GA-Z97-D3H Clicking / Ticking / 1 Beep Then rebooting - repeat. No video out. Will POST, but see description.

[illumind]

****SOLUTION IS OUTLINED IN MY ~LAST POST~**** (What worked for me anyway - a BIOS flash from F7 to F9 on Gigabyte Z97-D3H)


I have everything disconnected except for CPU/FAN/MB/monitor and HDMI (or DVI) cable plugged into mobo with no GPU installed. See below for detail.

i5 4690 with GA-Z97-D3H is clicking / ticking / 1 beep / then rebooting - repeat. Using HDMI/DVI cable it POSTS once with RAM in one slot, then after being switched off and on again it just goes into clicking/ticking... *UNTIL* the RAM module is switched to a different slot. Then it will POST again. BUT, when it's switched off and on again, it won't POST. *UNTIL* the RAM module is switched to a different position AGAIN... In short, it only works if I switch the RAM modules to difference slots every time I switch it on - like musical [strike]chairs[/strike]s RAM, for those of you who know what I mean. All slots work, but not twice in a row with HDMI or DVI plugged in.

With VGA cable it boots into Windows 7 (once installed) every time with RAM remaining in the same 2 slots! Yay... HOWEVER, when I install my GTX 970 with DVI/HDMI, it's back to square one, clicking/ticking/single beep repeat. This happens when the GPU isn't installed if I'm using digital video cables.

- I've tried different RAM, same thing. So it isn't the RAM.
- I could try different GPU's, but it does it with no GPU plugged in, so it shouldn't be that.
- I tried clearing CMOS with Screwdriver as per manual, but that didn't work either.

I'm thinking of trying the below, but I'm unsure what the best order is:

1. Load a previous BIOS profile that worked >5x
2. Switch on without RAM and/or CPU installed to see if it still clicks with either removed.
3. Run backup BIOS, but I don't know how this works.
4. Flash BIOS.
5. Last resort... Throw it against a brick wall.

Any idea/s at all folks? If anyone knows about backup BIOS and flashing and thinks they know about this then feel free to write a long answer back, because I know nothing about it.

Really appreciate any help.

 

[jr9]

You are on the right track by stripping the system down. Some things we can cross off the list

- Has nothing to do with bad RAM as you tried other DIMMs (assuming they are also compatible). Sometimes it requires force.
- Has nothing to do with Windows. This issue occurs before the OS does anything.
- Has nothing to do with HDMI or DVI. These arent required for a PC to POST I believe, only primary components like CPU and RAM.

First things to make sure of:

- RAM is seated properly.
- The RAM contacts are clean and so is the slot. The more you install it the greater chance of something getting in there. Finger oil makes electricity not flow happily. Isoprobyl alchohol and lint free cloth.
- RAM is installed in the correct slot.
- You don't have a bad BIOS configuration, unstable overclocks, wrong output selected, etc.

So start with a BIOS flash. It will wipe out any settings that may cause issues, and also reduce bugs that are occurring. If still POST is having issues, After that, I would try a different power supply to rule that out. If THAT doesn't help I would breadboard the motherboard, in a procedure like this:

1. Completely dismantle the PC, even the CPU cooler.
2. Find a CLEAN cardboard box, place the motherboard on it.
3. Hook up the 8 pin and 20/24 pin cables, find a screwdriver and find the 2 header pins and touch them with the screwdriver to start the board. Some boards have handy start buttons on the board but I dont think yours is one of them. If it doesnt have lights or anything to indicate it is running, hook up a molex fan or something to the power supply to let you know the system is running.
4. Fire it up with no CPU or RAM, note what happens.
5. Install CPU, checking for any grime in the socket or old paste. Also check the socket for bent pins. Install the CPU cooler, plug in fan, start system and note changes.
6. Install a RAM stick, repeat
7. Plug in display do DVI or HDMI, preferably try both.

 

[illumind]

You are on the right track by stripping the system down. Some things we can cross off the list

- Has nothing to do with bad RAM as you tried other DIMMs (assuming they are also compatible). Sometimes it requires force.
- Has nothing to do with Windows. This issue occurs before the OS does anything.
- Has nothing to do with HDMI or DVI. These arent required for a PC to POST I believe, only primary components like CPU and RAM.

First things to make sure of:

- RAM is seated properly.
- The RAM contacts are clean and so is the slot. The more you install it the greater chance of something getting in there. Finger oil makes electricity not flow happily. Isoprobyl alchohol and lint free cloth.
- RAM is installed in the correct slot.
- You don't have a bad BIOS configuration, unstable overclocks, wrong output selected, etc.

So start with a BIOS flash. It will wipe out any settings that may cause issues, and also reduce bugs that are occurring. If still POST is having issues, After that, I would try a different power supply to rule that out. If THAT doesn't help I would breadboard the motherboard, in a procedure like this:

1. Completely dismantle the PC, even the CPU cooler.
2. Find a CLEAN cardboard box, place the motherboard on it.
3. Hook up the 8 pin and 20/24 pin cables, find a screwdriver and find the 2 header pins and touch them with the screwdriver to start the board. Some boards have handy start buttons on the board but I dont think yours is one of them. If it doesnt have lights or anything to indicate it is running, hook up a molex fan or something to the power supply to let you know the system is running.
4. Fire it up with no CPU or RAM, note what happens.
5. Install CPU, checking for any grime in the socket or old paste. Also check the socket for bent pins. Install the CPU cooler, plug in fan, start system and note changes.
6. Install a RAM stick, repeat
7. Plug in display do DVI or HDMI, preferably try both.

Love it. Thank you so much! I'll work through the steps one by one shortly... I have an old HD 5750 booting into Windows every time, so will try a few things and see if I can get the 970 working instead, if not - I'll do as you've instructed! : )

 

[illumind]

*******SOLVED (Permanently) ********
**********************************


I was running BIOS F7. I flashed it to F9.

All booting every time no matter what RAM configuration.

Why that made a difference is inexplicable! ...To me anyway. Because everything was compatible with the previous version and the newer version didn't offer any explanation as to why it should fix a bizarre clicking/ticking problem.

Hope that might help someone else. : )





My previous post is below, just in case: (it did NOT fix it permanently in the end...)

"Inexplicable. I have managed (after 6+ hours) to get both SSD's installed and the GTX 970, all booting every time without fail. Now the big question, what the hell did I do?... I don't know. I wish I could give a definitive answer for anyone else but I can't. I'll write below some things I did that MIGHT have influenced the outcome: (NB. jr9's advice is VERY solid, and I may end up using it later. So if you're in the same position, that advice has wisdom within it, and worth trying! ; )

What I did...
* Used VGA cable. Why or how that would make a difference I don't know, because now it's using the HDMI. but it all started working reliably using VGA.
* Swapping the RAM around, AND it ultimately worked reliably with 2 DIMMS installed, not one. Weird.
* Re-seated the CPU and HSF several times. Same with the RAM/DIMMS.
* Only did ONE thing at a time before switching on and off again. *ONE* thing, never two. Very methodical.
* Switched PSU kettle cords. Shouldn't make any difference though
* Switched GPU PCIe cables from PSU outputs VGA1 & VGA3, to VGA1 and VGA2.
* Still have the Windows bootable USB installed so it asks me whether I want to boot from that every time. Will remove that soon.

Hopefully it stays working, and if I think of anything more substantial I'll update this post.

Thanks again to jr9, very methodical and concise answer... And I may very well refer back to it in future!!... As may others."