Fixed! - First Post - ASUS Crosshair VIII Q-code stops at 15

[bjcsoln]

Okay, just tried my first POST after confirming that the loop was working fine.

No error code beeps, but the Q-code gets to 15, then restarts and stops at 15...
That Q-code is "Pre-memory System Agent Initialization Started".

Have a pair of Trident Z NEO DDR 16 GB ram in slots DIMM_A2 and DIMM_B2 (which according to the manual is the recommended configuration) and an AMD3900xt.

I checked to make sure the RAM was seated properly, any ideas where I might've messed something up?

 

[sswilson]

did you try with single sticks in the different slots?

 

[bjcsoln]

sswilson.

Thanks - I gave that a shot - tried (each) of the single sticks in all 4 slots, then moved the pair to the A1 and A2 slots as well. Same thing - I also noticed that the QLEDs, in this case the DRAM one, turned yellow which points to a DRAM error.

Might I need to try and return this set of RAM and try a new set? I want to think that it seems unlikely that they would not work out of the box (meaning the problem might be somewhere else) but not sure.

 

[sswilson]

My first gut instinct would be to try different ram, preferably something with relatively loose timings / speeds. Best would be if you had access to another set before having to return the ones you have, but not everybody has access to extra hardware for fault finding.

 

[bjcsoln]

I guess I check what's in my current rig (although I dont think it is DDR4) - and if not, I will take your suggestion and get a cheap basic set to give that a shot. Thanks!

 

[Sagath]

Yeah, its not clear its the ram. You'd have to have both sticks dead (possible, but not likely) or it could be CPU...or mobo...

A good stick of ram is easiest to check though at this point.

 

[bjcsoln]

Well, i took out a piece of RAM from my current rig and stuck it in, same result. With the single stick of 4GB, I did get a slightly different sequence of QCodes - it briefly flashed CC,92,C8,14, then stay on 15 before repeating.

With the (new) 2x16 pair (or just a single 1x16) it pretty much went to 14,15 then restarted.

Is it time to strip it all down and see if I can find anything shady?

 

[Sagath]

Yeah, something shady, if you dont find anything its cpu/mobo time

 

[sswilson]

Reseat your MB power connectors before you start tearing everything down, and possibly disconnect everything but 1 stick, power connectors and video. If everything is working as it should it should at least boot into bios with that config.

The "pre-memory" code makes me a bit nervous though, usually an error code represents the last "good" indication it got and that suggests to me that it's either CPU memory controller, or MB memory interface.

 

[bjcsoln]

Thanks - I will give that a shot. Meanwhile, this is the first time ever a build hasn't posted for me. I know its best practice to test everything first (I didn't) so maybe its time I learn my lesson. I will let you know the results.