Build Problem

S_Barry3011

I was abroad for the past three weeks and before I left I had a go at building a computer. There was a problem with it so I started this thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056980298

I still have not found out what is wrong with it so suggestions would be much appreciated

Bazzo

Did you try booting with the motherboard's on-board graphics? If not give it a shot.

-( i )- Wicker

Please just update your old threads without starting new ones, it makes it more difficult for us to get previously supplied details. Does your CPU have integrated graphics? Can you test without the gfx card to eliminate that as the issue?

S_Barry3011

I already tried it without the graphics card and RAM installed and still nothing

-( i )- Wicker

Did you try it with the RAM and without the gfx card?
Edit: also, do you definitely have the 24 power pins connected and not just 20 pins?

S_Barry3011

Did you try it with the RAM and without the gfx card?

What change would I be looking for since I cant plug connect the monitor to the computer without the gpu

-( i )- Wicker

What are the specs of your build?

S_Barry3011

RAM: 8GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 MHz
Processor: AMD FX-6300
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme4
PSU: Corsair Builder Serie CX500 V3 Non-Modular 80+ Bronze, 500 Watt
Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT Boost
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200 1000GB

Mr McBoatface

Could be a BIOS issue, the FX-6300 requires bios version 2.1. The bios chip may have shipped with bios version 1.2. Is there a sticker on the bios chip that says what version it is "http://www.asrock.com/support/index.asp?cat=FindBIOS" ?

Where is South Dublin are you ?

S_Barry3011

Could be a BIOS issue, the FX-6300 requires bios version 2.1. The bios chip may have shipped with bios version 1.2. Is there a sticker on the bios chip that says what version it is "http://www.asrock.com/support/index.asp?cat=FindBIOS" ?

Unfortunately I took that sticker off while building it, if I contacted the seller would they be able to tell me?

Mr McBoatface

S_Barry3011 wrote: »

Unfortunately I took that sticker off while building it, if I contacted the seller would they be able to tell me?

To be honest I doubt it, but you could ask. Was it bought new or second hand ? I'd put money on it being a bios issue, the 00 code is a CPU error. Would you be able to get your hands on an AM3 cpu to test my theory , an Athlon II would do the trick.

Also where is south dublin are you located


EDIT - I would defo put money on it being the wrong bios version. I assume you bought from amazon after being linked to the board ? The negative review the by MAX "MAX" seems to confirm my theory - http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B0058HUQJ0/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0

S_Barry3011

Would you be able to get your hands on an AM3 cpu to test my theory , an Athlon II would do the trick.

I dont think I could as all my friends are console gamers

Also where is south dublin are you located

Around the Foxrock area

. I assume you bought from amazon after being linked to the board ?

I actually bought the board from hardwareversand.de and I just sent them an e-mail asking which version bios they ship their ASRock 970 Extreme4 motherboards with

davidholla

Has the hard drive been used b4 in another PC?

Also is the display only showing 00 and nothing else?

Is it passing or can you access Bios?

S_Barry3011

The hard drive is new and the monitor is just blank, the LCD displays 00 and the gpu,cpu and case fans spin up

davidholla

Whats the LCD? I fix computers for a living:o

thought that was liquid crystal display

Mr McBoatface

Did you buy your cpu and other components from them at the same time ?

Assuming you have no problem removing the bios chip yourself (easily done if you are gentle) you could ask them would they consider a ten euro refund so you could purchase an upgraded chip bios. Ask them if you do this will they still honor the warranty should the board be dead. Replacement bios can be bought here -
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/BIOS-CHIP-ASROCK-970-EXTREME4-X79-EXTREME9-985GM-GS3-FX-Z68-PRO3-GEN3-/380542228204?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item589a1596ec

Or you could see if a kind soul on boards who lives nearby you could lend a AM3 cpu and flash the bios yourself, I'd give you one myself but you are a little to far to travel for me.

Mr McBoatface

davidholla wrote: »

Whats the LCD? I fix computers for a living:o

thought that was liquid crystal display

The Asrock has a error code system that displays on the the onbaord LCD panel. Very handy for tracking down errors, it give specific error code.

