Computer won't start unless I press mem ok button

[AirBud]

I've been having a problem with my computer.

I powered down one night and it wouldn't post the next morning, the screen was blank.

I tired heaps of different things like reseating everything, clearing bios, unplugging everything. I tested the psu, tried a different monitor, tried a different gpu. I checked all the cables were connected and cleared any dust.
I finally got it to work again by changing the cmos battery. It worked like this for a while but stopped posting again after a few weeks.

So I bought a new one thinking that battery i used was old anyway but the new one didn't do anything.

The dram led is solid and when I press the mem ok button it will sometimes start and sometimes doesn't.

I have also during this time purchased an additional ssd but the problems started before that.

I don't know what else to try other than buying new ram but I don't want to do that unless it's definitely that.

My build is
Asus h77m pro.
8gb ddr3
Nvidia 770
Antec 520 psu
Intel i5 3470
2 Samsung ssd
1 hdd



Any ideas?

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Strip it down to just 1 RAM stick and onboard GPU, do you have the same issue? If so you just narrowed down to the RAM, Mobo or CPU is failing (potentially the PSU but you said you 'tested it' - how about replacing it? ) .
If that worked okay now try with 2 stick of RAM, and repeat, do you have the same issue (just POST testing here), if so again you narrowed down the potential issue.
If that worked okay now try with GPU...
and so on...
You keep trying each hardware or test each piece of hardware on a KNOWN WORKING system to see which one 'breaks.

Personally I believe the issue is your too low powered PSU for all the components, and would suggest a higher power PSU.

 

[ArtPog]

1. The kind of problem you're experiencing is one of the more miserable types of problems that can adversely affect a PC. Simply because the precise problem causing the problem can arise from a myriad of sources - sometimes involving a component one would never have dreamed would cause the problem. And there's no simple diagnostic procedure available to the typical PC user and even experienced technicians to determine just what is causing the erratic problem, let alone its solution.

2. As a general proposition the most practical course of action is substituting one component for another (not including the CPU assembly in most cases) with the hope that you'll hit upon THAT one that's causing the problem.

3. For the home user I realize this is not the most practical kind of troubleshooting to undertake for obvious reasons.

4. It's difficult for me to believe that the root cause of the problem is an under-powered 500W PSU as Tom has suggested. The current PSU should be able to provide more than enough ample power for your system it seems to me. Now whether the PSU is defective is another matter; hopefully you would have or could obtain an inexpensive power tester. I would assume you do not have another PSU to substitute (the best course of action). But at this point I would certainly NOT purchase another PSU unless you have good & sufficient reasons to believe you're dealing with a defective or underpowered PSU.

5. You might want to test the CPU with Intel's Processor Diagnostic Tool just to be on the safe side.

6. RAM is always a potential culprit. Have you tested it with Microsoft's Windows Memory Diagnostic program or some other one (other than the motherboard supplied diagnostic program)?

7. Naturally you've tested ALL three drives in your system, yes? Ensure you've done so.

8. And even substitiute another keyboard & mouse assuming you have these available. More than once we've found that solved a problem similar to what you're experiencing!

9. Finally, if nothing else seems to indicate the cause of the problem - remove the MB from its case (the MB is a mini, yes?) and start over as it were. Disconnect all the drives from the system and work only with a barebones system that allows you to obtain a screen display. If your MB supports integrated graphics work without your graphics card for a while. Check your connections carefully and connect the keyboard/mouse. Play around accessing the BIOS for some time and see if you can get some clue as to what's causing the problem.

10. If all looks OK at this point install the boot drive and work with it for a while. Then the secondary drives if no problems.

11. In the final analysis it may be a defective MB but we're always loathe to conclude that until the bitter end.

12. Anyway, hopefully you'll ferret out the problem (and more importantly) the solution. Please keep us informed.

 

[AirBud]

Thanks I'll try some of these tests. I have already tried a different psu and that didn't work. I also feel I've eliminated he gpu as a problem.

 

[AirBud]

So I tested everything. It won't even boot after mem ok anymore. I even took it back to absolute barebones and it won't post. I'm guessing a motherboard Then?

 

[ArtPog]

It's certainly possible it's a defective motherboard. But again, as I previously mentioned, the only reliable/definitive way to tell (by a PC user) is to replace whatever component is suspected of causing the problem with another known non-defective component. It certainly might be the motherboard, but on the other hand it could be another major component or even user error in assembling the PC components.