DRAM led on - ASUS P9X79

[jsantab5]

Mobo: ASUS P9X79
CPU: i7-4820K
RAM: Ballistix Sport 1600Mhz PC3-12800 2x8GB
PSU: Vantec ION2+
Cooling: Hyper 212 Evo

Like a few others on these forums, my DRAM led is on solid red. I've been wading through and reading what others have tried, and done just about everything.

This system has been working fine for about 5 months, so it's not a RAM compatibility issue (even thought that RAM isn't on the QVL). The only change between the system working and not working was my moving the case to a different part of the room, so I assumed I'd knocked something loose and maybe there is a short somewhere.

Here's what I've tried so far:
- MemOK - went through its sequence, back to solid red
- Tried booting with no RAM, GPU or drives plugged in. Solid red.
- Each of the two RAM sticks individually in each of the 8 DIMM slots. All solid red.
- Cleared CMOS, both with the jumper and by removing the battery.
- Reflash the BIOS. It wouldn't take. BIOS led blinked once and then solid blue, which indicates that the board doesn't recognise the BIOS file on the usb stick. Tried as both a .CAP and .ROM file.
- Benched the system, thinking there was a short with the case. Nothing plugged in but the CPU, one stick of RAM and the PSU (both the 24 pin ATX connector and the 8 pin CPU connector). Solid red.
- Reseated the CPU. No bent pins, fresh thermal paste not spilling over. Still sold red.
- The RAM is only 5 months old and the contacts look fine (even after being pushed in and taken out 8 times each).

My intuition is that the problem is the motherboard, as it seems unlikely that both RAM sticks would fail at the same time. But unfortunately I bought the board as "Manufacturer refurbished" on ebay, so there is no warranty and no RMA possibility.

Anything else I could try? Is there a way to test the internals of the DIMM slots for a short? Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Brighttail]

My first question is are you having any issues? If not it very well could be that the LED is stuck in the red position it happens. Second there are memory tests out there, http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/memorytest.htm any one of those will do and should be free.

ONe other thing, have you made sure the BIOS is the lastest?

THe other possibility is that the computer doesn't recognize soemthing about the Ballistic ram but you said it was fine until you moved it, so i'm with you i think something got jostled with the motherboard and the LED is just "wrong" .

I would run the MEM tests and if all is workign and it all passes, just leave it as it and put a piece of electrical tape over it if it bugs ya

 

[jsantab5]

Thanks for the response Brighttail. My main issue is that, with the DRAM led on, the system won't POST and therefore won't boot. Sorry, probably should've specified that first.

Re: BIOS. I tried flashing the very latest BIOS (v4801) which is still in beta. When that didn't work I tried the previous version (v4701). Neither would flash properly. I can't remember which version it had before it wouldn't POST, either 4608 or 4701.

If it were purely a matter of the led being on but otherwise working normally, that would be fine. But not booting is a bit more of an issue

 

[Brighttail]

So this is the new "refresh" .. so yeah you need the bios update. You may have to call teh motherboard manufacturer on this one.

 

[jsantab5]

Any thoughts on how I can get the BIOS to flash properly? When I insert the usb stick with the BIOS file (I've tried both .CAP and .ROM) and press the BIOS button, it flashes once and then remains on. I've tried with RAM installed and without.

 

[Brighttail]

ASUS P9X79
2-43
Chapter 2
Updating BIOS may have risks. If the BIOS program is damaged during the process
causing the system unable to reboot, please contact the local service station for help.
2.3.10
USB BIOS Flashback
1.
Download the BIOS ROM file from the ASUS service website (www.asus.com). Save the
ROM file to a USB portable disk.
2.
On the rear I/O port, plug the USB disk to the USB port with the WHITE interior. (See
rectangle box in the image below)
3.
Press the BIOS Flashback button for 3 seconds, and the light will begin to flash (on the
third second).
4.
The BIOS Flashback function is enabled once the light starts to flash.
5.
The flashing rate of the light signal accelerates along with the updating spe
ed.
6.
When the flashing light stop, the BIOS updating has been complete.

You have to use the bottom USB port to the right of the button.

 

[jsantab5]

Check, did all that. Tried both v4701 and v4801 (still in beta). Tried as both .CAP file and .ROM file. Same result everytime: one blue flash, then solid blue.

 

[Brighttail]

Time to give the manufacturer a call. I pulled that directly from the manual. Make sure the BIOS file you get from them is the right one in the right format.

 

[jsantab5]

Just submitted an online form to ASUS

We'll see what kind of response I get. As I say, I didn't buy the board new from ASUS (or an ASUS retailer) but as a "refurbished" board on ebay. I won't be too shocked if they politely tell me, "it happens, buy a new one."

 

[Brighttail]

Shhhh don't tell them it isn't a refurbished one unless you gotta RMA, hopefully they will let you know. Let me know how it goes.

Alternatively, you can always take it to a hardware place, have them put an earlier chip in, use your file to flash it in bios and take it out for your new chip. Shouldn't cost that much.

 

[norsestar]

Is your flash drive formatted FAT32 when you try to update the BIOS? The ones larger than 4GB tend to be formatted exFAT and the motherboard may not be able to understand that...

 

[jsantab5]

@norsestar Yes I made sure the formatting on the usb stick was correct

@Brigthtail Just heard back from ASUS, response was "failed board, contact retailer and apply for RMA." So, boo. I'll email the ebay seller, I don't really think it's their fault, but I"ll see if they can do anything to help me.

 

[Brighttail]

I'm sorry for this. I hope you can get your money back and/or get a proper RMA done.

 

[jsantab5]

Thanks for the sympathy Brighttail, it's appreciated. I was stoked and loving this new system for about 5 months before this.

I will go though the motions of contacting the retailer and trying get an RMA, but I'm not terribly optimistic. I expect I'll be buying another mobo. Two questions on my mind now:

1. Do I go with ebay again? Obviously I've been burned in this situation. I've been building systems for about 10 years, mostly with parts bought online, and this is the first time anything like this has happened to me. A major factor is that I live in New Zealand, and retailers here have a huge markup. The savings from buying online are 30-50%, sometimes more. Is it worth that much of a premium so I have a warranty and somewhere to go if the part fails? I really don't know.

2. Do I go with ASUS again? I've bought other ASUS gear before and it's been fine. The P9X79 should, by all accounts, be a good board. It's recommended by this site, and it's the right sort of board and price point for my needs and budget. But this one failed. The system that this new one replaced had a mobo from Gigabyte, used for about 5 years with no issues. Gigabyte's comparable mobo is also very highly rated, only a little more expensive. Should I go with that?

I'll mull all this over while the slow wheels of customer response grind through my requests. But any thoughts are always appreciated.

 

[Brighttail]

Asus has been pretty solid with me for 10 years. I have had one issue in 10 years and that is a pretty good track record. I live in a town that has no major stores but I usually pay the price to drive to get the parts I want/need and do RMA's through the manufacturer

My wife has a gigabyte in her computer and I just prefer the ROG Asus products. It is personal preference in the end.