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[LisaBoom]

Hello all.

I'm building a pc for my best friend and no matter what I do I can't get it to post. At least I think it isn't posting, I'm not getting a 'beep' or anything displayed on the monitor

Just to try and be as concise as possible the components are as follows:

MSI P41-C31 motherboard.
Q6600
Mushkin Copperhead 1600mhz 2x4gb dimms.
VTX 5830.
Thermalright Pure Black 120.
Corsair 600Tw
Sony dvd-rw optical
Samsung 250gb sataII hdd
Silverstone Strider 600w psu.

All components except the hdd, cpu and optical were new for this build. I did purchase them some time ago but have never used them.

1) All fans spin up (case, cpu, gpu and psu).
2) I've removed each ram dimm, the gpu, hdd, optical and various combinations.
3) I only ever get beeps from the speaker when I remove both ram dimms at once. And in this case I hear 3 beeps.
4) I then checked that the motherboard may be shorting in the case so I've rebuilt the pc outside the case. This is where it currently resides. Looking all forlorn.
5) I've removed the Pure Black and checked the cpu pins and none seem bent or damaged in any way. The amount of T.I.M I've used only covers the top of the cpu. (I was really careful as I'm using AS5).
6) I've even tried a different monitor cable, just incase.
7) Tried a second graphics card, too.

The only thing I can think of is it may be the ram because the motherboard accepts upto 2x2gb of 1.5v ddr3 800/1066(oc) ram. The ram I have is 2x4gb of 1.65v ddr3 1600 ram. Could this be it?

Or could anyone suggest any steps I may have missed?

I've only ever heard any beeps from the speaker when I removed both the ram dimms. Never had a beep out of it otherwise.

Would really appreciate any help. This is only my third build and I don't pretend to know very much, especially about ram! I thought the motherboard would lower the speed of the dimms or something but am concerned the voltage of the dimms I have is not something the motherboard can work with. Colour me very stuck.

Thank you.xxxx

[xmad]

The only thing I can think of is it may be the ram because the motherboard accepts upto 2x2gb of 1.5v ddr3 800/1066(oc) ram. The ram I have is 2x4gb of 1.65v ddr3 1600 ram

I think you are on to something, but not in the way you think 
That mushkin ram probably has an xmp profile of 1600 @ 1.65 volts(overclock), but is really only 1333 ram.
That being said, it sould like a compatibiltiy issue with the ram. Check the test reports and get some tested ram and I'm thinking it will boot.
You can also try a full cmos clear >>Clear CMOS Guide<<
Then try to boot again with just 1 stick of that ram in the dimm closest to the cpu.

[LisaBoom]

Thanks for the quick reply, xmad. Superb!

Sorry I should have stated in my initial post that I've already tried the clear cmos method. First the jumper, then the battery removal. Even going so far as to remove the battery for 30 mins.

I'm sorry but I don't know what you mean by 'test reports'. Could you point me to a link or something?

Even if the ram I have is 1333mhz would it still be too quick for the allowed ram specs the motherboard supports?  Or it's default working voltage be too high for the motherboard?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm really trying to understand all this stuff.xx

[XFM]

 I do believe the RAM could be your problem, this is from specs for that MB:


Supports two unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 800/1066* (OC) DRAM, 4GB Max

 Not 1333 or 1600.

[Froggy Gremlin]

If replacing the RAM as spec'd by XFM doesn't work, here is a longshot reason. When looking at the CPU Support list, only the Q6600 G0 is listed, not the Q6600 B3 revision. Is your CPU a B3?

> CPU Support <

[LisaBoom]

If replacing the RAM as spec'd by XFM doesn't work, here is a longshot reason. When looking at the CPU Support list, only the Q6600 G0 is listed, not the Q6600 B3 revision. Is your CPU a B3?

> CPU Support <

Thanks for the reply, Froggy. I have seen a page similar to that one, during a google search, where it listed support for both B3 and G0 but with different bios'.  Unfortunately I don't know which bios the board currently has so I'm a bit stuck that way.  I believe it's a 'G0' but I'm unsure.  May have to unseat the cooler again and have a look to be sure.

You think that could be the issue I'm facing?

[Froggy Gremlin]

Thanks for the reply, Froggy. I have seen a page similar to that one, during a google search, where it listed support for both B3 and G0 but with different bios'.  Unfortunately I don't know which bios the board currently has so I'm a bit stuck that way.  I believe it's a 'G0' but I'm unsure.  May have to unseat the cooler again and have a look to be sure.

