Question Three Long Beeps - Only On Restart?

[fredthefifth]

Its a Windows 10 Home PC with a Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3 Motherboard. I've upgraded my memory from 4 GB to 8 GB with 2 x Crucial CT51264BD160B 4 GB (DDR3L, 1600 MT/s, PC3L-12800, DIMM, 240-Pin) Memory. I used the Crucial system checker that showed it to be compatible with my MB.

If I start the system it boots fine. If I restart the system (or shutdown and start again straightaway) I get a black screen and three longs beeps. Its impossible to intercept and get into the BIOS because it happens immediately. I then wait for about ten minutes and it boots fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[COLGeek]

What make/model GPU and PSU are you using? What speed is the memory set to in your BIOS? Is the memory set to AUTO or manually configured?

 

[fredthefifth]

GPU: AMD Radeon HD 5670 (from a saved Belarc profile)

I'll have to check the rest tomorrow as I don't have access to the PC at the moment.

If you are thinking I may have exceeded the capability of the PSU then I need to tell you that I've also upgraded the HDD from 500 MB to 2 GB with a Seagate 2 TB BarraCuda 3.5 Inch Internal Hard Drive (7200 RPM, 256 MB Cache, SATA 6 Gb/s, Up to 220 MB/s, Model: ST2000DMZ08)

Is that what you are thinking?

Thanks for getting back.

 

[COLGeek]

I am actually thinking a possible BIOS version or memory compatibility issue. Just want to know all that we are working with.

Are you running the most recent BIOS version for your motherboard?

 

[fredthefifth]

No, there is an update. I'm going to try that tomorrow.

 

[Ralston18]

Regarding: " Its impossible to intercept and get into the BIOS because it happens immediately. "

Next time you can get into BIOS check for any related POST settings. You may be able to make the POST output more verbose and slow down its speed.

 

[fredthefifth]

Ok, thanks. I give it a try and report back tomorrow.

Thanks again.

 

[fredthefifth]

Tried the BIOS update, no improvement. Its weird, its only when the PC is started within about 10 minutes of shutdown, longer that sort of period its ok again.

Phoned Crucial today, they weren't much help. They've currently got me trying one DIMM at a time and it seems ok so far. They did confirm that the DIMM's I have should be compatible though.

Checked the BIOS and everything is on Auto. I don't really know my way round the BIOS but there is something called Set Memory Clock which is on Auto and the Memory Clock with one DIMM installed is x8.00. I'm sure with two DIMM's in it was x6.66 - worth setting anything manually?

Thanks again for any help.

 

[COLGeek]

What CPU are you using? Are you overclocking anything (CPU, GPU)?

 

[fredthefifth]

From Belarc:

3.20 gigahertz AMD Phenom II X4 955
256 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte tertiary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (4 total)
Not hyper-threaded

Nothing is overclocked.

 

[COLGeek]

Did you ever get the PSU info?

Honestly, we are talking about "ancient" tech, in a manner of speaking. The issues may revolve around failing hardware and it may simply be time to start thinking about refreshing/building a new rig. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[fredthefifth]

Don't say that COL, I've just spent £100 trying to give it a few more years. It really meets my needs and runs lovely, even better with the new RAM - its just restarting the thing that's the problem 🙄

Hopefully the link below is an image of the PSU. Thought it would be better than me trying to describe.

By the way the system restarts fine with just 1of the new DIMM's inserted.

Is the fact that the memory clock was different when only one DIMM is in use anything to go on?

PSU

 

[COLGeek]

Try dropping the memory speed to 1333 in BIOS. If says 800 now, use 667. This could help and you'll see little performance difference.

 

[fredthefifth]

It was 1333 when the multiplier was 6.66 which still had the problem so lowered it to 1066 and has been fine for a few hours now reboots and all. Will this degrade performance or on this elderly system would it not make a great difference?

Thanks for your help with this.

 

[COLGeek]

The difference will be minimal from a practical, user perspective. You would see a difference when benchmarking, but not really during typical use.

If stable, leave it alone.

By the way, your PSU is of a dubious quality. I would replace with a quality product, if mine.