S_Barry3011

Do you mean the monitor?
Never mind

S_Barry3011

Or you could see if a kind soul on boards who lives nearby you could lend a AM3 cpu and flash the bios yourself

Would it be possible to bring it in to some computer shop and they could update the bios?

davidholla

All I can think of is CPU power connector. Its not in the manual, top left of board i think

lot of threads on it

https://www.google.ie/#safe=off&sclient=psy-ab&q=asrock+z77+extreme4+cpu+power+connector&oq=cpu+power+connector+extree&gs_l=hp.1.0.0i8i13i30.1953.5595.1.7030.7.7.0.0.0.0.90.537.7.7.0....0...1c.1.21.psy-ab.XILLqzdREiE&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49478099,d.ZGU&fp=6f2c887c2e6c4849&biw=1366&bih=645

Mr McBoatface

S_Barry3011 wrote: »

Would it be possible to bring it in to some computer shop and they could update the bios?

They'll charge you an arm and a leg. If you get your hands on a am3 cpu it will take 2 minutes to flash the bios.

If you get a bios chip replacing the it yourself is an easy job .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V67YRlsBEoY . I've removed them with my fingers .

S_Barry3011

ll I can think of is CPU power connector. Its not in the manual, top left of board i think

I've got the CPU power connected

davidholla

Disconnect everything and try building again

Mr McBoatface

davidholla wrote: »

Disconnect everything and try building again

That won't help if it's the wrong bios version for the CPU. Below bios version 2.1 and this system will not boot with the OP's Bulldozer cpu. A bios update will fix this, I'm certain of it. It's a catch 22, the OP needs to boot the PC to flash the bios, but can't boot with his current cpu.

The OP needs an AM3 cpu to do Flash his bios, if i was nearer I'd lend him one, surely somebody here could help out a fellow boardie.

davidholla

jobyrne30 wrote: »

That won't help if it's the wrong bios version for the CPU. Below bios version 2.1 and this system will not boot with the OP's Bulldozer cpu. A bios update will fix this, I'm certain of it. It's a catch 22, the OP needs to boot the PC to flash the bios, but can't boot with his current cpu.

The OP needs an AM3 cpu to do Flash his bios, if i was nearer I'd lend him one, surely somebody here could help out a fellow boardie.

Its worth a try, usually a simple thing based on other threads here and many encounters I had with PCs. will only take 10 mins to remove everything and put it back

Mr McBoatface

@ S_Barry3011 - Unplug the PC from the power source, remove the bios battery for 10 minutes, replace it and then rebuild as suggested by davidholla, If it doesn't work let us know.

Hopefully hardwareversand.de get back to you soon and can confirm what bios is on the boards they ship. If nobody else in your locality can get an AM3 cpu to check my theory I'll post one out to you. I assume you'll have no problem returning it .

But first lets see how you get on with the rebuild, and what hardwareversand.de have to say.

S_Barry3011

@jobyrne Just finished putting it all back together but finished up with the same results.

I think I will try replacing the bios chip myself but I am extremely grateful for all your help and offering to send me a CPU

Mr McBoatface

S_Barry3011 wrote: »

@jobyrne Just finished putting it all back together but finished up with the same results.

I think I will try replacing the bios chip myself but I am extremely grateful for all your help and offering to send me a CPU

Ok no problem.... let us know how you get on. Did hardwareversand.de get back to you about bios version the ship with? If it turns out to be the incorrect bios the should really issue a partial refund, especially if you bought the FX from them at the same time.

BloodBath

The BIOS on that board should support FX processors. There are a load of people here who have ordered that board already or the extreme 3.

I'm pretty sure all 970 boards support FX processors out of the box.

Mr McBoatface

BloodBath wrote: »

The BIOS on that board should support FX processors. There are a load of people here who have ordered that board already or the extreme 3.

I'm pretty sure all 970 boards support FX processors out of the box.

Not the case all the time - see negitive review by MAX MAX here

Negitive review on newegg by Rohde, osmanuel, ZodiacID001 here ,

EDIT - Actually read all the reviews on newegg, the amount of people there that posted the requirement for bios update to use FX cpu's is staggering.

BloodBath

That's a load of bollox. You would think newer stock would have the updated BIOS.

Mr McBoatface

BloodBath wrote: »

That's a load of bollox. You would think newer stock would have the updated BIOS.

It happened when ivy bridge came along, lots of mobo's with bios configured for sandybridge or earlier wouldn't boot. Lot of people ended up buying cheap sandybridge based celerons for flashing.

I bet we will see more of this with Intel Haswell and Richland recently released.

For example - With Richland MSI state it on the bios update procedure document that a Trinity CPU must me used. It gets better .....MSI in general don't use the a DIP8 bios chip. The chip is soldered in place so you have no choice but to use a trinity cpu should the motherboard fail to boot with the Richland cpu.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1700437/msi-fm2-a85xma-e35-motherboard-richland-apu.html

I may start a rent-a-cpu busness