported on this board but it says Intel 945 is with P1.10 is. Surely it would have P1.10 as it is new and the latest version is P2.80?

[flanzig1]

It's really hard to say how old the mother board actually is, could be an early version. If the CPU isn't supported by the particular version of BIOS, it would need to be up-dated. And that would mean possibly buying a low end Celeron CPU to do the up-date.

[gallaghb]

Anything else to try before we say it is a compatibility issue?

Edit: Just read a sticker which is attached a part of the motherboard which the manual describes as 'BIOS FWH Chip'.

The sticker reads '775i65G P2.70-11A'.

For my CPU to be compatible only P1.10 is needed and it has P2.70 according to this sticker.

I am well and truly stumped with what the problem is now.

[chuck4456]

P1.10 is an earlier BIOS. P2.70 is probably the latest. Just updated stuff. Find a good stick of PC3200 CAS 2.5. Stick it in and see if it boots up. If it does, enter the BIOS and load in OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS. SAVE & EXIT.

[gallaghb]

What is wrong with the RAM I have got? I'm using both sticks in the computer I'm on now(also an ASRock mobo). Can't see that there is anything wrong with them.

[glc]

One of your boards is an Intel chipset, the other is a Via chipset. There may not be anything WRONG with them, but there may be a COMPATIBILITY issue.

[gallaghb]

Any ideas as to what isn't compatible with what then?

[glc]

The generic ram you have may not be compatible with the Intel chipset motherboard for whatever reason. Generic ram is a crapshoot at best on any motherboard anyway. You generally get what you pay for. You don't want to hear this, but Asrock boards are not noted for their quality anyway.

So....you have a questionable brand motherboard, generic ram, and an off quality power supply. Your likelihood of having issues is a lot higher than if you had known high quality parts.

[gallaghb]

lol...well I knew ASRock wasn't a great brand for motherboard but it was cheaper... :P

It just seems strange as it all works in this PC with ASRock mobo...but as you say it has VIA chipset rather than Intel..

I would like to get a computer built...but I'm scared now of spending yet more money on quality components in case it doesn't work...and I'd be left with even more components doing nothing..

[glc]

As I said, you generally get what you pay for.

[gallaghb]

Would it be a good idea for me to buy some OCZ RAM as I think the problem lies with the RAM because CPU/Mobo compatibility is not an issue according to mobo spec.

The memory I was looking at is here.

I was trying to find a list of reccommended RAM manufacturers for ASRock boards but haven't been able to. Any ideas?

[flanzig1]

The OCZ is on their list for the 775i65GV mobo. Don't see the G version listed.
Go to each brand of ram and use their ram configurator for your board.

[gallaghb]

I can't find an OCZ RAM Configurator :S

If you've found it post link please.

[flanzig1]

http://configurator.ocztechnology.com/
http://kingston.com/
http://corsair.com/

[gallaghb]

Thanks.

I found that the Crucial memory is definitely compatible with my board. The OCZ is highly likely to be compatible though, as it is compatible with GV version.

I'll go with Crucial if even if it is £4 more expensive. Lets just hope this fixes my problem, all I want to see is something on monitor!!

[gallaghb]

I was just thinking if the memory I had is incompatible, would that explain not getting anything on the monitor? And, if I was to remove the memory and run with just CPU should I expect to see something on the monitor?

Because I did try putting no RAM in and it did do the error beeps for RAM missing but I still got nothing on the monitor.

[flanzig1]

The bare mininum needed to show video is a working motherboard,ram,CPU, and video out. The BIOS looks for these things first before loading the POST testing.

[gallaghb]

The problem was the RAM!

I ended up buying a GigaByte motherboard with the same chipset as the ASRock one I had. I tried the unbranded memory with it before trying the Crucial memory and it didn't work. So I stuck in the Crucial memory and the monitor sprung to life!! It is definitely one of the most satisfying things seeing the computer you built work! Especially for me as it took a long while to get it done.

Thanks everyone for the help. I hope to have many more successful builds!