Computer won't start because of "memory refresh timer error"

[Iz]

(I apologize for any english mistake)

I have built a new computer and I can't get it to boot. Every time I press the power button, I get one short "beep" which means "memory refresh timer error". Then nothing happens.

I identified two possible cause:
-My cpu is an i5-6600 and I have 2x8GB of DDR4-3000. This cpu is supposed to support DDR4-2133 (or 1866). However, my motherboard supports DDR4-3000.

-The computer never wants to boot. If the cpu is disconnected, however, all fans will start and I can hear the hard drive working.

Is the problem my ram or my cpu?

 

[MeanMachine41]

Memory types officially supported by your CPU are DDR4-1866/2133 and higher frequencies are considered an OC. It will depend on the strength of your chips IMC if they will work or not.

If you know your Bios well you can try your XMP profile and although your MB supports the RAM frequency, your CPU may not and would require changes to Primary Timings and Dram voltage. No guarantee.
It should however just default to 2133MHz. Do you have a Memok button on the MB to try.?
List the MB.?
There is no way your system would boot without a CPU installed.

There probably is nothing wrong with the MB or RAM.

 

[smorizio]

new pc use one ram stick and no gpu see if onboard video is working. new pc only beep once if there no issues. look at mb debug led see if the ram or cpu fault led is on. on the mb make sure the 4/8 pin power for the cpu is filled and you used the right power plugs.

 

[Iz]

Memory types officially supported by your CPU are DDR4-1866/2133 and higher frequencies are considered an OC. It will depend on the strength of your chips IMC if they will work or not.

If you know your Bios well you can try your XMP profile and although your MB supports the RAM frequency, your CPU may not and would require changes to Primary Timings and Dram voltage. No guarantee.
It should however just default to 2133MHz. Do you have a Memok button on the MB to try.?
List the MB.?
There is no way your system would boot without a CPU installed.

There probably is nothing wrong with the MB or RAM.

 

[Iz]

I said "boot" but it's not exactly what I meant. I meant that I can see and hear the other parts working but obviously I can't access the BIOS without a cpu.

It doesn't seem like I have a memok button.

My motherboard is a Z170A SLI PLUS

 

[Iz]

new pc use one ram stick and no gpu see if onboard video is working. new pc only beep once if there no issues. look at mb debug led see if the ram or cpu fault led is on. on the mb make sure the 4/8 pin power for the cpu is filled and you used the right power plugs.

 

[Iz]

None of the fault leds are on. The computer seems to stop after the "beep".

It may be the cable's fault. The pins (I'm not sure if it can be called this way) don't exactly match the motherboard's hole (two of them (out of 8) are a little different but it fits and I don't see why it would matter).

 

[smorizio]

be carefull make sure your not using the video cards 6 plus 2 cables. should be labled cpu.

 

[Iz]

be carefull make sure your not using the video cards 6 plus 2 cables. should be labled cpu.

I Used the cpu cable (4 plus 4). And I made sure it's plugged correctly in the power supply

 

[MeanMachine41]

None of the fault leds are on. The computer seems to stop after the "beep".

It may be the cable's fault. The pins (I'm not sure if it can be called this way) don't exactly match the motherboard's hole (two of them (out of 8) are a little different but it fits and I don't see why it would matter).

The MSI Z170A SLI PLUS has JPWR1 24pin and JPWR2 8pin sockets and you must connect them with cables that fit correctly. Please check the 8pin cable and connection as it has to exactly match the MBs socket.

Check all other cable connections and that the CPU cooler is connected to the CPUFAN1 header.

If this is not the issue, then I am still suspecting your RAM as an OC mismatch. With OC RAM there is no guarantee they will work even tho the MB may support higher frequency RAM.

I can only suggest you get a RAM kit of 2133MHz or 2400MHz to try. If you can access Bios then Changes can be made to Primary Timings and DRAM voltage. If you have no experience in this then as I said try another lower frequency kit.

 

[smorizio]

any video on the onboard video ports??

 

[Iz]

None of the fault leds are on. The computer seems to stop after the "beep".

It may be the cable's fault. The pins (I'm not sure if it can be called this way) don't exactly match the motherboard's hole (two of them (out of 8) are a little different but it fits and I don't see why it would matter).

The MSI Z170A SLI PLUS has JPWR1 24pin and JPWR2 8pin sockets and you must connect them with cables that fit correctly. Please check the 8pin cable and connection as it has to exactly match the MBs socket.

Check all other cable connections and that the CPU cooler is connected to the CPUFAN1 header.

If this is not the issue, then I am still suspecting your RAM as an OC mismatch. With OC RAM there is no guarantee they will work even tho the MB may support higher frequency RAM.

I can only suggest you get a RAM kit of 2133MHz or 2400MHz to try. If you can access Bios then Changes can be made to Primary Timings and DRAM voltage. If you have no experience in this then as I said try another lower frequency kit.

I think it actually is the cable. I have tried without a cpu (but with cable connected) and it always gives me the same "beep".

But this was the cpu cable that came with my power supply (rosewill 650w gold certified fully modular atx power supply).

Is it possible that it is not compatible with the motherboard?
If it is not the good cable, which one is?

 

[MeanMachine41]

This is an 8pin EPS power cable connection.

The 8 pin 12 volt cable is polarized so it can only be plugged into the 8 pin motherboard connector correctly. If you look carefully at the picture above you can see that four of the pins are square and the other four have rounded corners. The motherboard connectors also have the same square and rounded arrangement so the power cable only fits in one way. At least that's true unless you try really hard to force it into the connector. With enough force you can sometimes get a cable with a small number of pins into a connector which doesn't match. You should only plug the 8 pin 12 volt cable into the motherboard connector where it belongs or you can fry your MB.