x58 Plat not accepting all RAM and super slow boot. [RESOLVED]

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USB_GF_Grill

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I finally did it; I built my own computer. And this thing is SMOKING fast. 2.67GHz Intel Core i7 920, EVGA GTX 285, 6Gigs of Ram (3x2), no overclocking, and I've yet to see it temps go over 35 on HDDs and CPU. Amazing, right? except for two things...

According to my computer, I only have 4 gigs of RAM... I'm running 64bit Vista, so no problems there. Something is wrong with RAM slot A0 (first black one). Other two black slots run just fine, but if A0 is the only one occupied, my computer runs through a power cycle. Putting the RAM in the blue slots (any of the slots and any number of sticks) results in the computer giving me three long beeps and then power cycling, so that doesn't work. But the weirdest thing is that, while Vista and the Bios both say my total ram is only 4, the Bios knows that a 2gb Patriot RAM Stick (the sticks are http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220369) is there!

The other problem is that it takes about 20 seconds from when I hit the power button till the computer actually starts to boot up. Is this just something with the Mobo?
 
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Hi USB_GF_Grill, been awhile! First thought was a 32 bit system, but that is not the case. Have you tried each of the 3 mem. sticks individually in the A0 black DIMM slot? Have you tested each mem. stick individually using a utility? Can you see any visual difference in the A0 slot from the others? A damaged connection point, debris, piece of tape, plastic, etc. in the slot?
 
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Yes, All three result in the same thing: Power Cycling. However, I've yet to test each individually, but I don't have a utility to do so. And I've also not checked the slot for debris because I've simply not had the time, but it's certainly a possibility. I'll do that once I get back from work today...
 
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If booting with 1 RAM in A0 still occur in auto rebooting, I suggest that you RMA the board.
 
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Ok, updated BIOS from 3.2 to 3.4 (This is x58 SLI, btw), still no fix for either problem.

I downloaded CPU Z. It sees all three sticks, AND it thinks my total is the proper 6 gigs (GAH!)...

I think it has to something with the timings. The back of the sticks says 9-9-9-24, and they're advertised as 1333, but they're defaulting to 7-7-7-20 and 1066! But then again, I know very little when it comes to this sort of thing...

EDIT: But then again, there might be something wrong with the board... CPU Z says that I have 7 slots (!?!?) and that 3,5, and 7 are occupied, not 1,3, and 5, like it should be...

On a side note, AWESOME job on the BIOS USB stick flasher. I sailed through like butter (in other words, no problems at ALL, or even minor annoyances on a task that is possibly the most dangerous and difficult to perform).
 
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CPU-Z shows all 6G's? :shocked: Unexpected, this is! What does the OS say? Start-Settings-Control Panel-System. What does it show for System, Memory (RAM)?

Looked over the modules specs. They are 1066 chipped 'rated' to 1333 modules. Maybe loosening the timings to 9 9 9 24 or 8 8 8 21 when running at 1066 may help. I would try 9 9 9 24 first.

Do you also have the Everest utility?

P.S. Slow boot? Welcome to Vista!
 
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Just chiming in with the exact same problem with the same board, but my memory is 1600 reading at 1333 9-9-9-24

Same Vista reading, same CPU-Z thing.
Let me know if you figure it out!
 
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Yep! The computer, like the bios at startup, says only 4. But the BIOS as well knows when the third stick is in the DIMM 1 slot. This is why I'm pretty sure it's not a broken board or stick of ram!

I was fiddling around with the timings on them, none would get the 3rd stick to show up, most would result in the computer power cycling. What's really odd is that CPU Z is saying that the sticks are running at 533 MHz. What?

I haven't, but I'm assuming it's exactly like CPU Z so I'm going to download it now.

And as for the slow boot: No, it's not like that at all! When it actually starts booting up, meaning from the time it shows the BIOS boot screen till I can put my password in, it only takes a respectable 10-15 seconds. It's actually pretty fast. The problem is that it takes JUST as much time from when I hit the power button till the board beeps at me and starts the actual boot process. The fans come on, but it doesn't go anywhere. :|

Good to see someone else having this problem, too. More proof to me that it's not a defective board!
 
