Motherboard + CPU combo will not POST

[cptwhite_uk]

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-GD55
CPU: i7 3770

Both known to be good, but cannot get them to post when paired together.

Bought both 2nd hand, assumed one was faulty. Replaced the i7 3770 with a G640 (Sandybridge 2nd gen dual core pentium). System posted fine. I updated the BIOS to latest version in case this was the issue. Same Boot loop result.

I also have a Dell 3010 in the house, which natively supports an i7 3770. Switched out the i5 3470 which is currently in it, and the Dell system booted into Windows, and showed the i7 3770 in Device Manager. Okay, so the processor seemed fine as well. I put the i5 3470 into the MSI Z77A-GD55, wondering if it would also have issues being from the same generation of processors but it booted up first time as well. So it doesn't have issues with Intel 3rd gen, just the particular CPU it seems.

Next I rolled back to previous BIOS versions, working my way back from the latest. (tried around 4 total, starting with the latest, then 2 middle lifespan versions, and finally the initial release of the BIOS). All had the same result, booting with the G640 and not with the i7 3770.

I boot up with the G640 and manually adjust the CPU voltage to 1.35V in case it's a Vdroop issue. No change.

I've also tried with 4 sticks of RAM, 1 stick in slot 2 (It's Crucial Ballastix Elite 1866mm, but running at 1333Mhz for reference). I've also tried a generic 2Gb samsung 1333 stick from the Dell PC. None of this changed the behavior, so I'm assuming it's not a RAM issue.

I've also left the battery out of the motherboard for 3 hours, and reset CMOS multiple times. No change in behaviour.

At this point I'm out of ideas, anyone got any thoughts?

Back up plan is just to give the Dell an unintended upgrade and stick the 3470 on the MSI Z77A-GD55 if all else fails, but I just can't figure out what the issue is and I just want to solve the problem!

Any help appreciated!

[cptwhite_uk]

Ordered a 2600K to see how that fairs, hopefully it will post!

Confident it's some bizarre issue with the i7 3770 given it posted first time in the Dell system.

[Agent]

The Z77 in general was known for BIOS and chip compatibility issues. A mixture of microcode / CMOS settings / BIOS versions meant issues popped up often.

Here is a thread, with what sounds like the same issue: http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts....-cpu-upgrading
While it's the k version of the chip, everything else sounds similar to what you're experiencing.

Take a look for a DOS based flasher from MSI, and check the command line arguments it can take. Try flashing everything (boot, etc) and see if that helps. Going down the route of removing and flashing the chip is probably a bit much if you've not done it before.

Impossible to say if it is this, but Z77 certainly had its quirks.

[cptwhite_uk]

Have found some damage on the contact pad of the 3770, see photo:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JtE9VihkbmXNLZh27


...that said, it still booted fine in the Dell system, so I suspect this might be a red herring.

[cptwhite_uk]

Thanks for the link Agent, interesting reading. Does flashing though DOS command prompt do anything flashing through the BIOS options doesn't do?

[cptwhite_uk]

Partial success!

I tried more combinations of RAM, and the system boots with slots 3 and 4 populated with any of the 4 DIMM modules I have. However if any are inserted into slots 1 or 2, the system will fail to post.

The system booted fine with all 4 slots populated, and the 3470 installed, so I had assumed the DIMM slots were fine.

It seems to be a combination of all 4 DIMM slots being populated, the 3770, and MSI Z77A-GD55!

Hopefully the 2600K I've ordered will run more smoothly and I can lay this to rest, using the 3770 in a seperate system.

[Agent]

Just looked up the pad - it's SP_DQ, so memory-related. Matches your findings so far.

Someone with good electrical skills can fix that pad, if needed.

[cptwhite_uk]

For reference the Dell mobo I tried the 3770 with was also populated with 4x 4Gb modules, and that booted without issue.

[Agent]

It could be that the pin isn't making good enough contact on the one board. Is it the same heatsink for both? Could be different pressure being applied on the boards, which can have an impact.

I'd run a memtest before I'd consider it fine - POST is a very basic hardware check and differs vastly been boards and chipsets.

[cptwhite_uk]

I suspect the wife's Dell is getting an impromptu upgrade, don't think I can sell it on knowing the potential for issues.

[AGTDenton]

If you can get into the BIOS with a no POST on that board try disabling the iGPU assuming you have a spare GPU.
I was having all sorts of problems with an ivy bridge system and that randomly solved it.

[cptwhite_uk]

the 2600K is arriving tomorrow, so if that works with all 4 dimms I'm moving on, spent enough time trouble shooting it now. It's working with 2 sticks (8Gb) at least, so it's allowed me to setup the system in prep for the CPU swop tomorrow. I'll try your suggestion if I still don't have any luck with the 2600K!

[cptwhite_uk]

Update:

So the 2600K booted fine first time with 4 RAM modules installed. Seems the issue is specific to the CPU, and most likely the damage to the rear contact plate. However since it works fine in the Dell, I'll probably just use it there and switch out the 3470.