Asus M5A88-V EVO RAM error.

[Tauntheostrich]

I have a PC I just put back together tonight after I disassembled it about 6 months ago.

I've plugged in everyhing, started it up and got an error, 1 long beep and 2 short ones. according to the ASUS website this means its a memory error. I've taken the memory out, cleaned it, tried every slot, and no results.

I'm curious if it could be that the RAM is 1600 mhz. the site says that the board supports 1600 (o.c.) and I believe this is the memory that I bought with the board, although thats been awhile back

My question is could this be an issue with bad RAM or the board.

Thanks.

 

[avjguy2362]

What exact RAM do you have? The RAM support page shows quite a few 1600 RAM modules that are supported, but this MB does not have MEM OK, so you will likely have to have RAM on their support page to guarantee operation. There is also a long list of other possibilities including the PS and all the connections, like the CPU connector and other standard connections.
Here is the RAM support page:
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socketAM3/M4A88TD-M/AMD_DDR3_4DIMM_model_list_report.pdf
Here is the Tom's list of things to check when you get no video at start-up!
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

 

[Tauntheostrich]

What exact RAM do you have? The RAM support page shows quite a few 1600 RAM modules that are supported, but this MB does not have MEM OK, so you will likely have to have RAM on their support page to guarantee operation. There is also a long list of other possibilities including the PS and all the connections, like the CPU connector and other standard connections.
Here is the RAM support page:
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socketAM3/M4A88TD-M/AMD_DDR3_4DIMM_model_list_report.pdf
Here is the Tom's list of things to check when you get no video at start-up!
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

looking through I Found that my ram is supported. KINGSTON KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX（XMP)

the power supply is an 800w PSU though I do have a 650 I can swap out with to test it. I'm pretty confident I have everything plugged in correctly, save for failing to plug in the Power LED.

 

[avjguy2362]

Have you double checked the CMOS clear "jumper". It should be connected to pins 1 and 2, not 2 and 3, or is it missing?
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/432357/Asus-M5a88-V-Evo.html?page=35#manual

 

[Tauntheostrich]

Have you double checked the CMOS clear "jumper". It should be connected to pins 1 and 2, not 2 and 3, or is it missing?
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/432357/Asus-M5a88-V-Evo.html?page=35#manual

accidently clicked the wrong button when replying. whoops. anyway I looked at the board.and I dont see a CMOS jumper unless its this tiny.. and I mean VERY tiny black square, Im not sure if the CMOS changes depending on motherboard but it doesnt look like the CMOS jumper on my last one. it looked like the diagram I suppose. If that's the case its set to default but the thing is so small I cant remove the cap.

 

[avjguy2362]

There is no cap, It is a little plastic tab that sticks up that you grab with two fingers and pull up. Then you carefully slide it back down on the other two pins. Once you see it, you will get it. Quite a few people seem to remove these and then misplace them. Technically you could use one half of a quick disconnect, probably the red one. You may have to bend it slightly to get it to fit right, with the power off, of course. You just need the 1 and 2 pins to be connected at start.
My jumper is blue ( M5A99x), they may change them a bit over time, but I am sure it doesn't take a strong arm to remove, just give it a little tug and it should come off.

 

[Tauntheostrich]

There is no cap, It is a little plastic tab that sticks up that you grab with two fingers and pull up. Then you carefully slide it back down on the other two pins. Once you see it, you will get it. Quite a few people seem to remove these and then misplace them. Technically you could use one half of a quick disconnect, probably the red one. You may have to bend it slightly to get it to fit right, with the power off, of course. You just need the 1 and 2 pins to be connected at start.
My jumper is blue ( M5A99x), they may change them a bit over time, but I am sure it doesn't take a strong arm to remove, just give it a little tug and it should come off.

I looked where the manual said both online, and the physical manual that I have. where the jumper is I see a tiny black square, I've tried giving it as much pull as i could given what little grip I could get on it and it won't budge.

