Asus z390-e new build, loops repeatedly after during POST

[dsimson]

This is a new build (my first, all brand-new components, and of course, no beginner's luck):
= Asus Rog Strix z390-e
= Intel i7-9700K
= EVGA Supernova 850W G3 80+ Gold
= Memory is G.Skill Tridentz RGB F4-3200C16D-GTZR (16G, 2x8G kit)

Although unlikely related to this problem:
= Coolermaster H500M case
= Coolermaster ML240R CPU cooler - liquid with radiator and two fans
= Crucial MX500 1TB SATA M.2 ssd
= HGST 8TB Deskstar (I ordered a 4TB - but Amazon shipped me an 8!)

I have a GTX 2060 GPU on order from NVIDIA, so I was trying a post-build/install test of everything else with the on-motherboard video

Here is what's happening:
(1) Turn on PSU switch:
- the z390e shield around the IO components changes colors (so there's power)
(2) Press the power button:
- All the fans start spinning (rear, 2 at front, 2 attached to the radiator, and the little mini fan attached to the IO port shroud.
- Red "CPU" led on motherboard lights up
- Red CPU led turns off, Orange "DRAM" led lights
- The memory lights up (it's RGB memory)
- Orange DRAM led turns off
--> System powers down, then a few seconds later restarts and repeats everything above, ad infinitum.

The following have had no effect on the behavior:
- Using either of the DIMM's alone, rather than both (and of course making sure the memory is seated properly).
- Motherboard's "MemOK" switch on or off
- PSU switch in "ECO" mode or not
- Using either the HDMI or Displayport video output
- Removing the USB connectors, the audio connector, and all the fan header connections (i.e., trying to isolate it to the motherboard, CPU, and memory...)

Also, when I try it with no DRAM installed at all, the orange DRAM led lights and stays lit - no power-cycling or looping, which leads me to believe that the problem is whatever's next in the power-on-self-test, not the memory.

(*) as to the memory, G.Skill's site says its supported for the z390e (https://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3200c16d-16gtzr) although I've now realized that ASUS does not list in in THEIR QVL. At the same time, there are >300 benchmarked systems with a z390e and this memory at userbenchmark.com, so it doesn't seem reasonable that the memory is incompatible.) I will see if the local "Central Computer" has any memory in stock that *is* on the ASUS QVL and try that, but agai, I'm skeptical that's the problem...

Any help, guidance, or suggestions on other things to check would be appreciated. (disassembling everything from the case would be a last resort...)

 

[alexoiu]

"Also, when I try it with no DRAM installed at all, the orange DRAM led lights and stays lit - no power-cycling or looping, which leads me to believe that the problem is whatever's next in the power-on-self-test, not the memory."
Apparently, you're not inserting the RAM all the way in. Some require more force. If correctly inserted, and still no go, try testing with single RAM each slot on the board.

 

[dsimson]

Thanks Alex - I had tried that, and I'd made sure the RAM was seated as far as possible.

Turns out, however, that the problem (this problem anyway) was that the CPU cooler was too tight and putting too much pressure on the CPU/socket. (I found that hard to believe, but mentioned in several other forum posts). I loosened it a little, and lo and behold, passed POST and into BIOS. Next set of obstacles will be working out why it says there's a CPU Fan error, and working out which headers which fans/cpu pump, radiator fans, ets. should be plugged in to, and finally, getting the ASUS and Mastercooler RGB to play nice with each other). But that will be another thread.

 

[dsimson]

Stating the solution cleanly (but not clear if I can pick my own answer as the solution?)

Problem was that the CPU cooler (Coolermaster pump) was too tight at must have been putting too much pressure on the CPU and socket. I loosened the thumbscrews a little and it now boots into the UEFI Bios Utility.