New computer build won't boot (Ram?)

zzcranjo · 20th June 2012, 6:39 PM

Hi all,

I am building a budget computer for a friend, and have run into some trouble. When I turn it on, I get 5 short beeps, then nothing. No video output. If I take the ram out, then boot, it gives 3 long beeps which I assume is the no ram signal. I found one site that said 5 beeps was a "process error", could someone explain that a bit more? I can't figure this out, I have 2 4gb ddr3 1333 sticks, the mobo supports dual channel(hg1 vs) but every combination of sticks in slots has given the same 5 beeps. Maybe it is another component? I have tried with hard drive/optical drive plugged in, and not plugged in and it hasn't made a difference. Psu is a Thermaltake 500w that was included in the case, while not the most powerful it should be able to handle an i3 2100, a seagate 1tb green hard drive, optical drive and a couple sticks of ram.

Thanks!

broccoli · 20th June 2012, 6:58 PM

Internet search says that 5 beeps is either the processor or the motherboard. Are they all new? Is the cpu definitely supported on the motherboard? Is the cpu cooler on firmly, fan plugged in? Recheck it all. You might have just got a dodgy motherboard?

zzcranjo · 20th June 2012, 7:01 PM

Yeah its all new hardware, and I managed to get into bios by spamming F2, as i noticed the bios splash screen appeared for just a fraction of a second before going black. I was able to mess around in the bios, it detected all the ram, hard drive, optical drive etc correctly, everything was working. I will give installing windows 7 a go. I need to know what is causing those beeps though.

zzcranjo · 20th June 2012, 9:20 PM

I have succesfully installed windows 7, all seems to be working fine. I haven't put the gpu back in(after removing it for troubleshooting) but I assume that will be fine. Other than the 5 beeps upon startup it seems fine, I think that it was trying to boot from the hard drive(at that point the hd was the only thing plugged in and first in boot order) and it just didn't display the "not boot media" message. Anyone got any ideas as to why the beeps are happening? P95 was fine, no errors, so cpu is fine I think.

Problem solved: Updated the bios, it now just has one short beep as normal.

20th June 2012, 6:39 PM	#1
zzcranjo Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 41	New computer build won't boot (Ram?) Hi all, I am building a budget computer for a friend, and have run into some trouble. When I turn it on, I get 5 short beeps, then nothing. No video output. If I take the ram out, then boot, it gives 3 long beeps which I assume is the no ram signal. I found one site that said 5 beeps was a "process error", could someone explain that a bit more? I can't figure this out, I have 2 4gb ddr3 1333 sticks, the mobo supports dual channel(hg1 vs) but every combination of sticks in slots has given the same 5 beeps. Maybe it is another component? I have tried with hard drive/optical drive plugged in, and not plugged in and it hasn't made a difference. Psu is a Thermaltake 500w that was included in the case, while not the most powerful it should be able to handle an i3 2100, a seagate 1tb green hard drive, optical drive and a couple sticks of ram. Thanks! __________________ GigaByte GA-970A-D3 AMD PhII X6 1055T OC - 3.5Ghz, Corsair H60 CPU cooler (2x)G.Skill F3-12800CL9-4GBRL 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3 Asus 6950 2gb direct cu ii Cooler Master HAF XB case

20th June 2012, 7:01 PM	#3
zzcranjo Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 41	Yeah its all new hardware, and I managed to get into bios by spamming F2, as i noticed the bios splash screen appeared for just a fraction of a second before going black. I was able to mess around in the bios, it detected all the ram, hard drive, optical drive etc correctly, everything was working. I will give installing windows 7 a go. I need to know what is causing those beeps though. __________________ GigaByte GA-970A-D3 AMD PhII X6 1055T OC - 3.5Ghz, Corsair H60 CPU cooler (2x)G.Skill F3-12800CL9-4GBRL 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3 Asus 6950 2gb direct cu ii Cooler Master HAF XB case

20th June 2012, 9:20 PM	#4
zzcranjo Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 41	I have succesfully installed windows 7, all seems to be working fine. I haven't put the gpu back in(after removing it for troubleshooting) but I assume that will be fine. Other than the 5 beeps upon startup it seems fine, I think that it was trying to boot from the hard drive(at that point the hd was the only thing plugged in and first in boot order) and it just didn't display the "not boot media" message. Anyone got any ideas as to why the beeps are happening? P95 was fine, no errors, so cpu is fine I think. Problem solved: Updated the bios, it now just has one short beep as normal. __________________ GigaByte GA-970A-D3 AMD PhII X6 1055T OC - 3.5Ghz, Corsair H60 CPU cooler (2x)G.Skill F3-12800CL9-4GBRL 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3 Asus 6950 2gb direct cu ii Cooler Master HAF XB case Last edited by zzcranjo; 20th June 2012 at 9:54 PM.