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Since I stupidly didn't do this to start with...

Intel Core i7 920 2.66Ghz
MSI x58 Platinum SLI
Patriot 3x2 DDR3-1333
EVGA GTX 285 2GB
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64bit
Corsair 750W
 
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CPU-Z is showing 1/2 the speed of 1066. It is DDR (Double Data Rate) 533X2=1066. All is fine, your running 1066.

Above or below your sig. grill, could you list 'all' your system components in detail, including the amps on all the PSU rails? There may be something that stands out that may be a potential culprit.

Sadly, it is still looking like some kind of problem with the A0 slot.

Added: TX model PSU? HDD's & Optical drives?

Added #2: Dyingbreed779, you both have Vista 64 bit. Have you tried XP SP3 32 bit or Vista SP1 32 bit, to see if it does the same thing?
 
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Is there a chance it's just the RAM not being compatible with the board? I found the compatibility list for this board on the MSI site and Patriot Memory isn't even an option...

Also, updated my sig.
 
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There is always that chance, however, I have used 3X2G PC3-12800 sets that are not on a compatibilty list, & have worked fine on the 'Pro' boards. It is still looking like a defective A0 slot.

Dyingbreed779 is using Corsairs & having the same 'reading' problem you are. Are we missing an updated memory compatibility bios as being needed? Maybe others have contacted Tech. Support with this same problem. They may have an answer. http://ocss.msi.com.tw/

(Sig. looks good!)
 
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Somebody else had a similar-ish problem... turned out that they had some bent pins in the CPU socket. Try removing the CPU and inspecting the socket pins to see if you have any damaged pins. I can remember when I bought my Eclipse, I had to remove the board from the box, inspect it (especially the CPU socket) and sign that everything was okay before completing the purchase.
 
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Blaise said:
Somebody else had a similar-ish problem... turned out that they had some bent pins in the CPU socket. Try removing the CPU and inspecting the socket pins to see if you have any damaged pins. I can remember when I bought my Eclipse, I had to remove the board from the box, inspect it (especially the CPU socket) and sign that everything was okay before completing the purchase.
Click to expand...

At which point, I'd still probably need to RMA it...
 
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Worth a check, the other guy gently straightened the pins and all went well. Correct me if I'm wrong but unless the board came with bent pins (it has a shipping cover to prevent this from occurring), MSI may tout "user error" to the RAM and charge you some cash to fix it.
 
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Contacted MSI, they said that the board was most likely defective, and that I should RMA it. I was just past the RMA deadline (that, and I didn't feel like losing use of my functional, if not fully, comptuer), so I just bought another one, along with some more RAM. Result: it works! 12 gigs all the way baby!

Of course, The slow pre-boot still exists, I'm guessing now that it simply comes with the board, and Vista gives my system a 5.9. I can understand that because it's based of the lowest, not the average, but the problem is that it rates EVERYTHING as 5.9. Even the RAM, which went through a 3x upgrade and still didn't change. Now I don't know what to try to fix in order to up my score...
 
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A score of 5.9 is the highest you can get in Vista unless they upped it with the release of SP2.
 
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USB_GF_Grill said:
Now I don't know what to try to fix in order to up my score...
Click to expand...

Blaise is right, under Vista 5,9 is the highest score you can get. If you want more  :bonk: you must use Windows Seven, or forget Windows Experience Index.

In Windows 7 the Windows Experience Index(WEI) score ranges from 1.0 to 7.9.  :think:
 
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USB_GF_Grill said:
Contacted MSI, they said that the board was most likely defective, and that I should RMA it. I was just past the RMA deadline (that, and I didn't feel like losing use of my functional, if not fully, comptuer), so I just bought another one, along with some more RAM. Result: it works! 12 gigs all the way baby!
Click to expand...

You bought another X58 Platinum?  The RMA deadline can't possibly be passed.  These boards aren't even a year old...
 
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