 

[avjguy2362]

I just saw a picture of your MB and you have a blue CMOS jumper right next to ( it almost touching ) the first blue USB 10 pin connector!
Bottom left:
https://www.google.com/search?q=M5A88-V+CMOS+pictures&espv=210&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&imgil=Vz0Ngs7GJhOzaM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQOTfBvM8g2Hjwr1SNgqt79lleW5xoWEZBXkM-ArQm93FMuNqWy%253B500%253B500%253BG6b-WX92ABibkM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.coolingconfigurator.com%25252Fwaterblock%25252F3830046991058&source=iu&usg=__SfW5WCNlZ6osdh_vG99oNy43Mrk%3D&sa=X&ei=N74SU7ewM4nZoAS424DQBQ&ved=0CCoQ9QEwAA&biw=1280&bih=637#facrc=_&imgrc=Vz0Ngs7GJhOzaM%253A%3BG6b-WX92ABibkM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.coolingconfigurator.com%252Fupload%252Fpictures%252FASUS_M5A88-V_EVO_87700.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.coolingconfigurator.com%252Fwaterblock%252F3830046991058%3B500%3B500

 

[avjguy2362]

It's not black, it's blue. Is the picture I referred to the correct board?

 

[avjguy2362]

The jumper is about 1/2" tall, 1/4" wide and about 1/8" thickness. There should be one pin sticking up next to it, since there are three pins sticking up and the jumper has to slide down onto either the first and second for normal operation or the second and third to clear the CMOS. So if you don't see a small pin sticking up about 1/2" next to it, your not seeing it!

 

[Tauntheostrich]

Aha! I found out. you were correct, the interesting thing is that it wasnt on the Default I dont believe. the Left pin and middle pin correct? I set it over to that and had no beeps at all.. but also it would not post, when I moved it back to the position I found it in, it errored again.

looking at the book again I realized that it WAS in the default position when I found it, I'm looking at the board upside down from how it appears in the manual. still when moving back to default it went right back to erroring.

 

[avjguy2362]

You mentioned not having the power LED not connected, you don't need it, but if the reset connector is on the wrong pins that can also cause a no-go. Better double check!

 

[avjguy2362]

Went up a few pages in the manual and it says you do have the MEM OK feature. The Asus site didn't mention it in the feature set, but anyway, have you tried that? IF the memory settings were different in the BIOS, than the settings for this RAM, that may be causing a problem. MEM OK will systematically go through many common settings until it finds a setting that will work well enough to get you into the BIOS so you can confirm and or set the values that are appropriate:
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/432357/Asus-M5a88-V-Evo.html?page=38#manual

 

[Tauntheostrich]

Went up a few pages in the manual and it says you do have the MEM OK feature. The Asus site didn't mention it in the feature set, but anyway, have you tried that? IF the memory settings were different in the BIOS, than the settings for this RAM, that may be causing a problem. MEM OK will systematically go through many common settings until it finds a setting that will work well enough to get you into the BIOS so you can confirm and or set the values that are appropriate:
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/432357/Asus-M5a88-V-Evo.html?page=38#manual

Just gave this a shot, MemOK blinked through all the settings, giving the same error beep all throughout the process. finally went back to the solid light but the error still remains unfortunately.

 

[MIJ-VI]

Went up a few pages in the manual and it says you do have the MEM OK feature. The Asus site didn't mention it in the feature set, but anyway, have you tried that? IF the memory settings were different in the BIOS, than the settings for this RAM, that may be causing a problem. MEM OK will systematically go through many common settings until it finds a setting that will work well enough to get you into the BIOS so you can confirm and or set the values that are appropriate:
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/432357/Asus-M5a88-V-Evo.html?page=38#manual

Just gave this a shot, MemOK blinked through all the settings, giving the same error beep all throughout the process. finally went back to the solid light but the error still remains unfortunately.

If you have more than one DIMM then try them one-at-a-time.

If that doesn't work:

- try a known good (preferably 1333MHz - 1600MHz) DIMM from another machine.
- try your KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX DIMM(s) in another rig.

BTW. How old is the CMOS battery?