You think that could be the issue I'm facing?

Only tossing it out there as a 'possible'. Try the new RAM first. I would hate to see you tear it all apart just to find you have a G0 stepped CPU. It might not hurt to contact MSI Technical and ask them about the CPU stepping and if a B3 is supported or not. And the BIOS version needed.

> Contact MSI <

[XFM]

Thanks for the reply, Froggy. I have seen a page similar to that one, during a google search, where it listed support for both B3 and G0 but with different bios'. Unfortunately I don't know which bios the board currently has so I'm a bit stuck that way. I believe it's a 'G0' but I'm unsure.  May have to unseat the cooler again and have a look to be sure.

You think that could be the issue I'm facing?

 To see what BIOS the MB came with look at the green sticker on the BIOS chip, what's the number on it?

[RemusM]

MSI P41-C31 motherboard
Mushkin Copperhead 1600mhz 2x4gb dimms.

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/P41-C31.html#/?div=Detail
• Supports two unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 800/1066* (OC) DRAM, 4GB Max

- no more than 2GB per memory module.
- DDR3-1600 is out of question.
You might try 2x2GB DDR3-1333, but a long-term stability is not guaranteed.
 

[LisaBoom]

Thanks for taking the time to reply everyone. It really is appreciated.

I've ordered a Crucial kit - 4GB Kit - 2GBx2,240-pin,DDR3 PC3-8500,Cl=7,1.5v.

This, I believe, is 1066 ram. Couldn't find any ddr3 800 non-ecc ram, only ddr2. And then I started to get a bit confused because ddr2 is also 240pin, same as ddr3. Don't make it easy do they!

xx

[XFM]

 That Crucial it should work just fine, I have been using similar (but 1333) for several years.

[LisaBoom]

Ram arrived and I installed one simm in the motherboard. The ram that arrived is one of those listed on the MSI compatibility report for that motherboard.

I still get no beeps at all from the speaker, and there's still no display on the monitor.

Completely at a loss but can't help feeling that not getting any beeps at all is a good sign. Maybe I'm wrong.

The bios that is shown on the green thingy is: A7610 IMSA20. I don't quite know what to make of this when looking at the bios list that Froggy kindly provided. Would it help if I unmounted the cooler and cleaned the T.I.M off and looked at the cpu?

Would greatly appreciate any advice.xx

[xmad]

A2 is a very early bios, but you would need a supported cpu to flash assuming that the problem is the that the cpu is a b3.
Since it isn't on the list, you may want to remove the tim so you can read all the numbers then call >>How to contact MSI.<< and verify that a different bios will work.

If it will, you will need to find a supported cpu to perform the flash.
This:

Only tossing it out there as a 'possible'. Try the new RAM first. I would hate to see you tear it all apart just to find you have a G0 stepped CPU. It might not hurt to contact MSI Technical and ask them about the CPU stepping and if a B3 is supported or not. And the BIOS version needed.

[longroadtrip]

Lisa,

Do you have the box for the CPU..it should give the S/N (don't post that here) and the rev # etc...

[XFM]

 Another possibility is that the graphics card is the problem. Newer ATI PCIe 2.0/2.1 card don't work on a lot of older PCIe 1.0 MBs. Do you have or can borrow a NVIDIA chip card you can try or an older ATI chip PCIe 1.0 card?

[LisaBoom]

I tried a 8800gt I had lying around and I had the same issues.

I've unmounted the cpu but I have to be honest I'm still none the wiser if it's a B3 or G0.

The text on top of the cpu reads as follows:

'Intel 05 Q6600
Intel Core 2 Quad
SLACR Malay
2.40ghz/8M/1066/05A
L742A854'

Excuse my ignorance but I've no idea what to make of this.

The cpu isn't a one that came in a box, I removed it from an old pc.

I'm also still trying to understand the relevance of getting no beeps at all from the speaker.

Looking like I may have to tell her she's going to have to pay for a new motherboard and cpu as I don't have any other cpu's.

[Froggy Gremlin]

SLACR

Not a BIOS compatibility problem as that is a G0 stepped CPU.

[XFM]

 This may seem like a dumb question but plenty of people forget to do this. Is the square 4 pin plug from PSU connected to JPWR2?

[LisaBoom]

Far from a dumb question, XFM. I've read any number of forums posts where people have forgotten it.

As such it's one of the first things I do and I can confirm the 4 pin is plugged in.xx