Bigbang FF Error code

[Evolution]

Hi guys..  Iv'e build many systems before yet this one is giving me some real hassles. I have been at it all day and final gave up for tonight and wanted to see if anyone of you has some suggestions. Everything setup, no real issues, power up and FF in error panel.  All top bars lit up. 

I tried this to rectify..

1)Reseated CPU
2)Used 1 stick in left black to see if that was it. Tried each stick 1 at a time.
3)Reset Cmos 
4)Pulled Board ran on cardboard ( This second try with doing all the above again )

All fans spinning, Mobo lights up, GPU 5970 fans spins.  I also tried 5770 just in case it was a GPU issue. No dice. Also grabbed a stick out of my other rig, XMS corsair, slapped in slot 1 (black) still FF

The system is

17 930
Antec True Power Quattro 1,200
Corsair Dominator 6GB PC3
Big Bang

One thing and im not sure if it right or not, in the deep part of the 17 cpu socket, 1 of those silver things(top right corner) inside is different looking from the rest.. like its missing, or discolored some. Its hard to tell.. yet I thought perhaps that may point to something or maybe its supposed to be that way.. right now im just grasping on anything i can think of,

Im thinking MOBO, yet perhaps CPU... what do you guys think?

Thanks 

 

[Henry]

I don't know much about that MB but after looking at other pictures of the CPU socket what you show there is normal, made that way.

Leave it out of the case until you get it running right, there is no sense going to the extra work of in and out with the MB. Put it in the case after you're sure it runs OK.

 

[HU16E]

How are you connecting 8-pin power to the board? At JPWR2 or JPWR3 or both?

 

[Evolution]

How are you connecting 8-pin power to the board? At JPWR2 or JPWR3 or both?

8 Pin at JPWR2 only. I was thinking about adding to JPWR3 also, yet reading up it says that isn't necessary unless heavy O/C and such.

Thanks Henry.. I did see some pics that it looks that way..So I took that down as that isn't the cause.

Man this is driving me nuts.. I have put so many systems together, this the first one that has me stumped.

 

[HU16E]

Used 1 stick in left black to see if that was it. Tried each stick 1 at a time.

Correct slot for initial startup is always the black DIMM slot closest to the CPU. Then add the other two into the remaining black slots. Power to JPWR2 only is fine. PSU 8-pin power cable defective? 

 

[Evolution]

Correct slot for initial startup is always the black DIMM slot closest to the CPU. Then add the other two into the remaining black slots. Power to JPWR2 only is fine. PSU 8-pin power cable defective? 

After FF upon first boot.  Tried 1 in black. Nothing.  Tried another stick in same, nothing. Did that for all 3 sticks. No dice.  As for the PSU, the top 16 lights ramp up. Hard Drives fired up, fans etc..... Could it be defective? PSU Brand new too..., I just don't know, yet seems unlikely.  Regrettably I don't have another one here to test with.

 

[HU16E]

Odds that all three RAM sticks are bad is slim. You are doing everything right from the sounds of it. That leaves PSU, mainboard, or CPU as you have tried two different VGA's. If at all possible & not too expensive, any shops in your area that can test the individual components for you?

 

[Evolution]

Odds that all three RAM sticks are bad is slim. You are doing everything right from the sounds of it. That leaves PSU, mainboard, or CPU as you have tried two different VGA's. If at all possible & not too expensive, any shops in your area that can test the individual components for you?

That would be a possibility, yet cost is a factor.  I do have a brand new UD5 board here I could try....  One other thing I thought of.  The CPU cooler I slapped on there was a H50.  Could it be that the CPU fan header didn't like that corsair H50?  What a pain it was to get that thing on. Since the FF its been on and off 3 times now..... ugg this just sucks. 

In the pecking order,  isn't it also unlikely to be the CPU. I've built many i7 rigs, so bending pins on my end is out as far as handling and installation goes..  I did though check the pins closely just in case with magnifier to see if any were from factory... Straight as an arrow.

 

[HU16E]

Could it be that the CPU fan header didn't like that corsair H50?

Always possible. Give it a try with the stock cooler. May as well try the CPU in that UD5 to rule it out as a suspect.
(It would be my luck the other board would need a bios update to support the i7 930  )

 

[Evolution]

Always possible. Give it a try with the stock cooler. May as well try the CPU in that UD5 to rule it out as a suspect.
(It would be my luck the other board would need a bios update to support the i7 930  )

Well..This morn I grabbed one of my other systems, an i7 920. !200 watt true power.... ran the cables from the case to the big bang on card board.  PSU didn't fire it us, so that eliminates that.  Then took UD5 board (Brand New) swapped CPU over, hooked up power and no boot.  It will turn on, then turn right back off.  No error code it appears, or at least I cant see it in time.  Tried each stick one at a time also. I even took a XMS stick out of the other comp to see, no dice.

So now im in a dilemma again.  Is the UD5 in need of a Bios flash? (according to what I read, it should boot) or can I safely say its the CPU at this point?

What a nightmare......

 

[HU16E]

What a nightmare......

This indeed must be a trying & frustrating experience. Like I joked, that would be my luck a bios flash would be needed to support that 930 on the UD5. I must confess, I have no idea about a bios flash being needed without researching it for that board. Anyway, with reluctance in suggesting this, one way to eliminate the question about the 930, it will be a hassle, but can you try the 920 you have in the BB X board?

 

[Evolution]

This indeed must be a trying & frustrating experience. Like I joked, that would be my luck a bios flash would be needed to support that 930 on the UD5. I must confess, I have no idea about a bios flash being needed without researching it for that board. Anyway, with reluctance in suggesting this, one way to eliminate the question about the 930, it will be a hassle, but can you try the 920 you have in the BB X board?

Yes it truly is... I thought about taking the 920 out of the other rig, yet i really didn't want to go that far as in dissecting.  So what I decided to do is this.  I got the 930 and the Big Bang from Amazon.  I am going to return those items and grab another 930 and Big bang from our local Fryes here.  I wish I was 100% positive it was the CPU, yet with the UD5 perhaps needing a Bios Flash I cant say with certainty.  So, by grabbing those items today I would assume based on all I done things should work. At least that's the assumption.

Thank you so much for all your help and suggestions.  I will let ya know how it goes when I get to that point.

 

[HU16E]

Sounds like a plan! I'll be hoping it goes smoothly with the new components.

 

[Evolution]

Sounds like a plan! I'll be hoping it goes smoothly with the new components.

Woohooooooooo.... All went without a hitch.  Runs great. Just did fresh install of 7 and re-instaliing programs.  Wanted to jump in and say thanks for all your help.  Im almost 99% sure it was the CPU.  Anwyays all good..